Sr. Production Planner

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Primary Function of Position

This position is seeking a creative and flexible individual to help lead the Planning activities for the Instrument or Systems Manufacturing lines. Responsible for the overall status of order fulfillment and managing inventory levels throughout the manufacturing process.

The Sr Production Planner will be assigned critical Operations, NPI or Sustaining projects to manage.  Expected to seek out and recommend process improvements, assist in developing team members skill sets in the planning, take on leadership responsibilities for strategic planning activities that enable the department capabilities to scale to the growing business needs.

The candidate will work with multiple cross-functional teams, Manufacturing, Supply chain, Quality, Engineering and other teams to achieve both tactical and strategic goals assigned.  This by fully understanding production demand and supply needs, balancing operational goals while incorporating Lean Manufacturing principals, and identify and coordinate issue resolution and continuous improvement opportunities with other departments. This position requires strong presentation and clear communication abilities. 

Essential Job Duties

• Manage assigned NPI/Sustaining projects at both strategic and tactical level. Evaluate current process and recommend continuous improvement to evolve process.
• Provides mentorship through tactical training to team members to improve their skill sets in NPI/ Sustaining planning. Lead efforts to create and/or updating work instructions (WI) & Departmental Operating Procedures (DOP).
• Lead and support department or organizational projects. Gain project team consensus, track/ monitor scope, scope changes, project plan time lines against phase review objectives, variances and contingencies that surface during implementation of projects. Escalate where necessary to management.
• Engage Manufacturing teams in the continuous improvement process to ensure assigned projects are identified, prioritized and implemented in a timely and effective manner.
• Identify potential supply risks and inventory exposures by aligning supply chain processes with production plan milestones/targets. Illuminate impact to supply continuity for Finished Goods Inventory (FGI).
• Applying knowledge of concepts and principles of planning to develop solutions to a variety of problems, particularly with supply constraints.
• Perform capacity analysis in to support what-if scenarios, forecast changes, and plan for production growth.             
• Maintain department metrics; analyze trends and results. Drive appropriate corrective actions where needed.
• Provide direction to various NPI programs/projects as subject matter expert, to support product transitions to sustaining manufacturing lines.
• Collaborate with Purchasing and Engineering to review proposed changes and establish Engineering Change Order (ECO) affectivity.  Execute ECO implementation requirements.
• Support production activities and ensure maximum line up-time
• Determine and manage potential line shortages by analyzing build schedules, shortage reports, on hand inventory reports and supplier delivery information
• Develop communication relationship with Production, Engineering, Purchasing, Shipping, and Customer Service to manage supply and demand
• Resolve work order variances, and determine/track root cause. Work with Cost Accounting for month end close
• Monitor and adjust planning parameters in SAP

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in SAP.(Mandatory)
• Advanced MS Office skills, understanding of vlookup, Pivot tables, macro recordings, data tables, charting, data sorting segregation and formula auditing.
• Presents ideas effectively in formal and informal situations. Conveys thoughts clearly and concisely.
• Ability to respond to detailed inquiries, and present information to groups and senior management.
• Advanced SAP/ERP experience, troubleshoot IT issues that surface with little to no assistance from business applications. Lead department customization transaction Tcode enhancements for business needs.
• Ability to communicate in a succinct and organized manner, appropriate for context, time and place. (English/Spanish)
• Expert knowledge of business disciplines production planning and supply chain management.
• Ability to perform with greater independence and judgment, receiving general supervision from senior management.
• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the organization.
• Exposure to low volume, high complexity capital equipment or high volume, low complexity products.
• Highly analytical: critical-thinker; strong analytical aptitude and attention to detail; due to the speed and rate of change occurring in this manufacturing environment, must be able to problem solve and think independently.
• Flexible: adaptable and able to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Motivated: enthusiastic; strives for excellence; continually seeks to improve self and company; ability and strong desire to grow with the company; leads by example.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and projects successfully.

Required Education and Training

• Minimum 5  years of experience in a progressive manufacturing environment, 4 year degree preferred in Business Management or Engineering .

Preferred Skills and Experience

• APICS certification a plus.
• Preferred experience in the Pharmaceutical or Medical Device industry (or similar regulated industry). Demonstrate the ability to operate in a regulated industry with working knowledge of ISO and regulatory restrictions.

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.