Demand Planner/Buyer

Join us in pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. Our inspiring and caring environment forms a global community that celebrates diversity and individuality. We encourage you to step beyond your comfort zone, offering resources and flexibility to foster your professional and personal growth, all while valuing your unique contributions. Varian Medical Systems, a Siemens Healthineers company is hiring a Senior Buyer/Planner in Palo Alto, California. In this role you will be responsible for driving effective supply planning, procurement execution, and inventory optimization through advanced data analysis and cross functional collaboration. This role requires strong analytical capability, expert-level Excel skills, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights that support business objectives, cost optimization, and service-level performance. What You will do: Develop and execute purchase plans aligned with demand forecasts, production schedules, and inventory targets Analyze large datasets to identify trends, risks, and opportunities related to demand variability, supplier performance, lead times, and cost drivers Own inventory planning strategies to balance service levels, working capital, and obsolescence risk Build and maintain advanced Excel models (forecasts, what‑if scenarios, supplier comparisons, capacity analysis) to support decision-making Monitor and manage key supply chain metrics including forecast accuracy, inventory turns, on-time delivery, and material availability Partner cross-functionally with Sourcing, Operations, Finance, Engineering, and Suppliers to resolve shortages and improve planning outcomes Lead supplier communication related to demand signals, purchase commitments, and delivery performance Drive continuous improvement by identifying process inefficiencies and implementing data-driven solutions Support strategic sourcing initiatives through spend analysis, supplier benchmarking, and total cost modeling Mentor junior buyers/planners and contribute to best practices across the planning and purchasing team Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Inventory turns and working capital improvement On-time supplier delivery and material availability Forecast accuracy and planning adherence Cost savings and avoidance through analytical insights Data quality and reporting effectiveness Key Competencies Advanced analytical thinking and quantitative reasoning High attention to detail with a strong bias toward accuracy Strategic mindset with operational execution capability Strong business acumen and financial understanding Proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement orientation What You will have: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Finance, or a related field 7+ years of experience in buying, planning, or supply chain analytics within a manufacturing or operations environment Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including: Pivot tables, Power Query, Power Pivot Advanced formulas (INDEX/MATCH, XLOOKUP, SUMIFS, array formulas) Scenario modeling and data validation Strong data manipulation and analytical problem‑solving skills Experience working with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar) Ability to clearly communicate data insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders Proven ability to work independently in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment What will set You apart: Experience with demand planning or supply planning tools Exposure to SQL, Power BI, Tableau, or other data visualization tools CPM, CSCP, or CPIM certification Experience in global supply chains or multi-site operations #LS-OS1 Who we are: We are a team of more than 72,000 highly dedicated Healthineers in more than 70 countries. As a leader in medical technology, we constantly push the boundaries to create better outcomes and experiences for patients, no matter where they live or what health issues they are facing. Our portfolio is crucial for clinical decision-making and treatment pathways. How we work: When you join Siemens Healthineers, you become one in a global team of scientists, clinicians, developers, researchers, professionals, and skilled specialists, who believe in each individual’s potential to contribute with diverse ideas. We are from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, political and/or sexual orientations, and work together, to fight the world’s most threatening diseases and enable access to care, united by one purpose: to pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. To find out more about Siemens Healthineers businesses, please visit our company page here. The base pay range for this position is: $124,270 - $170,874 Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. If this is a commission eligible position the commission eligibility will be in accordance with the terms of the Company's plan. Commissions are based on individual performance and/or company performance. The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan. life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, paid parking/public transportation, paid time off, paid sick and safe time. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Siemens Healthineers is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, sex stereotyping, order of protection status, protected veteran or military status, or an unfavorable discharge from military service, and other categories protected by federal, state or local law. EEO is the Law: Applicants and employees are protected under Federal law from discrimination. To learn more, click here. Reasonable Accommodations: Siemens Healthineers is committed to equal employment opportunity. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing a job application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please fill out the accommodations form here. If you’re unable to complete the form, you can reach out to our HR People Connect People Contact Center for support at [email protected]. Please note HR People Connect People Contact Center will not have visibility of your application or interview status. California Privacy Notice: California residents have the right to receive additional notices about their personal information. To learn more, click here. Export Control: “A successful candidate must be able to work with controlled technology in accordance with US export control law.” “It is Siemens Healthineers’ policy to comply fully and completely with all United States export control laws and regulations, including those implemented by the Department of Commerce through the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), by the Department of State through the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and by the Treasury Department through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions regulations.” Data Privacy: We care about your data privacy and take compliance with GDPR as well as other data protection legislation seriously. For this reason, we ask you not to send us your CV or resume by email. We ask instead that you create a profile in our talent community where you can upload your CV. Setting up a profile lets us know you are interested in career opportunities with us and makes it easy for us to send you an alert when relevant positions become open. Register here to get started. Beware of Job Scams: Please beware of potentially fraudulent job postings or suspicious recruiting activity by persons that are currently posing as Siemens Healthineers recruiters/employees. These scammers may attempt to collect your confidential personal or financial information. If you are concerned that an offer of employment with Siemens Healthineers might be a scam or that the recruiter is not legitimate, please verify by searching for the posting on the Siemens Healthineers career site. To all recruitment agencies: Siemens Healthineers does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, employees, or any other company location. Siemens Healthineers is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. We are a team of 72,000 highly dedicated employees across more than 70 countries passionately pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare to help improve people’s lives around the world. As a leader in the industry, we aspire to create better outcomes and experiences for patients no matter where they live or what health issues they are facing. Our portfolio, spanning from in-vitro and in-vivo diagnostics to image-guided therapy and innovative cancer care, is crucial for clinical decision-making and treatment pathways. Our culture: We are part of an incredible community of scientists, clinicians, developers, researchers, professionals, and skilled specialists pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, to improve people’s lives around the world. We embrace a culture of inclusivity in which the power and potential of every individual can be unleashed. We spark ideas that lead to positive impact and continued success.