Distribution Planner

Distribution Requirements 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.

The Distribution Requirements Planner (DRP) is responsible for managing and optimizing inventory distribution across the supply chain network to ensure product availability while minimizing costs. This role involves leading demand-supply planning activities, coordinating with cross-functional teams, and providing insights to support business decisions. The DRP planner will also contribute to process improvements and systems enhancements.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze, develops, and implements short and mid-term supply chain strategies and network that address supply issues and replenishment decisions in support of business goals.
• Develop and maintain distribution requirements plans to balance supply and demand across regional and global networks.
• Monitor inventory levels at distribution centers, proactively addressing potential stock-outs or excess.
• Analyze demand forecasts, production plans, and transportation constraints to generate efficient replenishment strategies.
• Collaborate with demand planning, supply planning, logistics, and commercial teams to align on service levels and inventory targets.
• Use advanced planning systems (APS) and ERP tools (e.g., SAP ECC, APO, SAP S/4
  
  HANA, Blue Yonder) to generate and optimize distribution plans.
• Track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as backorder, product availability, OTIF, forecast accuracy, freight, DC critical KPIs, inventory turns, and obsolescence.
• Lead root cause analysis of supply-demand imbalances and recommend corrective actions.
• Drive process improvements, automation, and adoption of best practices in distribution planning.

Requisites / Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in supply chain planning, preferably with a focus on distribution requirements planning, supply or operational scheduling management.
• Strong knowledge of distribution networks, supply planning, and demand management processes.
• Hands-on experience with advanced planning systems (e.g., SAP ECC, APO, Blue Yonder).
• Strong experience on Microsoft Power BI or Snowflake analyzing data, presenting business case, root cause analysis and action plan to implement).

Technical & Professional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; ability to interpret large datasets and translate insights into actions.
• Advanced Excel skills; proficiency in data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Snowflake).
• Familiarity with safety stock calculation, and replenishment models.
• High organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and compelling priorities.
• Effective communication skills to interact with stakeholders at all levels.

Behavioral Competencies

• Customer-focused mindset with a drive to achieve high service levels.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with changing priorities.
• Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to challenge the status quo.
• Strong, demonstrated critical capabilities (Influence, Compelling communication, Analytical, Business Acumen, Lean thinking) and stakeholder management

Preferred Certifications

• APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional).
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or higher (a plus).

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.

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.

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions.

Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary.