Supply Chain Project Analyst Inventory Management & NPI

The Fountain Group is currently seeking a Supply Chain Project Analyst for a prominent client in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry.

Location: North Chicago, IL (Hybrid – 50% Remote)

Pay Rate: $38.00–$41.00/hour

Initial Contract Duration: 1 year

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM start

Travel: Minimal, less than 10%

Interview Process: 2 rounds (virtual and onsite)

Position Overview

We are seeking a Supply Chain Project Analyst with strong experience in supply chain operations, inventory management, project coordination, and operational analytics.

This position will support supply chain and manufacturing initiatives, including new product introduction (NPI), inventory planning, manufacturing readiness, vendor management, and cross-functional project execution.

The ideal candidate will have 4–8 years of relevant experience and be comfortable analyzing supply chain data, developing Excel reports, tracking project milestones, and coordinating deliverables across Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Clinical, Regulatory, and other business functions.

Strong supply chain and inventory management experience is highly preferred. Candidates with a combination of supply chain expertise and project management experience will be prioritized.

Key Responsibilities

• Support supply chain and inventory management projects, including demand and supply planning, inventory tracking, manufacturing readiness, and NPI activities.

• Coordinate cross-functional projects involving Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Clinical, Regulatory, Logistics, and external vendors.

• Track project milestones, deliverables, timelines, dependencies, and action items to ensure projects remain on schedule.

• Analyze inventory levels, supply constraints, demand forecasts, and operational data to identify potential risks or delays.

• Develop and maintain Excel dashboards, inventory reports, project trackers, and operational performance metrics.

• Support Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), demand planning, supply reviews, and inventory management activities.

• Assist with product launches, manufacturing readiness, technology transfers, and vendor coordination.

• Monitor inventory movements, distribution activities, shipment tracking, and supply chain performance.

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to resolve issues and ensure timely completion of deliverables.

• Identify project risks, escalate supply chain challenges, and follow up on corrective actions.

• Prepare meeting agendas, document decisions, maintain action logs, and provide regular project updates to leadership.

• Support process improvement initiatives, operational reporting, and supply chain transformation projects.

Required Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree OR 6+ years of relevant experience with a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Experience in supply chain operations, inventory management, manufacturing operations, project coordination, or related business functions.

• Strong project coordination skills, including tracking milestones, managing deliverables, maintaining project schedules, and following up with stakeholders.

• Experience working across multiple departments and coordinating projects with cross-functional teams.

• Strong Microsoft Excel proficiency, including:

  • PivotTables and VLOOKUPs

  • Charts, graphs, and dashboards

  • Data analysis, reporting, and slicers

• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret complex operational data and identify trends, risks, or discrepancies.

• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with supply chain and inventory management is highly preferred.

• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI), manufacturing readiness, product launches, or technology transfers.

• Experience with vendor management, materials planning, inventory forecasting, logistics, or distribution.

• Experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or regulated manufacturing industries.

• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.

• Experience with Smartsheet or other project tracking tools.

• Knowledge of S&OP, MRP, demand planning, supply planning, or inventory reconciliation.

• Experience creating dashboards and operational reports using SAP Analytics Cloud, Power BI, Qlik, or similar tools.

• Strong project management experience supporting multiple cross-functional stakeholders and initiatives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have 4–8 years of experience in supply chain, inventory management, or manufacturing operations, combined with strong project coordination and analytical skills.

We are especially interested in candidates who have:

• Hands-on experience working with inventory, supply chain planning, or materials management.

• Coordinated projects involving manufacturing, vendors, supply chain, and other cross-functional teams.

• Experience tracking project milestones, managing deliverables, and ensuring timely completion of action items.

• Strong Excel skills with the ability to build reports, analyze operational data, and develop dashboards.

• Experience supporting NPI, product launches, manufacturing readiness, or supply chain improvements.

Candidates with direct supply chain and inventory management backgrounds will receive strongest consideration.

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