Principal Production Planner

Principal Production Planner (Operations Planner)

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.

We are currently seeking a Principal Production Planner (Operations Planner) for our Irvine, CA site. This role sits within the Operations Scheduling organization and plays a critical, strategic role in ensuring supply continuity and operational excellence. The Principal Planner will collaborate extensively with Master Production Scheduling, Supply Network Planning, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Master Data, and external partners. This position is fully on-site, with the expectation that the employee will be on campus for all working days. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in production planning, demonstrates strong leadership without formal authority, and brings thought leadership to drive supply chain improvements.

Do meaningful work, make a difference, and improve lives starting with your own!

In this highly visible and influential role, you will drive end-to-end production planning execution and lead initiatives that improve supply health, operational efficiency, and delivery performance. You will own critical processes such as daily / weekly production scheduling, material readiness, new product introduction planning, and scenario analysis in support of key business objectives.

You will act as the primary planning expert for your value stream, identify and mitigate risks, influence cross-functional decisions, and provide insights that shape operational strategies.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to :

• Serve as the primary planning authority for the assigned value stream, providing strategic guidance and expert insights.
• Own production planning, prioritization, and KPI oversight at a strategic level.
• Lead inventory management, consumption analysis, and root-cause investigation for variances.
• Develop and communicate supply health assessments, mitigation plans, and operational recommendations.
• Conduct scenario planning, capacity analysis, and planning simulations to support business decisions.
• Represent Operations Scheduling in cross-functional forums, presenting findings, risks, and recommendations.
• Own and troubleshoot advanced master production scheduling issues within SAP, including master data impacts.
• Partner with operations and supply chain leadership to define planning strategies that support financial and service goals.
• Participate in and lead tier meetings, driving clarity and alignment on supply, materials availability, and production priorities.
• Monitor and report performance metrics; develop insights to improve planning accuracy and operational execution.
• Coach and provide guidance to less experienced planners (no direct people management required).

Must Have : Minimum Requirements

Nice to Have

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles : While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package. A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create. We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD) : $92,800.00 - $139,200.00 This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP). The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification / education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week : Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long-term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance / reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well-being program).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees : Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match, Short-term disability, Paid time off, Paid holidays, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).

Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico. Further details are available at the link below :

Medtronic benefits and compensation plans

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and / or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. ("Medtronic") in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.