Material Program Specialist

Primary Function of Position

• Represents Global Procurement in key operational forums and ensures end‑to‑end material readiness to support operational execution. This role is responsible for gathering, evaluating, and presenting procurement and materials information to enable SIOP alignment, build‑plan amendments, SOE reviews, production‑status assessments, and clear‑to‑build analyses for assigned business unit(s) and/or product families.

• Position also supports Global Procurement deliverables for manufacturing line transfers and new‑plant readiness by aligning cross‑functional milestones and transfer requirements with MSRB, PMO, and other supporting organizations.

• Position ensures that procurement related support activities support Company objectives for cost reduction, sustainability, and operational efficiency.

Essential Job Duties

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Represents Global Procurement in cross‑functional operational forums by preparing and presenting procurement and materials inputs to support SIOP, build‑plan updates, SOE reviews, production‑status assessments, and clear‑to‑build (CTB) analyses.

• Supports manufacturing line transfers and new‑plant readiness by coordinating with MSRB, PMO, and supporting functions to align timelines, milestones, and transfer requirements.

Material Readiness and Master Data Governance

• Ensures effective planning and setup of component materials, including direct to plant (DTP) readiness, material‑master accuracy, and data‑integrity checks.

• Maintains high‑quality master data across planning systems and addresses discrepancies affecting material availability or production planning.

• Manages procurement related activities to achieve seamless transition of product lines from New Product Introduction (NPI) into large scale production.

Risk Management, Health Reviews and Compliance

• Supports business unit and/or product line inventory health goals (measured by days of supply available) and coverage profile (CP) adherence reviews.

• Conduct materials health checks and compliance assessments to identify points of supply constraint, capacity, supplier execution and data‑quality risks.

• Works in partnership with Supplier Engineering and Sourcing to evaluate supplier capacity versus demand and recommend mitigation strategies.

• Provides recommendations for material planning‑attribute updates, demand planning improvements, supply risk mitigation, and master‑data corrections to support operational excellence.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Prepares and presents executive‑level summaries, dashboards, and materials‑readiness reports to communicate supply constraints, risks, and operational dependencies.

• Identifies and drive improvements in procurement workflows, material‑readiness processes, and governance mechanisms.

Required Skills and Experience

Functional Skills

• Advanced ERP/MRP proficiency: Deep understanding of SAP or equivalent platforms, including material‑master structures, BOM dependencies, planning parameters, MRP exception handling, and effectivity management. Ability to identify and correct data integrity issues impacting supply, CTB readiness, or production schedules.

• SIOP and planning expertise: Ability to interpret SIOP signals, assess demand/supply gaps, analyze consumption trends, and support build‑plan changes through accurate material readiness assessments.

• Material readiness and lifecycle management: Experience supporting direct to plant (DTP) setup, sustaining BOM governance, readiness tracking for NPI transitions, and material cutovers associated with engineering changes or line transfers.

• Risk assessment and mitigation: Skilled in evaluating supplier capacity versus demand, identifying shortages, assessing E&O exposure, and recommending risk‑based planning or sourcing actions.

• Operational execution support: Practical understanding of manufacturing operations, production planning workflows, and cross‑functional change impacts (ECOs, line moves, plant readiness).

General Competencies

• Analytical capability: Ability to extract insights from complex data sets, synthesize supply/demand positions, and communicate implications to operations leaders.

• Cross‑functional collaboration: Strong ability to work with Procurement, Planning, Engineering, Supplier Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, PMO, and MSRB teams to align on timelines, priorities, and deliverables.

• Communication excellence: Skilled in presenting complex materials analyses to leadership, facilitating status reviews, and providing clear updates on risks and readiness.

• Process governance and continuous improvement: Demonstrated ability to develop standards, influence policy, and drive improvements in material‑setup processes, ECO workflows, and supply‑readiness governance.

• Problem solving and prioritization: Adept at navigating ambiguity, managing competing priorities, and resolving material‑related issues quickly and effectively.

Required Education and Training  

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or equivalent and +8 years of purchasing experience in a regulated industry manufacturing environment (medical device preferred); or 6 years’ experience and a master’s degree.

• Certifications such as CPSM, CPIM, PMP or related are preferred. 

Working Conditions  

• Approximately 20% travel required to domestic and international supplier sites, as well as Intuitive manufa

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.

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.