Data Analyst 3 - Store Operations

The Data Analyst 3 is a lead member of the Store Operations Data Analytics team which owns the acquisition and delivery of data and insights for Store Operations initiatives impacting Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores. The ideal candidate can think strategically and creatively about the needs of the business, build productive relationships with a diverse array of stakeholders, and provide ongoing data support that will produce quantitative analysis, drive meaningful action, and improve store-level performance. This individual operates as a Looker developer and AI-native analyst — building, maintaining, and continuously improving a modern reporting suite powered by Looker and accelerated by AI tools including Claude. They will keep a constant pulse on all Store Operations initiatives and priorities and influence change through compelling, accurate, and timely data delivery. 

The ideal candidate is a self-starter and strong technical contributor who is always looking for new opportunities to solve business problems with data-driven tools. The individual should be highly curious about how the business works and possess the skills to unlock rich, nuanced insights from complicated data and communicate those insights in a way that drives positive business outcomes. Proficiency with Looker (LookML development, Explores, dashboards) and active use of AI tools — particularly Claude — for development acceleration, analysis, and workflow automation are required competencies for this role. 

STORE OPERATIONS RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Own “the truth” in Store Operations data through governance and process including the acquisition, management, automation, and integrity of all data 

• Champion the data needs and priorities of the HQ Store Operations team, coordinating with key business/data/tech partners across the Nordstrom organization 

• Own requirements gathering for Store Operations Looker projects; document business needs, metric definitions, and stakeholder sign-off in alignment with SODA SOP standards prior to development 

• Maintain and improve the SODA Looker reporting suite, proactively identifying gaps, deprecating legacy content, and applying AI-assisted workflows to drive continuous improvement 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Collaborate with team members and business partners to deliver high quality solutions and recommendations to a variety of problems  

• Dive deep into complex business problems and provide insights on performance through hypothesis testing and monitoring trends in key metrics  

• Develop and manage the environment of reports and analysis delivering a simple and organized user access and experience 

• Maintains consistent Jira hygiene including daily worklogging, real-time ticket updates, active sprint participation, and proactive communication of blockers and timeline risks before deadlines are missed. 

• Experience writing custom LookML dimensions and measures including conditional logic, type casting, and field-level governance; ability to debug Explore SQL and validate output against source systems 

• Design, build, and maintain Looker dashboards and Explores using LookML; leverage AI tools including Claude to accelerate development, validate data accuracy, and improve delivery speed 

• Validate data accuracy throughout development by cross-referencing outputs against source systems; document validation steps and findings in Jira per SODA data validation SOP 

• Demonstrate ability to submit, manage, and iterate on GitHub pull requests through the full lifecycle — from initial submission through internal code review participation, feedback response, merge conflict resolution, and final deployment; operates in alignment with Nordstrom LookML Coding Standards and holds a high bar for production-ready quality before merge. 

• Support the analysis and diagnosis around business performance and provide expert guidance to improve results 

• Use advanced analytical and statistical practices to create thorough and actionable insights  

• Excel at compelling story telling with data, providing clear insights that bring facts to support business hypothesis and anecdotes 

• Influence leadership and program management through fact-based recommendation using data analysis 

• Mentor and support junior analysts (DA1/DA2) on LookML development, SQL best practices, data validation techniques, and AI-assisted workflows; contribute to team knowledge base and SOPs 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 3-5 years of professional experience querying, transforming, and analyzing large operational datasets using SQL and cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Google Cloud Platform / BigQuery), with a track record of translating data into actionable business recommendations 

• 3-5 years of experience in development, manipulation, and management of large data sets from various relational databases using SQL  

• 3-5 years of hands-on Looker development experience, including LookML authoring, Explore configuration, and dashboard design for operational or retail reporting 

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in Computer Science, Math, Engineering, Science, Business, or a related field with documented coursework in statistics or business analytics 

• Demonstrated experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, Claude Code) for development acceleration, code generation, data validation, and workflow automation; comfort working alongside AI as a standard part of the development workflow is required 

• Strong SQL skills required; experience with Google Cloud Platform (BigQuery) preferred; Python or other scripting languages a plus 

• Ability to be flexible and work in a fast-paced and dynamic organization   

• Clear and effective written and verbal communication for individuals at all levels of analytical expertise 

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex data findings to non-technical stakeholders across all levels of the organization 

• High degree of working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite 

• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills 

• The ability to find innovative ways to resolve problems 

• Retail industry experience a plus