Sr. Program Manager, (Alajuela, Costa Rica)

Reposted Yesterday
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Alajuela, San José, Coyol, CRI
Hybrid
Senior level
Healthtech • Biotech
The Role
Leads a strategic portfolio of technology programs and projects, overseeing planning, budgets, schedules, risks, dependencies, governance, compliance, and business outcomes. Manages and coaches Project Managers and coordinates cross-functional IT, business, and external teams. Drives stakeholder communication, change management, resource planning, financial control, quality adherence, and continuous process improvement across a global, regulated environment.
Summary Generated by Built In

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

This role is Responsible for efficient, effective and compliant execution and delivery of a defined portfolio of strategic technology projects / initiatives. Additional

  • Responsible for compliance with enterprise, IT standards, Portfolio and Project Management Office (PPMO) and Solution Delivery methodology (SDM) etc.

  • Provides leadership of Project Managers including development and performance management.

  • Effectively engages with PPMO’s, Business Relationship Managers (BRM), Portfolio Managers/Chief of Staffs, Service Delivery Leaders, Project Sponsors, Cross-Functional Project Teams (IT, business and external) and Project Stakeholders across all levels of the organization to ensure projects are appropriately funded, resourced, managed, and executed while ensuring that benefits are realised.

  • Serve as first point of escalation for Project Manager issues resolution for items that cannot be resolved at the team level.

  • Responsible for ensuring a high level of coordination and collaboration with assigned Functional IT Business Relationship Managers to provide the required support and delivery of their portfolio of projects.

  • Responsible for managing cross-functional Program and Project Risks, Issues and Dependencies. 

  • Responsible for establishing and maintain effective communication channels with Program stakeholders, ensuring transparency and timely updates on project delivery progress.

  • Champion and communicate project and talent successes.

What will you be doing?

Program Design, Planning and Delivery:

  • Develop the overall program in consultation with the BRM to include budget, timeline, people plan and execution plan which delivers the IT strategy.

  • Ensures the vital forums to confirm strategic alignment with other functions and project activities.

  • Support development of financial and business modelling of assigned programs in consultation with related parties.

  • Refine and improve processes by driving strategic projects.

  • Develops compelling value proposition and assists with development of cost models.

  • Ensures each program/project has clear and attainable objectives with detailed project plans with well-defined tasks.

  • Has knowledge of active program/projects ensuring each is tracking to plan and where required implementing remediation steps.

  • Ensures quality work within large projects / programs in agreed timescale and budget.

  • Consistently and effectively handles stakeholder expectations ensuring alignment across the organization.

  • Develops and implements consistent methodologies.

  • Applies detailed logic and conceptual skills to effectively solve highly sophisticated problems.

  • Thinks quickly and adeptly about how to address problems as they come up, learning from the issues so that the same problems do not arise again.

Financial Management:

  • Assumes overall responsibility for budget and impact on corporate profitability and overall financial results giving to the company's overall success.

  • Forecast spend requirements in consultation related parties and departments.

  • Prepare an overall budget and the individual capital expenditure requests required to support approval of program/projects(s).

  • Analyse variances against budget initiating corrective actions as required.

  • Communicate variances and associated impact to the organizational financial performance.

People Management:

  • Attracts, retains, develops and motivates staff members.

  • Drives a result-oriented and positive teamwork culture within the team.

  • Helps others succeed and accepts responsibility for success or failure.

  • Actively coaches assigned resources and runs deployment in wider team.  

  • Supports and champions staff performance and career development.

Change Management:

  • Delivers workshops and other forums ensuring alignment on purpose and scope of changes and that roles and objectives are well understood.

  • Creates regular forum(s) for internal and external people to communicate and document integration touch points, issues of scope overlap and work efforts towards resolution.

  • Active in partner management activities across ensuring communication is happening at all levels of the organization.

  • Respects and efficiently handles diverse cultures and views.

  • Ensures communication of progress, issues and risks across the organization.

  • Stands for credibility and trust and is perceived as a trusted advisor for long term benefits of the business.

  • Acts as a role model and encourages others to demonstrate integrity and visibility.

Quality Management:

  • Leads adherence to all relevant compliance regulations and S+N policies and procedures impacted by subject area including but not limited to quality, regulatory, legal, and financial (i.e., GxP, IT-PPMO SDM, Quality Management System, FDA, SOX, etc.).

  • Runs overall program/project governance to ensure key collaborators understand the implications of any given project including change impact, risks, cost, resource requirements, technical needs, tax implications, etc.

  • Handles overall risks and mitigations of program/projects

What will you need to be successful?

Education:

  • Requires bachelor's degree in business admin / computer science / information technology or equivalent experience. MBA preferred.

Certifications:

  • Certification in Agile (SCRUM/SAFe) and/or PMP preferred.

Experience:

  • 10 years of project management experience, including leadership experience and coaching Senior PMs.​​

  • 7+ years of project management experience, preferably within healthcare, life sciences, or similarly regulated environments.

  • Has led improvement large projects/programs resulting in measurable increases in business KPIs

  • Demonstrated application of Project Management methodologies to yield tangible business results

  • Proven track record of successfully delivering Business-IT Programs and Projects

  • Experience effectively managing remote teams via remote working (e.g. MS Teams)

  • Ability to translate broad concepts into specific tasks/action plans and to construct integrated implementation timelines (project schedules) with clear dependencies identified and prioritized

  • Sense of urgency to execute and make changes while respecting team members impacted by the changes

  • Bring people along on change journey with effective communication messaging and change management approaches

  • Demonstrated ability to develop and execute a strategic resource plan

Languages:

  • Communicates and negotiates effectively in English, both formally and informally.

Knowledge:

  • Business and Financial acumen

  • Ability to operate effectively in a global multi-cultural environment and drive harmonization and standardization

  • Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date.

  • Proactively ensures security is appropriately addressed within their area by self and others. Engages or works with security specialists as necessary. Contributes to the security culture of the organization.

Competences:

  • Proven Leader of Leaders

  • Critical thinking and excellent problem solver

  • Excellent communicator, ability to communicate the technical to the non-technical, at all levels

  • Outstanding planning and organizational skills

  • Results oriented

  • Flexible and adaptable

  • Negotiation, conflict resolution and consensus building

  • Ability to influence, motivate and drive change

You. Unlimited

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

Inclusion + Belonging - Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving. Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website https://www.smith-nephew.com/ 

  • Your future:  stock purchase program, referral bonus, subsidy in transport and food, recognition program.

  • 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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Stay connected by joining our Talent Community.

We're more than just a company - we're a community! Follow us on LinkedIn to see how we support and empower our employees and patients every day.  


Check us out on Glassdoor for a glimpse behind the scenes and a sneak peek into You. Unlimited., life, culture, and benefits at S+N.

Explore our website and learn more about our mission, our team, and the opportunities we offer. 

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer science, information technology, or equivalent experience
  • MBA
  • 10 years of project management experience, including leadership and coaching of senior Project Managers
  • 7+ years of project management experience, preferably in healthcare, life sciences, or another regulated environment
  • Experience leading large projects or programs that produced measurable business KPI improvements
  • Demonstrated application of project management methodologies to achieve tangible business results
  • Proven experience delivering Business-IT programs and projects
  • Experience managing remote teams using remote collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams
  • Ability to develop integrated implementation timelines with clear dependencies and prioritized tasks
  • Experience developing and executing strategic resource plans
  • Effective English communication and negotiation skills
  • Business and financial acumen
  • Ability to operate effectively in a global, multicultural environment
  • Agile Scrum or SAFe certification
  • PMP certification

Smith & Nephew Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Smith & Nephew and has not been reviewed or approved by Smith & Nephew.

  • Healthcare Strength Medical, dental, and vision plans are paired with a global mental‑health program for employees and families, indicating a robust core health package.
  • Retirement Support U.S. employees have access to a 401(k) with company contributions, and share plans complement long‑term savings.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth Generous holiday, paid volunteering leave, and flexible work models point to broad time‑off options.

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The Company
Andover, MA
15,318 Employees

What We Do

Smith+Nephew is a global medical technology company. We design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. We support healthcare professionals to return their patients to health and mobility, helping them to perform at their fullest potential. From our first employee and founder, T.J. Smith, to our team today, it’s our people who make Smith+Nephew a unique place. Yes, we love to innovate and develop exciting technologies, and we offer competitive salaries and progressive benefits. But it’s our culture - of Care, Collaboration and Courage - that really sets us apart. Through a spirit of ownership and can-do attitude, we work together to win.. We’re a company of people who care about each other, about our customers and their patients, and about our communities. Together, we fulfill our shared purpose of Life Unlimited. Please note: not all products referred to may be approved for use or available in all markets.

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