Hiring Hybrid Supply Chain Analyst in Louisville

Context: Actalent Services is a leading national talent placement firm specializing in operational, technical, and supply chain roles, with a network of clients across manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and logistics sectors spanning the U.S., including the Louisville metropolitan area—a top-tier logistics hub home to UPS Worldport, Amazon fulfillment centers, Yum! Brands headquarters, and hundreds of mid-sized distribution and industrial firms.

Role Introduction:
We are currently recruiting a Hybrid Supply Chain Analyst for one of our established industrial distribution clients based in Louisville, Kentucky. This role is designed for a hands-on supply chain professional with direct experience managing full purchase order cycles and exposure to supplier contract negotiation, looking to grow their career in a structured, collaborative environment without the bureaucratic overhead of large enterprise groups.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Manage the full end-to-end purchase order (PO) lifecycle, from internal demand intake and PO creation in the company ERP to delivery tracking, invoice reconciliation and file closure, maintaining a 98% error-free processing rate and meeting internal SLA of 2 business days for PO creation.
2. Support contract negotiation activities with existing and new suppliers: prepare cost-benefit analyses, compare vendor proposals, identify cost-saving levers, and contribute to achieving 3-5% cost reductions on annually renewed contracts, in partnership with the procurement lead.
3. Analyze supply chain performance data using advanced Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH) and Power BI to produce weekly reports on delivery timelines, stockout rates and cost variances, presenting insights to operations leadership during weekly team meetings.
4. Manage key vendor relationships: respond to order status requests, resolve delivery disputes (late shipments, non-conforming goods), and maintain up-to-date supplier records to ensure full traceability of all procurement activities.
5. Coordinate with cross-functional internal teams (logistics, quality, production) to resolve supply disruptions: for critical delivery delays, identify alternative qualified suppliers in under 24 hours to prevent production downtime, and track incident impact in the supply chain risk dashboard.
6. Lead monthly audits of procurement files to verify compliance with internal policies and supplier contracts, deliver a monthly audit report with actionable adjustment recommendations, and drive a 10% reduction in compliance gaps over a 6-month period.

Work Environment & Culture:
This is a hybrid role, with 3 days per week in-person at our client’s Louisville offices located minutes from the Louisville International Airport logistics hub, and 2 days of remote work per week. The 8-person supply chain team operates with a flat, collaborative structure focused on problem-solving rather than micromanagement: weekly team standups share best practices, and quarterly team-building events are organized to strengthen cross-team alignment. Our client is a top U.S. distributor of industrial components with warehouses across 12 states, and prioritizes work-life balance with flexible scheduling (core hours between 7am and 6pm Monday-Friday, adjustable to personal needs), 15 days of paid time off in the first year of employment, 10 paid sick days, and 9 paid company holidays.

Candidate Requirements:
- 2 to 4 years of professional experience in supply chain operations, procurement, or purchasing roles, with confirmed hands-on experience managing end-to-end purchase order cycles.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, preferably SAP S/4HANA or Oracle Procurement Cloud, for PO creation and tracking.
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, complex functions, basic macros) and experience with BI tools like Power BI or Tableau is a strong plus.
- Foundational knowledge of supplier contract negotiation principles, including experience supporting negotiation efforts under the guidance of a senior procurement lead.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact with external suppliers and cross-functional internal teams.
- Strong problem-solving abilities, capacity to manage multiple concurrent priorities, and track record of meeting tight deadlines.
- Valid driver’s license and personal vehicle for occasional (1-2 times per month) trips to the client’s warehouse located 15 minutes from the office, for inventory audits or supply issue resolution.

Technical Skills:
Candidates will work with the following tools on a daily basis:
- ERP: SAP S/4HANA (primary) or Oracle Procurement Cloud
- Data Analysis: Advanced Microsoft Excel, Power BI
- Collaboration: Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook
- Vendor Management: Proprietary Vendor Management System (VMS) built by the client’s IT team
- Document Management: Google Workspace for shared file storage and collaboration

Benefits & Compensation:
This role offers a competitive annual salary range of $58,000 to $72,000 USD, adjusted based on your years of experience and technical skill set. The full benefits package includes:
- 80% employer contribution to health, dental and vision insurance premiums for you and your dependents
- 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match on employee contributions
- 15 days of paid time off in your first year, plus 10 paid sick days and 9 paid company holidays
- 2 days of remote work per week, with flexible scheduling options
- Annual professional development stipend of up to $2,000 USD for supply chain-related training, certifications (e.g., APICS CPIM) or conference attendance
- Access to free Actalent training resources for SAP, Power BI, and supplier negotiation best practices

Career Growth Opportunities:
This role is designed as a stepping stone to senior supply chain and procurement leadership positions. Top performers are eligible for promotion to Procurement Specialist or Supply Chain Coordinator roles within 12-18 months, or can transition to supply chain roles at other Actalent client sites across the U.S. if they wish to gain broader industry experience. You will also be paired with a dedicated Actalent recruitment advisor for quarterly check-ins to discuss your performance, career goals, and upskilling opportunities.

Hiring Process, Interview Steps & Timeline:
The full recruitment process takes no more than 2 weeks, and follows these 3 steps:
1. 30-minute initial phone screening with Olivia Rivers, Actalent recruitment advisor, to discuss your experience, answer questions about the role and client, and confirm alignment with your career goals.
2. 45-minute technical interview with the client’s Supply Chain Manager, including a short practical case study: you will be presented with a common supply disruption scenario and asked to outline your step-by-step resolution plan.
3. 30-minute final interview with the client’s Operations Director to confirm cultural fit and discuss long-term expectations for the role.
We aim to extend a formal job offer within 3 business days of the final interview, with a target start date of 2 weeks after offer acceptance. To apply, share your updated resume with the hiring team by emailing [email protected], with the subject line “Supply Chain Analyst Louisville – [Your Full Name]”. You are welcome to include a brief note explaining your interest in the role, though it is not required. If you have questions about the position, the hiring process, or our client’s operations, feel free to reach out to Olivia Rivers directly via LinkedIn or at the email address above.