Senior Manager, Data Science - Inventory Capabilities

Walmart · Retail · Bentonville, AR

Senior Manager, Data Science role focused on optimizing inventory capabilities for Walmart. This involves designing, developing, and scaling algorithms for forecasting, placement, safety stock, and exits. The role applies advanced techniques in optimization, probabilistic forecasting, and machine learning to improve efficiency and resilience across a global network. It requires leading projects from problem framing to deployment and collaborating with various business and tech partners. The goal is to maximize customer value by ensuring the right items are in the right place, at the right time, in the right quantity, at the lowest cost.

What you'd actually do

  1. Analyze large-scale datasets to refine model inputs (forecasts, cost structures, constraints) and improve accuracy and scalability.
  2. Design and deliver new models and algorithms across forecasting, placement, inventory targets, safety stock, and exits to optimize cost, speed, and customer experience.
  3. Apply advanced techniques in optimization, probabilistic forecasting, and ML to improve efficiency and resilience across Walmart’s global network.
  4. Lead projects from framing business problems, to building and validating models, to partnering with engineering for deployment.
  5. Translate science into strategy, working with Merchandising, Supply Chain, and Tech partners to align on priorities and deliver measurable impact.

Skills

Required

  • Strong expertise in applied data science and advanced analytics (optimization, forecasting, simulation, machine learning)
  • Comfortability operating at both strategic and technical depth — from building models to influencing enterprise priorities
  • Experience simplifying complex science for senior leaders and business partners to drive adoption and decision-making
  • Ability to excel in ambiguous, high-pressure environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
  • Experience implementing data science models using modern programming languages (e.g., Python, PySpark, R) and using large dataset mining tools (e.g., SQL)
  • Experience with advanced analytical modeling tools, network optimization, and long-range planning
  • Extensive experience or knowledge of eCommerce, retail and supply chain domains and related information systems — search, impressions, conversion, distribution/transportation, sourcing, planning, manufacturing, and inventory management
  • Retail industry experience
  • Bachelors degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 5 years' experience in an analytics related field OR Masters degree in Statistics, Economics, Analytics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology or related field and 3 years' experience in an analytics related field OR 7 years' experience in an analytics or related field

Nice to have

  • MBA, MS, or PhD in Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Operations Management, or Supply Chain Management
  • PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Operations Research, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Econometrics

What the JD emphasized

  • global-scale inventory optimization

Other signals

  • inventory optimization
  • forecasting
  • placement
  • safety stock
  • exits
  • global-scale inventory optimization