Sr. Director IT - Global Operations

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. IT Business Relationship Manager (BRM) serves as a strategic liaison between IT and Global Operations Leadership, Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. This individual will work closely with our Global operations for all business units, S&N Operating System, Advanced Manufacturing Eng and Strategy to build strong partnerships, understand business needs, and develop a shared technology roadmap that aligns with the overall S&N strategy

What will you be doing?

As the primary IT point of contact, the BRM will help identify opportunities to improve processes through technology, lead the intake and prioritization of enhancement ideas, and guide initiatives from concept to delivery with support from the broader IT organization. The BRM is also accountable for running system escalations and ensuring timely resolution of service disruptions, acting as a key player in maintaining operational excellence. The BRM will collaborate with the IT PMO, Business, IT leadership team, stakeholders, business SMEs, etc. to ensure technology needs of the assigned business units are timely met. In addition, the BRM will work to enhance the alignment between IT and business objectives, ensuring that technology investments deliver maximum value and support strategic goals.  Finally, the BRM will execute strategies and/or approaches to foster strong communication and collaboration across all stakeholders.

Strategic Partnership & Engagement - 75%

- Serve as the trusted IT partner for regional supply chain leadership across warehousing, distribution, and last-mile operations.

 - Facilitate ongoing dialogue between IT and stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment and mutual understanding of priorities.

- Translate operations strategies into an actionable technology roadmap in collaboration with enterprise architecture and IT leadership using advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence.

Project & Initiative Leadership - 10%

- Ensure project managers and business analysts scope and execute approved projects and enhancements.

- Monitor project progress, lead stakeholder expectations, and ensure business readiness for change.

- Track benefits realization and user adoption post-implementation.

Technology Roadmap & Portfolio Management - 10%

- Contribute to development of technology roadmaps aligned with business goals.

- Identify, evaluate, and prioritize enhancement opportunities and innovations based on business value and feasibility.

- Ensure initiatives are aligned with enterprise IT standards, cybersecurity policies, and compliance requirements.

Operational Excellence - 5%

- Act as the escalation point for system performance issues and outages impacting supply chain operations.

- Coordinate with IT and business teams to plan system outages to minimize impact.

-  Coordinate with IT operations, support teams, and vendors to ensure swift resolution and clear communication.

What will you need to be successful?

1) Ability to clearly articulate IT concepts to non-technical stakeholders and effectively listen to and understand business needs 

2) Understanding of business operations, industry trends, and strategic planning to align IT initiatives with business goals and drive value 

3) A solid foundation in IT infrastructure, systems, and emerging technologies to facilitate informed discussions and decision-making regarding technology solutions including OT 

4) Proven experience in building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders at various levels of the organization 

5) Strong analytical skills to identify challenges, propose effective solutions, and drive continuous improvement in IT-business processes and outcomes 

6) 10+ years of experience in IT or Supply Chain/Operations roles, with at least 5 years in a Business Relationship or IT Program Leadership capacity.

7) Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Supply Chain, Mfg Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

8) Knowledge of network, server, and database systems to effectively discuss and evaluate IT solutions with technical teams 

9) Experience with frameworks like Information Technology Infrastructure Library( ITIL) to understand service delivery, incident management, and continuous improvement processes

10) Knowledge of ERP systems and their integration within an organization to understand how business processes are supported by technology

11) Strong understanding of Material handling, batch management

Location:  East/Central US or UK

Travel: up to 50% depending on business needs

You Unlimited.

• Inclusion, Diversity and Equity - We are committed to welcoming, celebrating and thriving on Diversity! Learn more about Employee Inclusion Groups on our website (https://www.smith-nephew.com/)  
• Your Future: 401K Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Discounted Stock Options, Tuition Reimbursement  
• Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day  
• Your Wellbeing: We offer Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500+ annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program  
• Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (For most professional roles)  
• Training: Hands-On, Team-Customized, Mentorship  
• Extra Perks: Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more! 

Smith+Nephew provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.