At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global marketing for innovative wound care solutions and shape future product development.
- Company: Join Smith+Nephew, a pioneering medical technology company dedicated to improving lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous bonuses, health plans, and unique employee perks.
- Other info: Be part of a caring, collaborative culture that values inclusion and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare by translating customer insights into groundbreaking innovations.
- Qualifications: Experience in medical devices, marketing, and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
Life. Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. This is a rare opportunity to help define the future of wound care innovation on a global scale. As Global Director, NPWT Pipeline Marketing, you will sit at the intersection of customer insight, innovation strategy and product development, helping shape the next generation of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy solutions.
Working closely with healthcare professionals, commercial teams, marketing leaders and R&D, you will uncover unmet needs, identify emerging opportunities and translate complex market and customer insight into strategic direction. Your work will directly influence how future innovations are prioritised and developed, ensuring our pipeline remains focused on delivering meaningful value for customers, clinicians and patients around the world.
This role is ideal for someone who is naturally curious, highly collaborative and motivated by solving complex challenges through deep customer understanding rather than purely commercial objectives.
What will you be doing?
In this highly visible global role, you will become the voice of the customer within the innovation process. You'll develop strong relationships with leading healthcare professionals and key opinion leaders across international markets, creating a deep understanding of clinical needs, treatment challenges and future opportunities. You will lead customer insight activities and translate diverse viewpoints, market dynamics and clinical feedback into clear strategic recommendations.
Partnering closely with R&D and cross functional stakeholders, you'll help define future product concepts, target product profiles and innovation roadmaps that support long term business growth. As opportunities move through the development process, you will act as a trusted advisor who brings people together, challenges thinking when required and ensures customer needs remain at the heart of investment and product development decisions.
What will you need to be successful?
Success in this role comes from combining deep customer curiosity with strategic thinking and the ability to influence innovation across a complex global organisation. You'll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, drawing conclusions from multiple sources of information and building credibility with both healthcare professionals and senior internal stakeholders.
We recognise that exceptional candidates may come from a variety of backgrounds. You may have developed your expertise within upstream marketing, customer insight, market research, product strategy, innovation, product management or commercial roles where customer needs directly informed product development and investment decisions.
Key requirements include:
- Significant experience within the medical device industry, ideally gained in areas such as upstream marketing, customer insight, product strategy, innovation management, product management, market development or adjacent functions.
- Proven ability to engage healthcare professionals, surgeons, clinicians and key opinion leaders to uncover meaningful customer insights and translate those insights into product development opportunities, strategic recommendations and business cases.
- Experience working closely with innovation, product development or R&D teams, helping to shape future products by translating customer, market and clinical needs into clear requirements and priorities.
- Strong commercial and analytical judgement with the ability to interpret complex information, identify patterns and opportunities, and convert insight into compelling recommendations that influence decision making.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to collaborate with and constructively challenge senior leaders whilst building alignment across marketing, commercial, R&D and operational functions.
- Experience operating within global or multinational organisations would be advantageous, particularly where customer insight, innovation and product development are closely connected.
Inclusion and Belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving on Inclusion and Belonging.
Your Future: Generous annual bonus and pension schemes, Save As You Earn share options, and a car allowance.
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.
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.
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.
Global Director, Pipeline Marketing (NPWT) employer: Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew is an exceptional employer that values clinical expertise and fosters a supportive work culture for its Wound Care Field Specialists. With flexible working options, comprehensive training, and opportunities for professional growth, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector while enjoying a rewarding career in the North Wales and Midlands region.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Director, Pipeline Marketing (NPWT)
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Smith & Nephew and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Smith & Nephew are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Smith & Nephew on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Smith & Nephew. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Director, Pipeline Marketing (NPWT)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Smith & Nephew. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Smith & Nephew:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Smith & Nephew’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smith & Nephew
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Smith & Nephew will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Smith & Nephew, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
