Senior Forecasting Analytics Consultant - Canadian Tire, Toronto

The Opportunity

The Forecasting and Inventory Support team at Canadian Tire is dedicated to making the company a world leader in forecasting and achieving best-in-class inventory management. This team is responsible for the processes, tools, and reports used in product forecasting. They leverage data science, analysis, and deep business knowledge to convert raw data into actionable insights. Collaboration is key, working closely with Category Business Management, Forecasting, Replenishment, Allocations, Promotions, and IT teams. The team continuously strives to challenge existing methods, improve operations, and drive results for the business.

As a Senior Forecasting Analytics Consultant, you will be instrumental in developing predictive models that directly influence critical merchandising decisions, including assortment selection, pricing strategy, product forecasting, and replenishment. Your work will involve conducting both traditional and machine learning analytics to pinpoint and quantify cause-and-effect relationships. You will also build and optimise the analytical tools used by Forecast Analysts and design and publish clear, digestible reporting on key business metrics. This role plays a significant part in advancing Canadian Tire's analytics roadmap and developing sophisticated predictive modelling and machine learning capabilities, all while providing essential support to the business through traditional analysis and established processes.

Key Duties

• Use predictive/statistical modelling techniques and traditional analytics to identify and quantify sales drivers, conduct what-if scenario analysis, and measure causal impacts.
• Work with Merchandising, Forecasting, and Promotions teams to ensure model predictions align with business expertise, are explainable, and are efficiently integrated into processes.
• Design and build user-friendly and actionable tools/reporting.
• Plan, track, and manage multiple projects and requests, ranging from long-term project implementations and process improvement initiatives to urgent system/tool support issues and ad-hoc analysis.
• Proactively identify opportunities and deliver data-supported insights to Merchandising and Forecasting to improve forecast accuracy and key business decisions.
• Provide leadership and direction to the team, including training and coaching in advanced analytics.
• Ensure forecasting systems, reports, and EUC tools are operational and support business processes; lead projects to implement new functionality, including automation.
• Act as a subject matter expert for Forecasting processes and provide expertise and direction in special projects.

Requirements

This dynamic environment requires individuals with a cross-functional background, excellent organizational skills, and proven experience working in a project setting. Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team are essential for success in this role.

• 4+ years work experience in various roles within forecasting, analytics, merchandising, or supply chain.
• University degree in engineering, math, computer science, statistics, business, or a related field.
• Proficiency with programming in Python, Spark, SQL. Knowledge of R and VBA would also be an asset.
• Direct experience with data science / machine learning models, including successful implementations and productionizing of projects.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data mining skills with the ability to summarize and deliver actionable insights and recommendations.
• Experience with cloud computing architectures supporting data science and analytics workloads; hands-on experience with platforms such as Azure and Databricks is considered an asset.
• Experience applying generative AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to enhance analysis, reporting, and workflow efficiency is considered an asset.
• Advanced technical skills in Microsoft Power BI, Access, Excel, Database systems.
• Results-oriented, with proven project and time management skills (planning, prioritizing, executing, delegating, and tracking).
• Business mindset with an understanding of the retail industry.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and motivate peers as well as others without direct authority.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including presentation abilities.

Benefits

Canadian Tire is always seeking great talent and offers a comprehensive package to support employee well-being and career development, including:

• Comprehensive benefits and retirement programs.
• Performance incentives.
• Continuing Education Programs.
• Other perks to support your well-being.
• Career growth opportunities.
• Product discounts.
• Mental health benefits in the amount of $5,000 per year for benefits-eligible employees and their families.
• Total well-being and mental health tools and resources for all employees.
• Canadian Tire Profit Sharing and retirement and savings programs for eligible employees.