Senior Program Manager – Medical Device Manufacturing

About the role

Smith+Nephew is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead transformational programs that support the RISE Strategy and Vital Few initiatives. Based in Alajuela, you will partner with cross‑functional and cross‑cultural teams to deliver high‑impact projects in a medical‑device manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead assigned projects from initiation to closure, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Develop and execute comprehensive People Plans, risk mitigation, conflict resolution, and change‑management approaches throughout the program lifecycle.
• Facilitate workshops (planning, discovery, alignment, retrospectives) to drive stakeholder engagement and actionable outcomes.
• Scale, standardize, and optimize processes across teams while balancing structure, efficiency, and flexibility.
• Apply both Agile and Waterfall methodologies to meet project goals in a matrixed environment.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Science, Engineering, or Manufacturing; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading projects in a medical‑device manufacturing setting.
• Strong manufacturing functional and process knowledge with proven stakeholder‑influence skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage change, resolve conflicts, and think strategically while handling tactical details.

Required skills

• Workshop planning and facilitation
• Change management
• Process scaling and optimization
• Advanced problem‑solving and critical thinking
• Agile mindset
• Hybrid methodology experience (Agile & Waterfall)

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on high‑visibility, strategic programs within a global medical‑device leader.
• Collaborative, multicultural environment with strong professional development support.