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Site OpEx Lead

Smith+Nephew

Oklahoma City, OKHybridPosted 16 days ago
Full TimeSenior LevelOperations & Supply ChainMedical Device
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Summary

Smith+Nephew is a global portfolio medical technology company with a rich history dating back to 1856, originally founded as a chemist shop in Hull, UK. The company specializes in the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue through innovative medical devices and technologies. Operating through three core business units—Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT, and Advanced Wound Management—Smith+Nephew serves healthcare professionals and patients in over 100 countries worldwide. With approximately 18,000 employees, the company generated annual sales of $5.5 billion in 2023 and is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (FTSE100) and New York Stock Exchange. Their product portfolio includes joint replacement systems, robotics-assisted surgical platforms, sports medicine implants, advanced wound care solutions, and ENT technologies. The company is pioneering new frontiers in medical technology, including Spatial Surgery systems that integrate augmented reality and real-time data processing for enhanced surgical precision. Smith+Nephew's mission centers on their "Life Unlimited" purpose, aiming to restore patients' bodies and self-belief through technological innovation that removes limitations on living.

Job description

What will you be doing?

  • Provide leadership and coaching to new and existing leaders to foster a culture of Operational Excellence throughout the S+N network, “to win the Hearts and Minds” of all stakeholders throughout the value stream.
  • Standardize the improvement tools and techniques across S+N including standard work, Value Stream Mapping, Waste identification, SIPOC, 5S, Root Cause Analysis and kaizen activity.
  • Provide coaching and mentoring for all OpEx community members on how and when to use the standard tool sets and assist in activities to grow the culture.
  • Be a strategic partner to the Franchise leadership team supporting their business strategies.
  • Consolidate and coordinate improvement activities to ensure that benefits are tracked and shared across all applicable business units.
  • Provide direct, hands-on support to areas of the business in immediate need while engaging local OpEx teams to coach and develop long term sustainability.
  • Create an aligned improvement culture across S+N that shares common terminology and practices and language.
  • Develop and evolve the OpEx Centers of Excellence learning management system, trainings and OpEx content proactively.

Leadership Competencies

  • Strategic Mindset – able to anticipate future trends and implications accurately.
  • Customer Focus – identifies opportunities that benefit the customer.
  • Decision Quality – makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information.
  • Cultivates Innovation – comes up with useful ideas that are new, better or unique.
  • Drives Results – has a strong bottom-line orientation.
  • Ensures Accountability – follows through on personal and team commitments.
  • Collaborates – works cooperatively across the organization to achieve shared objectives.
  • Develops Talent – places a high priority on developing others.
  • Drives Vision and Purpose – talks about future possibilities in a positive way.
  • Builds Effective Teams – incorporate appropriate and diverse mix of styles, perspectives, and experience.
  • Manages Conflict / Resistance / Ambiguity – deals comfortably with the uncertainty of change.
  • Instills Trust – follows through on commitments and viewed as direct and truthful.

What will you need to be successful?

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Business, Science, or equivalent field. Combination of education and experience to be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
  • 12+ years of hands-on experience in Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma / Project Management principles and best practices deployment.
  • 12+ years of experience in multiple functions within the value stream (i.e., production, materials management, manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, IT, EH&S, facilities, purchasing etc.)
  • 12+ years of experience and demonstrated application of Lean techniques (5S, Root Cause Analysis, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, Visual Management, SIPOC, Flow, Pull, TAKT, TQM, JIT, SPC, CPK etc.)
  • Between 5%-15% travel required (site-based focused role).

Desired Skills and Qualifications

  • Strong business acumen, with a broad understanding of OpEx, lean, and continuous improvement principles.
  • Strong interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and build a consensus in a high-pressure environment.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to influence people at the highest levels of the company.
  • Excellent understanding of Quality Systems and Measures.
  • Proven high energy leader with strong ability to change culture and successfully manage multiple lean projects and make lasting relevant impact across an organization. Strong people and change management skills.
  • Excellent communication skills throughout all levels of the organizations.
  • Develop written communication such as but not limited to executive report outs S+N intranet, Objectives status update forums newsletters, S+N Net Transformation blog and other periodicals.
  • Excellent people leader with integrity.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Business, Science, or equivalent field. Combination of education and experience to be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
  • 12+ years of hands-on experience in Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma / Project Management principles and best practices deployment.
  • 12+ years of experience in multiple functions within the value stream (i.e., production, materials management, manufacturing engineering, quality assurance, IT, EH&S, facilities, purchasing etc.)
  • 12+ years of experience and demonstrated application of Lean techniques (5S, Root Cause Analysis, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, Visual Management, SIPOC, Flow, Pull, TAKT, TQM, JIT, SPC, CPK etc.)
  • Between 5%-15% travel required (site-based focused role).

Benefits

  • 401(k) Matching
  • 401(k) Plus
  • Discounted Stock Options
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Flexible Time Off
  • Paid Holidays
  • Flex Holidays
  • Paid Community Service Day
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Health Savings Account
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Parental Leave
  • Fertility and Adoption Assistance
  • Fitness Club Discounts
  • Travel Discounts

Company overview

Smith+Nephew is a global portfolio medical technology company with a rich history dating back to 1856, originally founded as a chemist shop in Hull, UK. The company specializes in the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue through innovative medical devices and technologies. Operating through three core business units—Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT, and Advanced Wound Management—Smith+Nephew serves healthcare professionals and patients in over 100 countries worldwide. With approximately 18,000 employees, the company generated annual sales of $5.5 billion in 2023 and is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (FTSE100) and New York Stock Exchange. Their product portfolio includes joint replacement systems, robotics-assisted surgical platforms, sports medicine implants, advanced wound care solutions, and ENT technologies. The company is pioneering new frontiers in medical technology, including Spatial Surgery systems that integrate augmented reality and real-time data processing for enhanced surgical precision. Smith+Nephew's mission centers on their "Life Unlimited" purpose, aiming to restore patients' bodies and self-belief through technological innovation that removes limitations on living.

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