Site OpEx Lead

Life Unlimited. At Smith+ Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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).

• 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…