Associate Buyer/Planner

Medtronic • Santa Ana, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

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. A Day in the Life At Medtronic, we seek out and hire a diverse workforce at every level. We need fresh ideas and inclusive insights to continue to be an innovative industry leader. That’s why we attract, develop, and retain employees who are patient‑centric, passionate, and who represent the same wide variety of life experiences as our patients. We are currently seeking an Associate Buyer/Planner (Operations Planner) to join our Medtronic campus in Santa Ana, CA. This entry‑level to early‑career role supports supply chain planning and procurement activities for external service partners supporting the Santa Ana and Irvine sites. The Associate Buyer/Planner will support day‑to-day execution of purchasing, materials planning, and supplier coordination activities while learning Medtronic’s supply chain processes, systems, and quality requirements. This role works closely with cross‑functional partners to ensure continuity of supply, adherence to quality standards, and alignment with business priorities. At Medtronic, we bring bold ideas forward with speed and decisiveness to put patients first in everything we do. In-person exchanges are invaluable to our work. We’re working a minimum of 5 days a week onsite as part of our commitment to fostering a culture of professional growth and cross-functional collaboration as we work together to engineer the extraordinary. This position will work onsite at our campus in Santa Ana, California.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with MRP/ERP systems (SAP or Blue Yonder preferred)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Strong analytical, data management, and quantitative skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with a collaborative, team‑oriented mindset
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to connect detailed tasks to broader business objectives
• Working knowledge of quality systems and good manufacturing practices
• Experience in a regulated environment (medical device, pharmaceutical, or similar)
• APICS and/or CPM certification
• Basic understanding of cost accounting principles
• Familiarity with contract concepts (supply, services, NDAs)
• Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or comparable training
• For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

Responsibilities

• Procurement & Purchasing Support Support the procurement of goods and services from approved external suppliers in accordance with sourcing strategies and contracts Assist with purchase order creation, tracking, and follow‑up to ensure on‑time delivery
• Planning & Scheduling Support materials planning, demand alignment, and capacity coordination with service providers Assist in maintaining purchasing and planning parameters within MRP/ERP systems
• Supplier Coordination Communicate with suppliers regarding delivery schedules, order status, and basic issue resolution Support supplier performance tracking and escalation of issues to senior team members as needed
• Inventory Management Monitor inventory levels and help identify risks related to shortages or excess inventory Support inventory accuracy and data integrity through regular analysis and reporting
• Data & Performance Monitoring Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) related to delivery, inventory, and supplier performance Use data to support continuous improvement initiatives and decision‑making
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration Work closely with Operations, Sourcing, Engineering, Quality, and Scheduling teams to support business execution Participate in cross‑functional meetings and provide planning and procurement support
• Quality & Compliance Ensure purchasing and planning activities comply with Medtronic policies, quality system requirements, and applicable regulations Support documentation and audit readiness activities as required
• Continuous Improvement & Teamwork Contribute to process improvement initiatives within procurement and planning Work collaboratively with the broader supply chain team to meet departmental goals

Benefits

• Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
• We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.
• 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).
• 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).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees