Data Scientist, Operations Research

About the role

What Data Science contributes to Cardinal Health

The Data and Analytics Function oversees the analytics life-cycle in order to identify, analyze and present relevant insights that drive business decisions and anticipate opportunities to achieve a competitive advantage. This function manages analytic data platforms, the access, design and implementation of reporting/business intelligence solutions, and the application of advanced quantitative modeling. Data Science applies base, scientific methodologies from various disciplines, techniques and tools that extracts knowledge and insight from data to solve complex business problems on large data sets, integrating multiple systems.

Department/Team Overview

We are looking for a Data Scientist, Operations Research Analyst to join our Decision Science Solutions (DS2) team. Our mission is to improve our pharmaceutical supply chain’s performance to better service our pharmacy customers, so that they can focus on their patients. The DS2 team consists of Supply Chain Data Scientists, Operations Research Analysts, Data Analysts, and Data Engineers. We work cross-functionally to solve problems leveraging a variety of skillsets and perspectives to achieve the best outcomes. We perform analyses, recommend solutions, and build products to enable better decision making in the following areas:

Distribution center network design and capacity planning

Facility layout and design; warehouse capacity and utilization

Warehouse process improvement

Labor management and automation

Inventory management: stocking strategies and replenishment policies

Transportation planning: first mile, middle mile, and final mile

Sales and operations planning (resource management in response to demand changes)

Responsibilities

As a Data Scientist in Supply Chain Operations, you will apply your knowledge of business processes, systems, data, and analytical tools to explore and identify root causes of problems. You will forecast future demand, build optimization and simulation models, and communicate actionable insights. You will work with cross-functional project teams to ideate, develop, and recommend solutions. Specific responsibilities are to:

Listen to clients and ask questions to clearly define business problems.

Perform exploratory analysis to determine root causes of problems and confirm/disprove hypotheses.

Develop predictive models to forecast future volumes that will drive capacity/resource needs.

Develop customer and product segmentation models and design our supply chain to support differentiated services.

Build optimization and simulation models to recommend capacity investments, resource plans, policy changes, and process changes to improve supply chain performance.

Develop prescriptive models using 3rd party optimization/simulation software and custom-build models.

Recommend solutions. Summarize the financial and operational impact of the recommendation and pros/cons of alternatives considered.

Work with Data Engineers to create data models for analyses.

Qualifications

2-4 years of experience, preferred

Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field, or equivalent work experience, preferred

MS/MBA with focus in Data Science, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or Statistics preferred

Demonstrated ability to apply Data Science and Operations Research techniques to logistics and supply chain management problems preferred

Experience with Structured Query Language (SQL) and working with databases preferred

Experience with data analysis tools such as R, Python, SQL, Alteryx, Tableau, and SAS preferred

Experience with Strategic Network Design, Simulation (e.g., AnyLogic), or Mathematical Programming (e.g., CPLEX) software preferred

Ability to work as part of a team as the key analytical resource

Excellent communication skills with an ability to explain quantitative analysis in simple business terms

Intellectual curiosity, humility, genuine respect and desire to help others

Bias for action and passion for driving change

Ability to travel up to 5%

What is expected of you and others at this level

Applies comprehensive knowledge and a thorough understanding of concepts, principles, and technical capabilities to perform varied tasks and projects

May contribute to the development of policies and procedures

Works on complex projects of large scope

Develops technical solutions to a wide range of difficult problems

Solutions are innovative and consistent with organization objectives

Completes work; independently receives general guidance on new projects

Work reviewed for purpose of meeting objectives

May act as a mentor to less experienced colleagues

Anticipated salary range: $94,900 - $122,000

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Paid time off plan

Health savings account (HSA)

401k savings plan

Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)

Short- and long-term disability coverage

Work-Life resources

Paid parental leave

Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 11/2/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

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