Global Category Manager, Employee Benefits

Smith Nephew; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working model

Generous annual bonus

Pension scheme

Private health and dental plans

Life insurance

Flexible vacation and paid holidays

Job summary

Smith Nephew seeks a Global Category Manager for Employee Benefits to shape and execute the global benefits strategy. You will partner with HR, Total Rewards and senior leaders across regions to balance employee experience, cost, risk and compliance while delivering measurable value.

You will lead negotiations with suppliers, leverage market insights, and drive transformation of benefits programmes that support our people and business globally. Hybrid working arrangements apply.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing Employee Benefits, Total Rewards, HR Services or related categories in a global organisation.
• Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies that deliver measurable value.
• Strong experience leading complex negotiations and managing strategic supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global Employee Benefits category strategy across healthcare, wellbeing, retirement, benefits admin, and Total Rewards services.
• Collaborate with HR, Total Rewards and senior stakeholders to balance employee experience, affordability and compliance.
• Influence senior leaders and shape supplier ecosystems to deliver sustainable business value.

Skills

Employee Benefits

Total Rewards

Negotiation

Stakeholder Influence

Data-driven decisions

Job description

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

Join Smith+Neb as a Global Category Manager, Employee Benefits and play a pivotal role in shaping how we support our people around the world. This is an opportunity to influence strategic workforce decisions, lead a globally significant spend category and partner with senior leaders to create innovative, sustainable and employee focused benefits programmes that support long term business success.

As part of a Procurement organisation focused on commercial excellence, innovation and strategic business partnership, you will help shape the future of one of our most important global categories. Working across a complex and evolving landscape, you will have the opportunity to influence business decisions, strengthen supplier partnerships and deliver sustainable value that supports both our people and our business.

What will you be doing?

In this role, you will lead the global Employee Benefits category strategy across healthcare, wellbeing, retirement, benefits administration, consulting and related Total Rewards services. Working closely with HR, Total Rewards and key business stakeholders, you will act as a trusted commercial partner, helping the organisation balance employee experience, affordability, compliance, risk management and innovation.

You will shape and deliver long term category strategies, lead complex supplier negotiations and build strong partnerships that enhance employee experience while creating measurable business value. Leveraging market insights, supplier expertise and emerging technologies, you will identify opportunities to optimise programmes, support transformation initiatives and help advance the way Procurement delivers value across the enterprise.

This role offers the opportunity to work across a diverse international stakeholder network, influence senior leaders and contribute to high profile global initiatives. You will help shape supplier ecosystems, support strategic transformation and gain broad exposure to the challenges and opportunities that define modern Procurement leadership.

What will you need to be successful?

Success in this role comes from combining strategic thinking, commercial expertise and strong relationship building skills. You will be comfortable influencing senior stakeholders, navigating complexity and driving meaningful change across a global matrix organisation.

Key requirements include:

• Significant experience managing Employee Benefits, Total Rewards, HR Services or related categories within a global organisation.
• A proven track record of developing and executing category strategies that deliver measurable business value.
• Strong experience leading complex negotiations and managing strategic supplier relationships at regional or global scale.
• The ability to influence senior leaders, leverage market intelligence and use data driven insights to support business decisions and category development.

You. Unlimited.

We believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our Strongest investments are in our people and patients we serve.

• Inclusion and Belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving on Inclusion and Belonging, Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website (www.smith-nephew.com/)
• Your Future: Generous annual bonus and pension Schemes, Save As You Earn share options.
• Work/Life Balance: Flexible Vacation and Time Off, Paid Holidays and Paid Volunteering Hours, so we can give back to our communities!
• Your Wellbeing: Private Health and Dental plans, Healthcare Cash Plans, Income Protection, Life Assurance and much more.
• Flexibility: Hybrid Working Model (For most professional roles).
• Training: Hands-On, Team-Customised, Mentorship.
• Extra Perks: Discounts on Gyms and fitness clubs, Salary Sacrifice Bicycle and Car Schemes and many other Employee discounts.

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