Life Unlimited. At Smith and Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.
This position r eporting directly to the Sr. Director Supply Chain Americas the Sr. Planning Manager US Ortho Franchise This role provides strategic and tactical leadership for all aspects of the US regional demand planning process, with a focus on driving maturity toward a fully integrated Integrated Business Planning (IBP) framework. The position owns the regional portfolio segmentation and optimization strategy and sets the demand planning policy to ensure alignment with business objectives and long-term growth plans.
As a critical cross-functional leader, this position will refine and maintain rolling volume and financial business projections, identify gaps, and work with commercial, finance, and supply chain partners to develop and execute effective countermeasures. Success in this role requires linking demand plans to P&L impact and embedding decision-making processes that balance service, cost, and cash.
The role will drive consensus and collaboration between Marketing/Commercial (Franchises and Country Clusters), Finance, and Supply Chain partners — including Global Planning — to achieve world-class forecast accuracy, bias reduction, and demand signal quality.
What will you be doing?
Key priorities include:
Evolving S&OP into IBP by integrating commercial insight, financial alignment, and supply chain capability into a single, connected planning process.
Building scenario-based planning capabilities to proactively respond to market shifts.
Embedding investment demand planning and governance into the monthly cycle.
Developing tools and processes to enable data-driven challenge of assumptions.
Provide strategic and tactical leadership for the planning activities of designated franchise. Achieve customer service levels for the region.
Leading the Demand planning, for USA region.
Responsible for Forecast Accuracy and integration with financial plans and demand plans.
Responsible for Life Cycle Management including end-to-end NPI process, phase-out and E&O/Scrap.
Monitoring/Maintenance: Improve and ensure all planning parameters are accurate and updated in relevant planning systems.
Ensure single set of data and strive for one planning system.
Monitor, root cause and reduce customer backorders.
Identify constraints, risks & opportunities associated with demand across USA region; provide recommendations and guidance of trade-offs for effective decision making by P+L owner.
Delivers the monthly demand plan; monitors forecast metrics and advises adjustments to models and market intelligence accordingly.
What will you need to be successful?
Successful candidates would need the following:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business or related field. Advanced degree a plus.
Experience in Supply Chain planning experience working both domestically and internationally.
Language: Fluency english
APICs CPIM or CSCP preferred
Expert on Demand Planning, Forecast Models, Inventory Strategies, and Sales and Operations Planning.
Expert on Kinaxis Rapid Response, SAP, MS Excel.
Strong interpersonal skills essential to effectively interact and earn credibility with all teams, areas and levels of business affecting inventory management throughout the network.
20-30% Travel (AMERICAS/US)
Competencies
The position leads a team of 3-5 employees, driving engagement, capability development, and accountability. As part of the broader Supply Chain Planning and Commercial organization, the role will be a key contributor to delivering the service, cost, and inventory outcomes required to support business growth and operational excellence.
Complexity & Team management: Requires initiative to independently interpret business direction, understand capital constraints and help create trust and alignment between the business and functions around priorities of initiatives.
Significant cross-functional interaction.
Financial acumen (e.g. understand input / variances to demand plan).
Ability to articulate and influence stakeholders.
Develop and manage a small team capable of handling future business needs through continuous improvement initiatives, including systems and support elements.
Manage, coach and develop a productive and motivated team to be able to achieve team, functional and business objectives.
Manage and take responsibility for their development to increase personal contributions to the business.
Foster an organization that supports our cultural pillars of care, courage, and collaboration.
Lead a team that provides a coaching environment and fosters strategic thinking, business acumen, team success and focus on results.
You. Unlimited
Inclusion and equity: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving, learn more about Employee Inclusion Groups on our website ( https://www.smith-nephew.com/)
Other reasons why you will love it here!
Work/Life Balance: Extra days off, birthday off, voluntary hours.
Your Wellbeing: company doctor, medical insurance, gym, health campaigns, employee assistance program, parental leave,
Flexibility : Hybrid work model (for more professional roles), flexible schedules.
Training: Training program, unlimited learning.
Extra perks: employees association, and more…
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