When a distributor complains that orders keep arriving a day late, or a warehouse holds too much of one SKU and runs out of another, the person who works out why is usually a supply chain analyst. They pull data from the ERP, the warehouse system and carrier reports, find the pattern behind the problem, and turn it into a recommendation that operations can act on: a different carrier on one lane, a new reorder point, a 3PL that needs a hard conversation.
Below is a supply chain analyst job description you can copy and edit, written for companies in India and simple to adapt for other markets. It also covers the logistics analyst version of the role. After the template you will find how the job changes by level, how to test analytical and supply chain skills while screening, the mistakes that weaken these job posts, and when contract, contract-to-hire or permanent hiring fits.
Supply chain analyst job description template
About the role
[Company] is looking for a supply chain analyst to help us plan better and deliver more reliably across our [plants / warehouses / distribution network]. You will analyze inventory, freight and service data, track the KPIs that matter to our customers, and work with procurement, warehouse and logistics teams to fix what the data shows. You will report to [Supply Chain Manager / Head of Operations] and be based at [city / site], working [on-site / hybrid].
Responsibilities
- Track and report on supply chain KPIs including OTIF, fill rate, inventory accuracy and freight cost per shipment.
- Analyze inventory levels by SKU and location, and recommend reorder points and safety stock.
- Analyze freight spend by lane, carrier and mode, and suggest changes to routes or carrier mix.
- Monitor 3PL and transporter performance against agreed service levels, and prepare review packs for monthly meetings.
- Build and maintain dashboards in [Power BI / Excel] for operations and leadership.
- Pull and clean data from [SAP MM / Oracle SCM / Microsoft Dynamics 365], the WMS and the TMS.
- Support the demand planning and S&OP cycle with data on stock, open orders and supply constraints.
- Investigate service failures, such as late or short deliveries, and identify the root cause.
- Support compliance documentation for shipments, including e-way bill data where relevant.
- Document processes and suggest improvements using Lean or Six Sigma methods where they help.
Requirements
- A degree in engineering, supply chain, operations, statistics or a related field.
- [X] years of experience in supply chain, logistics or operations analysis.
- Advanced Excel: pivot tables, lookups, formulas that others can audit, and handling large data exports.
- Experience with Power BI or a similar dashboard tool.
- Hands-on use of an ERP such as [SAP MM / Oracle SCM / Dynamics 365] for pulling inventory and order data.
- Clear understanding of supply chain KPIs such as OTIF, fill rate and inventory turns.
- The ability to explain findings to warehouse supervisors and senior managers in plain terms.
Nice to have
- SQL or Python for working with larger datasets.
- Exposure to WMS and TMS tools, and to route planning.
- Lean or Six Sigma certification, or project experience using these methods.
- Experience in [industry, for example FMCG, e-commerce, pharma or manufacturing].
What we offer
- [Salary range], based on experience.
- [Work mode, site location and working days].
- [Benefits, for example health insurance, PF and travel allowance for site visits].
How the supply chain analyst role changes by level
Junior analyst or MIS executive
A junior analyst prepares the regular reports: daily dispatch summaries, stock reports by location and weekly KPI sheets. Most of the work is pulling clean data on time and spotting obvious errors. The job description should focus on Excel, attention to detail and familiarity with the ERP, rather than on strategy.
Supply chain or logistics analyst
A mid-level analyst owns questions, not just reports. They are asked why OTIF dropped on one route or why a warehouse carries excess stock, and they come back with the cause and a proposed fix. A logistics analyst at this level focuses more on freight, carriers, routes and 3PLs, while a broader supply chain analyst also covers inventory and planning. Say which one you mean, because candidates usually lean one way.
Senior analyst or supply chain manager track
At the senior level the analyst leads larger projects, such as a network redesign, a carrier tender or a new inventory policy, and presents to leadership. They may manage junior analysts and own the KPI framework itself. Some move toward demand planning, others toward procurement or operations management. The job description should name the projects they will lead, since that tells senior candidates whether the role is real analysis or reporting with a bigger title.
Skills that matter most, and how to check them
A supply chain analyst’s value is the quality of their questions and the clarity of their answers. These checks test both.
- Excel case study. Send a dataset of shipments with dates, lanes, carriers, promised and actual delivery dates. Ask for OTIF by carrier and lane, and a short note on what they would do. Look at the accuracy of the calculation and whether the note leads to action.
- KPI understanding. Ask how they would calculate OTIF and what counts as “in full” when a partial delivery is accepted by the customer. Good analysts know that definitions vary and ask which one the business uses.
- Inventory reasoning. Describe a SKU that is often out of stock at one warehouse and overstocked at another. Ask what data they would look at first. Strong answers cover demand by location, lead times and how stock is allocated.
- Data from the ERP. Ask which reports or transaction codes they used in SAP or their ERP, and what they did when the data did not match the warehouse count.
- Dashboard sense. Ask them to show a dashboard they built, explain who used it and what decision changed because of it.
- Communication. Ask them to explain one of their findings as if to a warehouse supervisor, then as if to a CFO. The ability to switch is what makes their analysis get used.
Common supply chain analyst job description mistakes
- Calling a reporting job an analyst job. If the role is preparing the same MIS every day, strong analysts will leave once they realize it. Fix: describe the questions they will answer and the projects they will work on, or title the role MIS executive.
- Not naming the systems. Fix: list the ERP, WMS and TMS you use. Data from SAP MM looks very different from a spreadsheet-based operation, and candidates need to know which they are walking into.
- Leaving out the network. Fix: describe the shape of the supply chain in words, such as plants, warehouses, channels and whether you use 3PLs, so candidates can judge whether their experience transfers.
- Merging analyst, planner and buyer into one role. Demand planning and procurement are separate skills. Fix: if the analyst must also forecast or raise POs, say so clearly, or hire a demand planner or procurement executive separately.
- Ignoring site work. Many analyst roles need time at warehouses or plants. Fix: state how much site presence is expected and where.
Contract, contract-to-hire or permanent
A contract supply chain analyst suits a defined piece of work: a freight cost review, a carrier tender, preparing for a new warehouse, cleaning up inventory data before an ERP migration, or covering peak season reporting. The scope is concrete and the output, often a model or a dashboard, stays with the business afterwards.
Contract-to-hire fits when you are building an analytics function inside operations for the first time and want to see whether the person can work with your data, your systems and your site teams. Permanent hiring makes sense when the KPIs, dashboards and S&OP inputs are ongoing work, because an analyst who knows the network, the carriers and the history of past problems finds causes much faster than someone new.
Zilo AI hires supply chain and logistics analysts on contract, contract-to-hire or permanent terms. If you would like us to run the search, you can hire supply chain analysts in India through Zilo, with candidates screened on the ERP and WMS tools they have used and the KPIs they have owned.
Frequently asked questions
What should a supply chain analyst job description include?
The KPIs they will own, the systems they will pull data from, the shape of your network, the main questions or projects they will work on, the teams they will support and any site presence. Naming the tools and KPIs helps experienced candidates see their fit quickly.
What is the difference between a supply chain analyst and a logistics analyst?
A logistics analyst focuses on moving goods: freight costs, carriers, routes, 3PLs and delivery performance. A supply chain analyst usually covers that too, plus inventory, planning inputs and sometimes procurement data. Many companies use the titles interchangeably, so describe the actual scope.
What is the difference between a supply chain analyst and a demand planner?
A demand planner forecasts demand by SKU, channel and region and runs the S&OP cycle. A supply chain analyst studies how the whole chain performs, including inventory, freight and service levels, and feeds data into planning. The two work closely, but forecasting is a specialist skill.
Which tools should a supply chain analyst know?
Advanced Excel and a dashboard tool such as Power BI are the basics. Beyond that, ask for the ERP you run, such as SAP MM, Oracle SCM or Dynamics 365, and any WMS or TMS. SQL is a useful extra for larger operations.
If you are hiring an analyst for your operations or logistics team, speak to Zilo AI about the role and your sites. You can also browse the operations, finance and admin roles we fill through our non-IT hiring services.