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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an EDI Specialist

💰 $65,000 - $95,000

Information TechnologySupply ChainData Management

🎯 Role Definition

As an EDI Specialist, you are the central hub for all electronic business-to-business (B2B) communication. You will be instrumental in building, maintaining, and troubleshooting the digital bridges that connect our company with its vast network of suppliers, customers, and logistics partners. This role requires a unique blend of technical expertise, analytical prowess, and interpersonal skill to ensure the timely and accurate exchange of critical business documents, such as purchase orders, invoices, and shipping notices. You'll be a key player in optimizing our supply chain, reducing manual errors, and enabling scalable growth by ensuring our data interchange is seamless, compliant, and efficient.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • EDI Coordinator
  • Data Analyst
  • IT Support Specialist with a focus on business applications

Advancement To:

  • Senior EDI Analyst / EDI Developer
  • EDI Manager
  • B2B Integration Architect

Lateral Moves:

  • Business Systems Analyst
  • Supply Chain Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Spearhead the complete onboarding process for new trading partners, from initial contact and requirements gathering to final production deployment and ongoing support.
  • Develop, implement, and rigorously test new EDI maps and transaction sets (such as 850, 810, 856, 997) according to detailed trading partner specifications and business rules.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and resolving all EDI-related transaction failures, data discrepancies, and compliance issues in a timely and effective manner.
  • Proactively monitor daily EDI/B2B transaction flows to ensure successful data processing, identify potential bottlenecks, and prevent system disruptions before they impact the business.
  • Manage and maintain secure communication protocols, including AS2, SFTP, FTP, and VAN, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted data exchange with all partners.
  • Translate complex business requirements from internal stakeholders (e.g., Sales, Logistics, Finance) into technical EDI specifications and mapping logic.
  • Perform in-depth analysis and interpretation of EDI implementation guides and standards (ANSI X12, EDIFACT) to ensure strict compliance and data integrity.
  • Conduct comprehensive end-to-end testing for all new EDI implementations, system upgrades, and map changes to guarantee accuracy before go-live.
  • Collaborate closely with ERP application teams (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) to ensure seamless integration and data synchronization between EDI platforms and core business systems.
  • Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all EDI processes, trading partner configurations, mapping logic, and troubleshooting procedures.
  • Provide expert-level support and training to internal business users on EDI-related processes, data interpretation, and error-handling best practices.
  • Perform detailed root cause analysis on recurring EDI issues, implementing permanent solutions to improve system stability and reduce manual intervention.
  • Manage the setup and maintenance of trading partner profiles within the EDI translation software, including communication parameters and document routing.
  • Coordinate with third-party EDI service providers and VANs to resolve network or platform issues and optimize service delivery.
  • Generate and analyze reports on EDI transaction volumes, error rates, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends and areas for process improvement.
  • Lead small to medium-sized EDI projects, including software upgrades, partner migrations, and process automation initiatives, from conception to completion.
  • Validate the integrity and accuracy of data exchanged, cross-referencing EDI transactions with corresponding documents in the ERP system to resolve discrepancies.
  • Stay abreast of emerging EDI standards, technologies, and B2B integration best practices to recommend and implement process enhancements.
  • Manage digital certificates and security credentials required for secure data transmission, ensuring they are current and properly configured.
  • Develop and execute SQL queries against various databases to extract, validate, and analyze EDI-related data for reporting and troubleshooting purposes.
  • Serve as a technical liaison between the business and trading partners, effectively communicating technical details to non-technical audiences to facilitate problem resolution.
  • Participate in the evaluation and selection of new EDI tools, software, and managed service providers to enhance the organization's B2B capabilities.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • EDI Standards: Deep expertise in ANSI X12 and EDIFACT standards and structures.
  • Transaction Sets: Proven proficiency with common retail, logistics, and finance transaction sets (e.g., 850, 855, 856, 810, 820, 997, 210, 214).
  • EDI Translation & Mapping Software: Hands-on experience with platforms like Sterling B2B Integrator, OpenText, MuleSoft, Boomi, BizTalk, TrueCommerce, or SPS Commerce.
  • Communication Protocols: Expertise in managing connections via AS2, SFTP, FTPS, and Value-Added Networks (VANs).
  • ERP Integration: Experience integrating EDI processes with major ERP systems such as SAP (IDocs), Oracle, NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics.
  • SQL: Strong ability to write and execute SQL queries for data validation, analysis, and reporting.
  • Data Formats: Familiarity with related data formats like XML, CSV, and JSON and their role in modern integrations.
  • Troubleshooting: Proficiency in using logs, monitoring dashboards, and other diagnostic tools to trace and resolve complex data flow issues.
  • System Administration: Working knowledge of server environments (Windows/Linux) where EDI software is hosted.
  • Documentation: Skill in creating clear technical documentation, process flows, and mapping specifications.

Soft Skills

  • Problem-Solving: Exceptional analytical and root-cause analysis skills to quickly diagnose and resolve complex technical issues.
  • Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to liaise effectively with technical teams, business users, and external partners.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and highly accurate in managing complex data maps, configurations, and partner requirements.
  • Customer Focus: A strong service-oriented mindset when interacting with and supporting trading partners to build and maintain positive relationships.
  • Time Management: Ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple onboarding projects simultaneously, and meet tight deadlines.
  • Collaboration: A proactive team player who can work cross-functionally with various departments to achieve common goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate's degree in a technical field or equivalent professional experience in an EDI or B2B integration role.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Information Technology
  • Computer Science
  • Supply Chain Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of direct experience in an EDI-focused role, including hands-on mapping, trading partner management, and troubleshooting.

Preferred:

Experience in a specific industry (e.g., retail, manufacturing, healthcare, logistics) and direct experience with a major EDI platform like Sterling B2B Integrator, SAP PI/PO, or Dell Boomi.

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