Physical Logistics Analyst - Chicago, IL

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there's more to being in business than just making a profit. That's the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet. What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it's never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It's about how you can grab everything that's within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It's about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we'll all be a little better off. It's that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN'S®, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA®. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD® Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl®, VCA® and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day.

Mars Food is looking for a Physical Logistics Analyst in Chicago, IL

JOB OVERVIEW : This role is part of the North American Food Supply Chain team and is the subject matter expert for processes, systems, and reporting that support Outbound Physical Logistics from Plant to Customer.

The functional expert for a business process and associated systems has training and support responsibilities to end users in the functional expert’s area of ownership. This role is required for the Atlas Order to Cash area with focus on Physical Logistics and it uses SAP, BW (Business Warehouse), and other systems that support logistics operations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES : The analyst role delivers optimal business process performance by developing, implementing and measuring systems and process improvement activities. The role works across functions and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to support and train system and process knowledge. The Physical Logistics Analyst stays relevant with new system functionality by periodic testing of Atlas upgrades and working with technical support teams to resolve issues.

General

·  The analyst should be perceived as an expert in their area.
·  The analyst has a responsibility to ensure the maximum benefit is obtained from particular business processes and the supporting system. This is achieved through the training and support for a particular business area and measuring and monitoring compliance metrics.
·  The role needs to gain an excellent knowledge of relevant business processes. Ideally this would involve understanding the old process prior to system implementation and the new process mandated as part of the new system.
·  The analyst needs a good understanding of the system, which underpins these processes, including an awareness of how all the transactions for that functional area operate.
·  The analyst needs to build cross-functional area knowledge by working with other functional experts to cover areas of process overlap and how actions in one area impact the others.
·  Represent their SBU or country for the functional area as a contact. Also represents their country or SBU at the global user groups.

Support Activities

·  Provides first-level functional support to the system end-user. This support includes answering key user and or end user questions, solving process issues, acting as the point of escalation for support for the business processes and the point of contact for the IT support teams. Perform root cause analysis, where possible. Aim to build a knowledge base to capture support information and common problems and their possible solutions, over time.
·  Point of contact for the Mars IS support teams.
·  Work with Business Process Owners and Users of the Order to Cash / Physical Logistics processes to reduce costs, create operating efficiencies and identify business process improvements.
·  Support business process changes related to the supply chain, but especially outbound logistics.
·  Responsible for testing of new releases and enhancements.
·  Owner of System best practices for their area and sharing with other system functional experts through user groups.
·  Help to change the unit processes to match the global best practice.
·  Support business integration testing

Training

·  Responsible for supporting and facilitating all business process training and system functional training to the end users
·  Documentation of local business processes for training purposes. Will add to the central documentation repository.

Key Areas

·  Manage the knowledge of the use of the system and all related processes throughout the required functional. Ensure hand-over of this knowledge is secured with job changes at a functional expert and key user level.
·  Improve regional and global business processes and best practices. The analyst will form part of the User template development team and can provide recommendations to the BU.
·  Lead the training and implementing of new business processes associated with the SAP application for the Order to Cash / Physical Logistics area.
·  Optimize business efficiency via the development and implementation of process best practices, auditing and continuous improvement programs for processes related to Order to Cash.
·  Participation in the testing and local integration of the system.
·  Key Functional Skills/Knowledge
·  Overall Supply Chain knowledge with a focus on Physical Logistics (Transportation, Storage & Handling)
·  Demonstrated project management skills
·  Excellent organizational skills. A self-motivator; able to work independently and the ability to prioritize effectively.
·  Strong analytical, logical and practical thinking skills.
·  SAP application knowledge
·  Supply chain process knowledge and the roles of the various divisions. An in depth knowledge of Business Best Practices.
·  System skills for the purpose of collecting data, organizing information, communication/publishing information and preparing reports and presentations.
·  Information systems reporting and decision support.
·  Working knowledge and understanding of Mars US supply chain systems and supporting systems (ex. GRD, Red Prairie, WMS, SAP, etc.).
·  Strong verbal and written communications skills
·  Conflict management competence

Minimum Requirements

·  3-5 years of business experience preferably in the areas of supply chain, affiliate, and/or with a focus on Physical Logistics
·  Information and integration systems experience
·  Business analysis and integration experience
·  SAP Experience
·  Exhibited problem solving experience
·  Project planning, organizing and priority setting skills

Preferred Qualifications

·  Bachelor’s Degree
·  Hands on experience in Customer Service
·  Functional experience in consumer packaged goods industry

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

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