Senior Director, Global KOL & Partnership Strategy, AWM

What will you be doing?

Build the global KOL framework

• Lead development of a consistent global framework for defining, segmenting and prioritizing KOLs across specialties, including digital opinion leaders.
• Partner with the Professional Relations team to align the framework with fair-market-value requirements and established contracting and payment processes.
• Develop and implement a structured approach to identifying KOLs for current and new segments, specialties and geographies.
• Establish and maintain a consistent global view of KOLs to support strategies for scientific engagement, market development, and new product development.
• Identify gaps and opportunities aligned with documented and approved business needs.

Lead KOL engagement strategy and translate into coordinated action

• Lead cross-functional development of KOL engagement plans aligned with global and regional priorities.
• Identify and connect KOLs with appropriate and compliant initiatives, establish clear governance and ownership, and drive execution and accountability.
• Directly manage a select portfolio of high-priority global KOL relationships.

Advance Medical Society and Institutional Partnerships

• Develop a structured, cross-functional approach to prioritizing relevant medical societies and professional organizations across the global AWM portfolio.
• Develop long-term partnership strategies for priority medical societies and institutions based on shared to advance research, training and education initiatives.

What will you need to be successful?

• Bachelor's degree required; an MBA, advanced degree or clinical credentials are preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the medical device industry or a closely related healthcare environment.
• Significant experience in professional affairs, professional relations, medical affairs, market development or another function responsible for KOL and medical society strategy.
• Demonstrated experience creating, implementing or materially evolving a global or enterprise-wide KOL engagement framework and governance model.
• Experience defining KOL segmentation, engagement pathways, relationship ownership, decision rights and cross-functional operating processes.
• Strong understanding of healthcare compliance requirements, fair-market-value considerations and appropriate engagement with healthcare professionals.
• Experience working across global markets and an understanding of how KOL engagement models may need to adapt across countries and regions.
• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through implementation.
• Exceptional influencing skills and the ability to establish accountability without relying on direct authority.
• The ability to build trust quickly with senior internal stakeholders, healthcare professionals and external organizations.
• Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, with the ability to turn insights into clear priorities and actionable plans.
• Advanced Wound Management or wound care experience is preferred but not required.

This highly visible individual-contributor role will shape how Smith+Nephew approaches KOL and external partnership strategy across the global Advanced Wound Management business. You will work across Professional Affairs, Healthcare Compliance, Global and Country Marketing, Clinical Affairs, Medical Education and other teams to connect existing capabilities through a more coordinated and strategic model. Up to 40% travel is expected, including field engagement, medical society meetings, internal business meetings and international travel, primarily to Europe.