Principal Production Planner

Medtronic • Grand Rapids, MI

20h • 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. We are currently seeking a Principal Production Planner for our campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a member of the Operations Scheduling team, you will collaborate with various departments—like Materials Planning, Supply Network Planning, Engineering, Operations, Quality, Master Data, and internal and external customers. Key responsibilities include coordinating with external value streams to maintain proper supply and inventory levels and working with engineering and sourcing teams to support smooth manufacturing processes and effective communication. 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 Grand Rapids, Michigan. In this exciting role you will support business execution of ongoing and new programs and initiatives that include production scheduling and material scheduling in support of internal customers. Activities will focus on maintaining master production schedules, adherence to financial targets, new product launches, and supply health. You will monitor key performance indicators and coordinate with cross-functional work teams to meet business objectives. Key stakeholders will include Operations, Sourcing, and Operations Scheduling team members.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant planning/master scheduling experience, or advanced degree with a minimum of 5 years relevant experience
• U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with MRP/ERP systems (strong preference for SAP or Blue Yonder)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (including Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, etc.) or similar software.
• Strong data analysis, data management, and quantitative skills
• Excellent communication skills (both oral and written), team orientation, and ability to negotiate towards positive outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and good understanding of team dynamics.
• Must be detail-oriented, with ability to connect the detail to higher level goals.
• Working knowledge of quality system requirements and good manufacturing practices.
• Experience working in a regulated environment (i.e., medical device, pharmaceutical)
• APICS and/or CPM Certification
• Cost accounting understanding/experience
• Understanding of contracts (supply, services, non-disclosures, etc.)
• Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt (or comparable training)

Responsibilities

• Own shift-level production planning and prioritization, ensuring alignment to demand, capacity, and service commitments while driving performance against established KPIs.
• Manage material consumption and inventory levels, balancing production requirements with inventory targets to minimize shortages, excess, and obsolescence.
• Communicate supply health, production status, and operational plans to cross-functional stakeholders, proactively escalating risks and recommended actions.
• Serve as the primary planning point of contact for the value stream, partnering with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Engineering to ensure execution readiness.
• Execute production planning activities within an SAP/MRP environment, including maintaining master data accuracy to support effective planning and scheduling.
• Troubleshoot and resolve master production scheduling and MRP issues, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to protect supply continuity.
• Lead and participate in tiered daily/weekly meetings, providing clear updates on material availability, production priorities, and constraint resolution.
• Analyze and report on key planning and operations KPIs, translating data into actionable insights for operations leadership.
• Present information clearly and effectively to both operational teams and leadership, supporting informed decision-making.

Benefits

• 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
• 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)
• 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: Principal