Business Data Advisor

Role Summary
Business Data Advisor in the Supply Chain are responsible for ensuring that data design, quality, and integration meet the requirements of future-state business processes. Their key duties include defining data rules, supporting data cleansing, managing data design and validation, executing data migration and cutover activities, and serving as subject matter experts (SMEs) for supply chain data. They work closely with process teams to align data solutions with business needs and support end-to-end data governance and lifecycle management.

Core Responsibilities
• Understand Data and Domain Area: Business Data Advisors are expected to have a deep understanding of supply chain data and industry standards, acting as SMEs for their respective data domains.

• Data Design and Process Alignment: They serve as a bridge between data design and process design, ensuring that data structures and solutions support the future-state business processes defined by Polaris
• Define Data Rules and Cleansing: Advisors define data rules, support data cleansing activities, and manage value mapping to ensure data quality and consistency across systems
• Data Validation and Testing: They develop and execute test scripts for data validation, ensuring that migrated or converted data meets business requirements
• Data Migration and Cutover: Advisors are accountable for data migration activities, including cutover and go-live support, ensuring a smooth transition to new systems
• Data Governance and Lifecycle Management: They participate in master data design, migration, governance, and lifecycle management, supporting end-to-end data integrity
• Support Workshops and Task Forces: Active participation in workshops and cross-functional task forces, providing input from the data perspective
• Business Relevancy Mapping: Mapping business requirements to supply chain data objects to ensure relevancy and completeness

Example Tasks and Deliverables
• Support Mock Loads and Data Preparation: Involved in preparing and supporting mock data loads as part of the data migration process

• Collaborate with Process Teams: Work closely with process teams (e.g., materials management, warehousing, trade compliance) to collect business requirements and ensure data solutions are fit for purpose
• Manage Data Quality Issues: Address challenges such as poor data quality, consolidation of data structures, and dependencies with other tracks or teams
• Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the go-to experts for specific supply chain data areas, such as materials management, warehousing, trade compliance, and inventory management
• Support Data Governance Initiatives: Contribute to data governance, including the development and maintenance of data standards, policies, and procedures

Organizational Context
• Integration with Broader Data Teams: Business Data Advisors are part of a larger data and analytics team, working alongside data architects, data specialists, and analytics leads

• Alignment with Corporate Data Strategy: Their work supports both current and future data needs, aligning with corporate data strategy and principles
• Key Contacts and Collaboration: Advisors are listed as key contacts for their respective domains and are involved in cross-functional collaboration with IT, business process leads, and external partners

Additional Context for Material Master Data Advisor

Material Master Expertise and Business Context
o Serve as the SME for Material Master data objects, structures, and field-level usage
o Understand how Material Master attributes drive business outcomes across supply chain, commercial, compliance, and financial processes
o Translate business requirements into future-state material data designs aligned with enterprise standards

Data Design, Rules, and Quality
o Define and maintain Material Master data standards, including required fields, defaults, and conditional logic
o Establish and apply data quality rules to ensure accuracy, consistency, and completeness
o Support data cleansing, harmonization, and consolidation of legacy materials

Data Migration and Validation
o Prepare and support Material Master mock loads, validation cycles, and cutover activities
o Develop and execute data validation test scripts
o Ensure proper sequencing and completeness of material extensions (e.g., plant, warehouse, valuation)
o Support go-live and post-go-live stabilization related to material data

Integration and Process Alignment
o Ensure Material Master data effectively supports and integrates with:
• Planning and MRP
• Manufacturing and operations
• Warehouse management systems (including EWM)
• Logistics and transportation
• Trade compliance and regulatory systems
• Finance and controlling
o Partner with process teams to ensure data solutions enable end-to-end execution

Governance and Lifecycle Management
o Support Material Master governance, including creation, change, and retirement processes
o Define data ownership, stewardship responsibilities, and approval workflows
o Participate in enterprise data governance initiatives and lifecycle management activities

Issue Resolution and Risk Management
o Identify and resolve Material Master data issues impacting inventory accuracy, planning, warehouse execution, or financial postings
o Proactively assess material data risks and recommend corrective actions

Scope of Material Master Knowledge
• Candidates are expected to demonstrate strong working knowledge of Material Master views and attributes, including:
o Basic Data and Classification
o Units of Measure and conversions
o Plant and storage location extensions
o Purchasing and procurement indicators
o MRP and planning parameters
o Warehouse and warehouse-relevant indicators
o Batch management and shelf life
o Quality management indicators
o Sales-related attributes (as applicable)
o ccounting and valuation data
o Trade, compliance, and regulatory attributes

Required Qualifications
o Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
o Strong hands-on experience managing Material Master data in a complex supply chain environment
o Proven understanding of how material data supports planning, execution, compliance, and finance
o Experience supporting data migration, validation, and cutover
o bility to collaborate effectively across business and IT teams and communicate data concepts clearly

Preferred Qualifications
o Experience supporting large-scale ERP or business transformation initiatives
o Knowledge of warehouse management, planning, or trade compliance systems
o Familiarity with master data governance frameworks and operating models
o Prior experience acting as a data SME or lead for a master data domain

Why This Role Matters
The Material Master Data Advisor plays a critical role in ensuring that material data is trusted, business-relevant, and scalable, enabling reliable execution, informed decision-making, and long-term data integrity across the enterprise.