Director, Global OpEx Business Partner

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. The Director, Global OpEx Business Partner supports the Sports business by partnering with the leadership team to drive the overall deployment and maturity progression of the S+N Operating System.  This role does not currently have direct reports but works across Sports operations to grow the adoption of the S+N Operating System for maximum impact and cultural transformation across the extended enterprise (all sites and functions).    

What will you be doing?

This role works directly with the Sports operations leadership team to align and execute against the company’s S+N Operating System strategy and enables the leadership team to create a continuous improvement culture that routinely achieves its business goals. This person will lead the development of operational excellence capabilities throughout the organization, driving all business KPIs aligned with profitable growth.

• Partners with leadership teams to identify/develop and deliver key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout the organization aligned to the overall functional objectives  
• Respectfully cultivates an action-biased culture of operational excellence to improve business KPIs and achieve business objectives aligned to Smith+Nephew’s corporate goals
• Responsible for leading through facilitating/enabling the implementation of the S+N Operating System throughout the Sports business
• Establish and mature a Lean Management System (Tiered Accountability, Visual Management, Gemba Walks, and Leader Standard Work) and other coaching tools to transform the culture
• Works with functional teams to streamline processes to improve business objectives, with a specific focus on the customer experience, efficiency, and profitable growth
• Provides support to develop OpEx expertise and capability within the organization at all levels
• Improves the decision-making model and problem-solving capabilities within high performance teams to increase the autonomy and pace of change
• Provides regular, ongoing reporting and communications to Sports leadership and OpEx leadership regarding status of the S+N Operating System maturity
• Collaborates with other OpEx teammates to leverage and share best practices, and drive improvements to the company level S+N Operating System Roadmap, tools, and technology

Qualifications:

• Four-year university degree required (engineering, science, operations, or business preferred); Master’s Degree preferred. 
• Leadership roles from disciplines such as operations, commercial, engineering, quality, supply chain, product management, or program management
• Proven record for developing, training, and coaching teams across cultures
• 12 years in process improvement and/or lean related experience
• Minimum of 8+ years of experience and “hands on” track record of implementing successful lean based business systems including elements such as:
  • Strategy Deployment and A3 Thinking
  • Lean Management Systems (Tiered Accountability, Visual Management, Gemba Walks, Leader Standard Work)
  • Value-Stream Mapping
  • Kaizen events
  • Expertise in problem solving utilizing a formal program/process
  • Implementation of KPI Management across functions and businesses
• 7+ years production management experience (direct production management experience preferred)
• Med-tech or Healthcare experience a plus
• Experience in Change Management, and able to act as an influential change agent
• Broad knowledge of multi-functional, multi-site, global organizational processes and financial business methods
• Demonstrated skill and confidence in proactively building relationships with top tier partners/leaders both internally and externally
• Demonstrated experience and leadership in running comprehensive continuous improvement approaches/methodologies to advance an organization’s strategy and goals
• Strong ability to anticipate future needs of the organization and make decisions in a changing environment
• Phenomenal communicator, demonstrated ability in solid written, oral, and presentation-giving skills
• Ability to effectively work with different cultures in a global, matrixed environment
• Showing a strong dedication to professional business conduct
• Passion for driving improvement and leading change in sophisticated environments
• A holistic thinker who can look enterprise-wide to integrate and streamline systems for optimal benefit
• Able to drive strategic thinking and continuous improvement in both operational and non-operational areas, including connecting cross-functional resources to remove waste along the extended value streams