Sr Manager Supply Chain Operations

Company Description

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.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position

The Senior Manager, Supply Chain Operations will lead purchased component inventory optimization and supplier facing integrations, and cross‑functional engagement across Planning, Logistics, Engineering, and Procurement functions.  Position is accountable for scaling supply operations through improving material planning logic, execution governance, and adoption of new technologies and processes to support network expansion and business growth.

Success in this role requires strong direct materials-focused expertise, technical aptitude, disciplined execution, and a proactive approach to inventory, obsolescence, and supply risk management.

Essential Job Duties

• Lead inventory turn-over optimization initiatives, including refining component planning logic, network balancing, readiness reviews for site or production line expansions, executing targeted reductions of slow moving or excess inventories and other execution improvements to support scale, resilience, and financial efficiency.
• Own end‑to‑end supply chain integration efforts tied to network expansion, acquisitions, new manufacturing footprints, production line extensions and supplier transitions.
• Supports warehouse space planning for purchased component materials, including development of improved planning models to facilitate space budgeting.
• Drives supplier facing projects, as required, to support lean delivery processing of purchased materials that may include lot size governance, product packaging and labeling and advance shipment notification processing to enable seamless receiving operations.
• Supports (and may lead) adoption and integration of new technologies, tools, and analytics to improve supply visibility, planning accuracy, and decision quality across the supply network.
• Establish clear process governance and controls for complex, cross‑functional supply initiatives, ensuring accountability across Planning, Logistics, Engineering, Procurement, and Manufacturing functions.
• Drive stabilization and continuous improvement of component material planning processes (i.e. coverage profile, lead time, lot sizing, strategic reserves, etc.), translating policy into durable execution.
• Identify and close systemic gaps in execution and process capabilities, including definition of roles, operating models, and escalation paths.
• Serve as the senior counterpart to partner functions, aligning priorities, resolving ownership ambiguity, and enabling faster, more coordinated execution.
• Translate strategic supply chain objectives into executable roadmaps, programs, and projects, balancing near‑term issue resolution with longer‑term capability needs.
• Mentor and develop other leaders and high potential contributors, scaling organizational capability and reducing dependency on ad‑hoc or hero‑driven execution.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Procurement, Planning, Logistics, or other manufacturing support functions within a complex, global corporation.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional supply chain initiatives, integrating efforts across Planning, Logistics, Engineering, Procurement, and other functions with Operations or Finance.
• Strong expertise in inventory network design, material planning, warehouse and delivery optimization and financial principles, including inventory turn-over and availability improvements, master data governance (i.e. lead times, coverage models, etc.), excess and obsolete inventory reduction, storage planning and strategic inventory reserves planning.
• Proven ability to lead large‑scale integrations or transformations, such as network expansion, new manufacturing footprints, supplier transitions, or system/process rollouts.
• Experience driving adoption of new technologies, tools, or analytics to improve supply visibility, planning accuracy, and execution performance.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, high‑complexity environments, establishing clarity, accountability, and structure where ownership or processes are underdeveloped.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with a track record of influencing senior stakeholders and developing high‑performing teams.

Required Education and Training 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related technical or analytical field

Working Conditions – none

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience leading supply chain network expansion, including new manufacturing sites, supplier transitions, or regional footprint growth.
• Strong background in integrating supply chain technologies and systems (ERP, planning tools, analytics platforms etc.) into operating processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross‑functional programs from strategy through execution in matrixed organizations.
• Experience working closely with Engineering and Operations on new production introductions (NPI), industrialization, or product lifecycle transitions.
• Familiarity with advanced planning concepts such as network modeling, warehouse space planning, scenario analysis, capacity tradeoffs, and inventory optimization.
• Track record of building or scaling execution governance models (RACI, operating cadence, escalation frameworks) in complex environments.
• Prior experience in regulated, high‑reliability, or capital‑intensive industries preferred.

Additional Information

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.