Engineering Program Director - Americas Distribution Quality Operations

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

About the role

The Engineering Program Director, Distribution Quality Operations for Americas is responsible for leading and executing complex global quality programs that support distribution operations and operating unit requirements. This role serves as the primary program manager for Americas product rework initiatives, cosmetic fix programs, Product Hold Order (PHO) activities, and distribution supplier quality oversight. The position requires strong cross-functional leadership to coordinate activities across Operating Units, Distribution Centers, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs, Manufacturing, Quality, and third-party logistics partners. The Program Director ensures programs are executed in compliance with quality system requirements, regulatory expectations, and business objectives while driving efficient product disposition and distribution continuity.

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute global quality programs supporting cosmetic fixes, product rework activities, relabeling initiatives, and other supporting activities.
• Develop and manage program plans, timelines, budgets, risks, and stakeholder communication strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure program deliverables are completed on schedule and meet quality and regulatory requirements.
• Establish governance processes and provide regular status updates to senior leadership and operating unit stakeholders.
• Facilitate issue resolution and escalation management for critical program risks and barriers.
• Partner with Operating Units to define, document, and drive approvals of business, quality, and regulatory requirements for product rework and cosmetic fix activities.
• Lead change control activities associated with global distribution and rework initiatives.
• Ensure documentation packages, risk assessments, validation requirements, and implementation plans are completed and approved in accordance with Quality System requirements.
• Support development and maintenance of procedures, work instructions, and program documentation.
• Lead execution of Product Hold Orders affecting Americas Distribution sites.
• Coordinate inspection, sampling, segregation, containment, disposition, rework, scrapping, and shipment activities.
• Ensure PHO activities are executed in accordance with approved procedures, regulatory requirements, and operating unit instructions.
• Facilitate communication between operating units, distribution centers, quality teams, and supply chain stakeholders.
• Provide reporting and status updates on hold order progression, product disposition decisions, and completion activities.
• Oversee supplier quality activities supporting distribution operations, including third-party logistics providers, repackaging suppliers, and service providers.
• Coordinate supplier assessments, audits, performance reviews, and quality improvement initiatives that will be executed by Quality Engineering.
• Monitor supplier quality metrics and identify opportunities to reduce risk and improve performance.
• Coordinate logistics activities associated with product rework, relabeling, inspection, and product disposition programs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and logistics partners to execute approved plans.
• Ensure inventory movement, product accountability, and traceability requirements are maintained throughout program execution.
• Monitor program performance metrics and implement corrective actions as necessary.
• Assess project issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality, and client-satisfaction goals and objectives.

Requirements

To be considered for this role, please ensure the minimum requirements are evident on your resume.

• Bachelors degree in Engineering or Technical Sciences with 10 years of relevant work experience in Supplier Quality Execution and Project Management in a highly regulated industry and 7+ years of managerial experience, OR
• Advanced degree in Engineering or Technical Sciences with 8 years of relevant work experience in Supplier Quality Execution and Project Management in a highly regulated industry and 7+ years of managerial experience.
• 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.

Skills

Nice to Have:

• PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience supporting distribution center operations, field actions, product recalls, or product hold activities.
• Knowledge of FDA, ISO 13485, and medical device regulatory requirements.
• Experience with supplier quality management and third-party logistics oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to lead global, cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.

Physical Job Requirements

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers.

Pay

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD): $198,400.00 - $297,600.00

This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP) and an annual long-term incentive plan. The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location.

Benefits

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week:

• 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)

Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns. Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.

Medtronic Benefits And Compensation Plans

Schedule

This role requires working a minimum of 5 days a week onsite.