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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Vehicle Operations Analyst

💰 $75,000 - $115,000

Data AnalysisOperationsLogisticsAutomotive

🎯 Role Definition

As a Vehicle Operations Analyst, you are the analytical engine of our fleet operations. You will dive deep into telematics, maintenance, and operational data to uncover trends, identify inefficiencies, and forecast future needs. Your insights will be crucial in shaping our strategy for vehicle health, deployment, cost management, and overall operational excellence. You will work cross-functionally with engineering, finance, and field operations teams to translate complex data into actionable recommendations that directly impact the performance and scalability of our vehicle network.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Data Analyst or Business Analyst
  • Operations Coordinator or Logistics Specialist
  • Mechanical or Automotive Engineering (with a data focus)

Advancement To:

  • Senior Vehicle Operations Analyst or Team Lead
  • Fleet Manager or Operations Manager
  • Data Scientist, Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Supply Chain Analyst
  • Product Analyst (for vehicle-related products)
  • Business Intelligence Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Analyze large, complex datasets from vehicle telematics, maintenance records, and operational logs to identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Develop, monitor, and maintain Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to fleet health, utilization, cost per mile, and operational efficiency.
  • Create and automate insightful dashboards and reports using tools like Tableau, Power BI, or Looker for stakeholders at all levels, from field teams to executive leadership.
  • Conduct deep-dive root cause analyses on vehicle failures, safety incidents, and service disruptions to recommend and help implement effective corrective actions.
  • Build and refine predictive models for vehicle maintenance, component failure, and end-of-life replacement to enable proactive fleet management.
  • Monitor real-time fleet performance and alert systems, providing analytical support during critical operational events to minimize downtime.
  • Perform detailed cost analysis on all aspects of vehicle ownership, including acquisition, fuel, maintenance, and remarketing, to drive cost-saving initiatives.
  • Evaluate the performance and financial impact of new vehicle models, technologies, and operational strategies through structured pilot programs and A/B testing.
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to provide data-driven feedback on vehicle reliability and design issues, influencing future product development.
  • Develop sophisticated forecasting models for vehicle demand, fleet capacity, and parts inventory to ensure optimal resource allocation.
  • Analyze geospatial data to optimize vehicle routing, stationing, and charging/fueling strategies for maximum efficiency and service coverage.
  • Standardize and improve data collection processes to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and consistency of all vehicle-related data streams.
  • Translate complex analytical findings into clear, concise, and compelling narratives and presentations for non-technical audiences.
  • Own the development and refinement of analytical tools and data models that serve as the foundation for operational decision-making.
  • Manage reporting on fleet compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including emissions and safety standards.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer urgent business questions from leadership and partner teams.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader data strategy and roadmap by identifying new data sources and analytical opportunities.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate their strategic needs and challenges into tangible data engineering and analytical requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies as an embedded member of the operations or data team.
  • Provide training and support to field operators and managers on how to use data tools and interpret operational dashboards effectively.
  • Benchmark our fleet's performance against industry standards and competitors to identify strategic gaps and opportunities.
  • Partner with the finance department on budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis related to all fleet expenditures.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced SQL: Demonstrated ability to write complex queries, join multiple tables, and work with large-scale relational databases to extract and manipulate data.
  • Data Visualization: Proficiency in creating compelling and easy-to-understand dashboards and reports using tools like Tableau, Power BI, Looker, or similar.
  • Advanced Excel/Google Sheets: Mastery of advanced functions, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/INDEX MATCH, Power Query, and data modeling.
  • Scripting & Statistical Programming: Experience using Python (with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn) or R for data cleaning, analysis, and modeling.
  • Statistical Analysis: Strong understanding of statistical concepts and methods (e.g., hypothesis testing, regression analysis, time-series forecasting) to ensure analytical rigor.
  • Telematics Data Experience: Familiarity with analyzing data from vehicle telematics systems (GPS, CAN bus data, accelerometer data) is a significant plus.
  • Geospatial Analysis: Experience with GIS tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS) or geospatial libraries in Python/R for location-based analysis is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical & Critical Thinking: An innate ability to break down complex problems, identify root causes, and connect disparate data points to form a cohesive conclusion.
  • Exceptional Communication: The ability to clearly and concisely present complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A commitment to data accuracy and a methodical approach to analysis, ensuring that insights are reliable and trustworthy.
  • Proactive Problem-Solver: A self-starter mentality with a passion for discovering problems and driving projects to resolution with minimal supervision.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including engineers, operators, and finance, to achieve common goals.
  • Business Acumen: A strong sense of how operational actions and data insights connect to the company's bottom line and strategic objectives.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree in a quantitative or related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's Degree in a quantitative field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Analytics, Data Science, Statistics
  • Supply Chain Management, Logistics
  • Economics, Finance
  • Engineering (Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of experience in a data-intensive analytical role (e.g., business analyst, data analyst, operations analyst).

Preferred:

  • Prior experience in the automotive, transportation, logistics, fleet management, or autonomous vehicle industry is highly preferred and will set a candidate apart.