Strategic HR Business Partner, Global ERP Implementation

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. The HR Business Partner (HRBP) Director – Global ERP Implementation will act as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to business leaders and the global ERP program team. This role bridges the gap between HR and business operations, ensuring that organizational readiness, workforce impact, change management, and talent strategies are effectively integrated throughout the ERP implementation lifecycle. The role will report to the VP HR, Corporate Functions. It is envisaged that this role will last for approximately 3 years.  The timing is in line with the Programme deliverables and is subject to change.

What will you be doing?

Strategic Partnership

- Partner with global business and HR leaders to align workforce strategy, structure, and   readiness with ERP program objectives.

- Serve as the primary HR liaison between the ERP program team and regional HR/business teams.

- Translate business transformation goals into people and organizational strategies that drive adoption and success.

Organizational Change & Workforce Readiness

- Partner with HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) and Change Management teams to design and implement change readiness, engagement, and communication plans.

- Support leaders in navigating change, addressing workforce impacts (role redefinition, job redesign, skill gaps), and ensuring a positive employee experience during transition.

Talent & Capability Enablement

- Identify capability needs resulting from new ERP-enabled ways of working and partner with Learning & Development to design targeted training programs.

- Advise on workforce planning, succession, and reskilling needs in alignment with future-state processes and systems.

- Coach and develop leaders to effectively lead through transformation and manage organizational change.

Project Governance & Collaboration

- Represent HRBP perspective in ERP program governance meetings, ensuring people-related risks, dependencies, and impacts are understood and addressed.

- Collaborate closely with IT, Finance, Operations, and regional HR teams to ensure alignment and consistency in execution.

- Provide input to ERP design and deployment plans to ensure alignment with HR policies, compliance, and workforce strategies.

Culture & Engagement

- Champion a culture of adaptability, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the ERP transformation.

- Support the embedding of new processes and behaviors post go-live, ensuring sustained adoption and performance improvement.

Location: US, UK or Europe

What will you need to be successful?

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

10+ years of progressive HR experience

Strong business acumen with deep understanding of how HR drives business outcomes during transformation.

Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across multiple geographies and functions.

Expertise in organizational design, change management, and workforce transformation.

Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence skills.

Demonstrated resilience and adaptability in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Travel Requirements:   >10% 

You Unlimited.

• Inclusion & Belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving on Inclusion and Belonging, Learn more about our Employee Inclusion Groups on our website 

• Your Future: Generous annual bonus, life insurance, 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, multisport card/my benefit platform and much more. 

• Flexibility: Hybrid Working Model (For most professional roles). 

• Training: Hands-On, Team-Customised, Mentorship, subsidies for language classes, certifications and postgraduate studies 

Smith+Nephew provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.