Tax Planning Director

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:

Reporting directly to the Head of Tax Planning, the Director of Tax Planning will lead the development and execution of Intuitive’s global tax planning initiatives, supporting worldwide expansion and strategic transactions.

This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to drive meaningful impact on the company’s growth and global footprint.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute international and domestic planning strategies and initiatives, including US domestic and international tax and local country tax planning.
• Identify tax issues and make recommendations for solutions that complement the company’s business objectives.
• Research and analyze developments in domestic and international tax law.
• Support various international transactions and prepare for tax audits, including business expansion and mergers and acquisitions.
• Coordinate planning strategies with internal stakeholders as well as outside counsel, tax, and accounting advisors.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Minimum 12 plus years of tax experience in a large public accounting firm and/or multi-national corporate tax department
• International tax experience required with complete execution of complex projects
• Strong tax research and computer skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to partner with outside advisors and internal business teams to execute projects
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks and complete projects on a timely basis
• Detail oriented and highly analytical: capable of drilling down into the details and understanding complex quantitative and qualitative analyses
• Passion for solving complex problems
• Team player willing to collaborate
• This role requires working onsite in our Sunnyvale, CA office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week.

Required Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, taxation, or a related field
• MST, JD, or LLM a plus

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in financial reporting related to international tax matters a plus
• Experience with transfer pricing and mergers and acquisitions a major plus

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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.