Senior Specialist, Data Analytics - Category Planning

What Data Analytics contributes to Cardinal Health

The Data & Analytics Function oversees the analytics life-cycle in order to identify, analyze and present relevant insights that drive business decisions and anticipate opportunities to achieve a competitive advantage. This function manages analytic data platforms, the access, design and implementation of reporting/business intelligence solutions, and the application of advanced quantitative modeling.

Data Analytics applies business process knowledge and data analytics to develop, recommend and communicate timely, accurate, relevant and actionable insights to support business decisions and objectives.

Job Summary

The Category Planning team is a strategic business partner embedded deeply within Consumer Health Category Management, dedicated to turning market and performance data into a competitive advantage. By leveraging advanced analytics platforms and business intelligence tools, we uncover the story behind the numbers to solve complex commercial challenges. Our insights directly shape category strategies, influence product assortments, and drive measurable business growth. We serve as the vital link between data and execution, empowering Category Management leaders to anticipate market trends, track performance seamlessly, and make confident, profitable decisions.

As an Analytics Associate reporting to the Director of Category Planning, this role acts as an exciting launchpad into the analytics pillar of our team and is an ideal opportunity for early-career professionals looking to accelerate their growth. In this role, you won't just be pulling data - you will be the engine that powers our day-to-day business decisions. You will gain hands-on exposure to a wide array of advanced analytics tools, data ecosystems, and reporting processes, all while learning the inner workings of our commercial strategy. By driving foundational reporting, optimizing our data operations, and surfacing key metrics, you will directly add value to the business and build a strong foundation of technical and commercial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Powering Business Insights: Drive the execution of recurring standard reports with consistent timing and formatting, ensuring stakeholders have the critical data they need to stay informed and agile
• Solving Business Questions: Transform ad hoc data requests into actionable deliverables by actively engaging with stakeholders to uncover the core business questions and confirming the optimal output
• Managing the Data Pipeline: Act as the frontline of our analytics operations by effectively triaging incoming requests and intelligently scoping requirements, deadlines, and stakeholder needs
• Driving Analytics Delivery: Keep the team's analytics engine running smoothly by maintaining an organized backlog, providing visibility into statuses, ETAs, and ownership across the organization
• Safeguarding Data Health: Be the proactive guardian of our reporting infrastructure by monitoring dashboard health, identifying broken links or missing data, and resolving issues before they reach the business user
• Architecting Best Practices: Build the foundation of our team's knowledge by thoughtfully documenting report logic, inputs, assumptions, and calculation notes in accessible Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Championing Data Literacy: Empower stakeholders by guiding them to existing "single source of truth" dashboards, minimizing duplicative work and encouraging self-service data discovery
• Ensuring Analytical Excellence: Play a critical role in data integrity by performing essential quality assurance, including reasonableness checks, variance flags, and source reconciliations
• Accelerating Your Growth: Immerse yourself in the analytics ecosystem, rapidly developing a deep understanding of where our data lives, who owns it, and how each tool drives strategic value
• Impacting Leadership Decisions: Directly support business execution by preparing key metrics, summarizing critical insights, and highlighting potential risks or opportunities for business leaders ahead of pivotal meetings
• Strategic Workload Management: Learn to balance multiple priorities dynamically using strategic criteria such as business impact, urgency, and effort, while communicating tradeoffs collaboratively
• Fostering Strong Partnerships: Build trust and credibility across cross-functional teams by providing highly proactive updates, confirming request receipts, and closing the loop with exceptional attention to detail

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Analytics, Data Analytics, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Data Science, or equivalent work experience preferred
• 1-3 years of experience in category management/category planning analytics, commercial/sales operations analytics, or a similar data-driven role
• Experience using modern BI tools (Looker, PowerBI, Tableau or similar) to interact with and maintain dashboards, preferred. Exposure to workflow automation tools (Alteryx or similar) is a plus
• Beginner proficiency in writing SQL queries, with exposure to or hands-on experience using cloud data warehouses (e.g., Google BigQuery) in a plus
• Experience or strong interest in leveraging AI tools (Gemini, Copilot or similar) and automation (e.g., prompt engineering) to improve daily workflows and reporting efficiency
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clarify business questions and provide proactive updates
• Solid analytical problem-solving skills and a strict attention to detail and data hygiene
• Prior experience using enterprise ERP systems (e.g., SAP) or working within the Pharmaceutical Distribution / Consumer Health industry is a plus
• Familiarity with incorporating and analyzing non-transactional or syndicated market data (e.g., NIQ, IRI) alongside internal metrics is a plus

What is expected of you and others at this level

• Applies working knowledge in the application of concepts, principles, and technical capabilities to perform varied tasks

• Works on projects of moderate scope and complexity

• Identifies possible solutions to a variety of technical problems and takes action to resolve

• Applies judgment within defined parameters

• Receives general guidance and may receive more detailed instruction on new projects

• Work reviewed for sound reasoning and accuracy

Anticipated salary range: $68,500 - $88,020

Bonus eligible: No

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• 401k savings plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Work-Life resources
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 10/05/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

#LI-TF1

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day.