Innovation Support Analyst

The Innovation Support Analyst will provide day to day operational and project support for innovation pilots and solution deployments within Asset Protection. This role partners closely with internal stakeholders, vendors, and field leadership to ensure pilots are executed effectively, communications are clear, and post deployment validation is completed., Project & Operational Support Support the preparation and delivery of weekly project progress updates. Manage vendor quotes and support the creation of purchase orders. Assist with the development of Product outlines for individual vendors. Vendor & Meeting Coordination Establish agendas and provide coordination support for vendor progress and status meetings. Track action items and follow up with vendors to support timely execution of deliverables. (Derived directly from meeting and progress support duties.) Field & Stakeholder Communications Support communications to field and store leaders prior to and following pilot go live. Respond to field support inquiries related to new solutions and pilot deployments. Post Deployment Validation Conduct audits of CCTV images following pilot installations to validate image quality and solution performance., We are seeking a contract Innovation Support Analyst to provide handson coordination for Asset Protection innovation pilots. This role supports project tracking, vendor coordination (including POs), and clear field communications to ensure pilots are executed smoothly. The analyst will also support postdeployment validation activities, including CCTV image audits, in a fastpaced, multipilot environment., Pilot planning and coordination (day-to-day support) Coordinate pilot kickoffs, timelines, and task tracking across internal partners (Asset Protection, field leadership, operations, technology) and external vendors. Confirm pilot readiness by gathering required details (site lists, install/activation dates, contacts, training/communications needs) and keeping documentation current for stakeholders.

Pilot execution support (field + vendor enablement) Serve as a central point to coordinate field readiness and vendor activities so pilots are executed with minimal disruption to store/field operations. Track issues/questions coming from the field during pilot execution, route to the right owner (vendor, AP application/support team, internal SMEs), and ensure follow-through to resolution. (Related example of how AP app questions/issues get routed can be seen in the ThinkLP support guidance.)

Stakeholder communications and change coordination Draft and deliver clear, timely communications to impacted groups (pilot locations, district/field leadership, AP leadership, vendor contacts), including what is changing, when it is changing, and what actions are required. Maintain consistent status updates and escalation paths so leaders have visibility to progress, risks, and decisions. (This aligns with enterprise expectations around completeness/clarity of implementation and validation planning when changes are being introduced.)

Deployment readiness documentation and handoffs Support the operational handoff from pilot work into broader deployment by ensuring required artifacts are completed and approvals are captured prior to deployment (for example, production turnover documentation and required approver roles). ( Confirm install/deployment plans are complete (owners, timing, prerequisites, naming/records hygiene) and aligned across delivery teams and business partners.

Post-deployment validation and closeout Drive post-deployment validation activities to confirm the solution is working as intended in real-world conditions, coordinate validation inputs from business owners/field users, and document outcomes. Capture lessons learned, issues, and adoption feedback and translate them into improvements for the next wave of deployment (process updates, communication improvements, training needs, or vendor follow-ups). (Validation as a required post-change step is reinforced in enterprise guidance for application owners.)

Duties:

Project & Operational Support Support the preparation and delivery of weekly project progress updates. Manage vendor quotes and support the creation of purchase orders. Assist with the development of Product outlines for individual vendors. Vendor & Meeting Coordination Establish agendas and provide coordination support for vendor progress and status meetings. Track action items and follow up with vendors to support timely execution of deliverables. (Derived directly from meeting and progress support duties.) Field & Stakeholder Communications Support communications to field and store leaders prior to and following pilot go live. Respond to field support inquiries related to new solutions and pilot deployments. Post Deployment Validation Conduct audits of CCTV images following pilot installations to validate image quality and solution performance.

Experience supporting project management or operational initiatives in a corporate or field based environment. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Experience coordinating with vendors and cross functional partners. Clear written and verbal communication skills, particularly for field facing communications. Proficiency with standard business tools (e.g., Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting retail operations, Asset Protection, or technology pilots. Familiarity with purchase order processes and vendor management. Prior experience supporting pilot deployments or go live activities.

Working Style & Expectations Detail oriented with a strong follow through mindset. Able to work independently while taking direction from project and business leaders. Comfortable operating in a fast paced, pilot driven environment with evolving priorities.

Innovation Support Analyst (Contract)

Ability to travel or come onsite as needed (travel is expenseeligible) Local candidates preferred but location does not matter Standard hours: 9:00am5:00pm local time Flexibility required to occasionally start earlier or attend later meetings, 1. Pilot & Project Coordination (Core Skill)

• Handson coordination experience required
• Managing timelines, task tracking, and weekly status updates
• Supporting multiple workstreams simultaneously

1. Vendor Coordination & PO Support - Practical experience required - Coordinating vendor meetings and tracking action items - Supporting vendor quotes, Products, and purchase order processes

2. FieldFacing Communication & FollowThrough - Strong written and verbal communication required - Drafting clear golive and postgolive communications - Handling field inquiries, routing issues, and ensuring resolution

Experience Level 35 years of experience in project coordination or operational support roles

Helpful Technologies

• Microsoft Office (required): Excel, Teams, Outlook Candidates must complete an online Microsoft assessment and attach scores to the resume
• Familiarity with AI tools (e.g., Copilot) is a plus
• Oracle or SQL experience is a strong plus (not required)

***Candidate Questionnaire (Must be completed at the top of the resume)

1. Total years of experience supporting project coordination or operational support
2. Experience with pilots or deployments (brief description of role)
3. Vendor coordination experience (Yes/No + brief example)
4. PO or vendor quote support experience (Yes/No)
5. Field, store, or multisite support experience (Yes/No)
6. Tools used (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, others)
7. Validation or audit experience (postdeployment checks, QA, image reviews brief)
8. Location, and ability to work MonFri 95 local time with flexibility as needed, Experience supporting project management or operational initiatives in a corporate or field based environment. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. Experience coordinating with vendors and cross functional partners. Clear written and verbal communication skills, particularly for field facing communications. Proficiency with standard business tools (e.g., Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint). Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting retail operations, Asset Protection, or technology pilots. Familiarity with purchase order processes and vendor management. Prior experience supporting pilot deployments or go live activities., Associates degree or related equivalent work experience required.