Functional Data Analyst Jobs in Sycamore, IL (NOW HIRING)

About the Job Opportunity

The Data Analyst supports PartsSource's growth and operational excellence by transforming raw data into actionable insights. Working with business stakeholders across sales, operations, product, and finance, you will conduct detailed analyses on customer behavior, operational metrics, and business opportunities-identifying patterns, trends, and optimization opportunities. This role combines technical data skills with business acumen to answer complex questions, support strategic decisions, and uncover new value creation opportunities. You'll develop repeatable analytical processes, document findings clearly for diverse audiences, and stay curious about how emerging tools-including AI-can enhance analytical quality and efficiency.

What You'll Do

Data Preparation & Analysis

• Extract, clean, and organize data from multiple sources to prepare datasets for analysis.
• Conduct detailed quantitative analyses to identify patterns, trends, and insights that address specific business questions.
• Use SQL to query databases and retrieve data; apply Excel and visualization tools to explore and communicate findings.
• Validate analytical work for accuracy and completeness; document methodologies and assumptions clearly.

Reporting & Communication

• Develop clear, compelling reports and dashboards that translate complex findings into actionable recommendations for business stakeholders.
• Prepare written summaries of analytical findings with clear explanations of methodology, assumptions, and business implications.
• Present analyses and recommendations to cross-functional teams and leadership, tailoring communication to audience and context.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand analytical needs and define scope for data projects.

Process Improvement & Tool Development

• Identify opportunities to streamline analytical workflows and reduce manual work through better processes or automation.
• Create and document repeatable analysis templates, queries, and workflows that enable consistent output and knowledge sharing across the team.
• Stay current with emerging analytical tools and methodologies, including practical applications of AI; experiment with new approaches to enhance efficiency and insight quality.
• Support team members in understanding analytical methodologies and best practices.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Work with sales, operations, product, and finance teams to understand their analytical needs and deliver insights that support business decisions.
• Translate between technical analytical concepts and business language to ensure clarity and alignment.
• Contribute ideas for how data and analytics can create competitive advantage across PartsSource's business.

What You'll Bring

Your Background

• Bachelor's degree in data science, mathematics, economics, business, engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 2-4 years of experience in data analysis, business analysis, financial analysis, or similar analytical roles.
• Proficiency with SQL for data extraction and query writing; demonstrated ability to work with relational databases.
• Strong Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/INDEX-MATCH, data visualization, and analysis.
• Ability to translate business questions into analytical approaches; comfort working with ambiguity and defining scope.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple analytical projects with competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to explain analytical findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Intellectual curiosity about data, analytics, and emerging tools; self-starter who learns new methodologies independently.

Preferred

• Experience with Python or R for data manipulation and statistical analysis.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) or BI platforms.
• Experience in SaaS, healthcare, or subscription/managed service business models.
• Hands-on experience with AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) and understanding of how they can enhance analytical work.
• Experience developing dashboards or creating repeatable analytical processes.

Who We Want to Meet

Act Like an Owner

You take responsibility for the accuracy and quality of your analyses. You validate your work, document your methodologies clearly, and follow through on analytical commitments. Accountability & Execution, Results Driven

When data doesn't tell a clear story or you uncover an unexpected pattern, you dig deeper rather than accepting surface-level interpretations. Accountability & Execution, Curiosity & Problem Solving

Serve with Purpose

You understand that your analysis supports business decisions that impact PartsSource's customers and strategy. You bring analytical rigor and integrity to every project. Clear & Critical Thinking, Active Listening

You communicate analytical findings clearly to non-technical audiences, translating complexity into actionable insights that resonate with business stakeholders. Relationship Management, Communication

Adapt to Thrive

You learn new tools, methodologies, and analytical approaches independently and apply feedback constructively to improve your work. Learning Agility, Resilience

You're curious about how emerging tools like AI can enhance your analytical processes, and you actively experiment with new approaches to improve efficiency and insight quality. Learning Agility, Innovation

Collaborate to Win

You work effectively with cross-functional teams, asking clarifying questions to understand business needs and tailoring your analysis and communication to different audiences. Team Orientation, Alignment & Cohesion

You document your work and share knowledge with teammates, creating repeatable processes that amplify the team's impact. Collaboration, Continuous Improvement

Challenge the Status Quo

You notice when analytical processes are inefficient and bring ideas for how to streamline workflows, reduce manual work, or improve consistency across analyses. Curiosity & Problem Solving, Continuous Improvement

You ask why certain questions matter to the business and propose new analytical approaches that create value. Initiative, Critical Thinking