Global HR Tech Product Owner - Recruitment and Talent

The Global HR Technology function is part of the HR organisation, responsible for delivering solutions that improve or enhance the way Human Resources is delivered at Smith & Nephew, and manages HR technology programs, vendors, and operations. The group works with various HR organizations and IT on projects to re-engineer and automate processes that improve efficiencies for the HR function and their stakeholders. This role defines, develops and delivers the HR Technology Workday Product strategy and roadmap to build scalable global product foundations in Workday. This role is accountable for the management and global alignment of the aligned Workday products to business needs. It will identify business requirements that enable great experiences, system enhancements that are scalable and sustainable long-term, and work closely with stakeholders and technology partners to ensure the successful delivery of the Workday product. This role involves a high level of relationship management in order to ensure that the HR function and our HR technology partners continue to foster and develop a value-add partnership to drive simplification, standardisation and automation to ensure the long-term success of the HR operating model. The role will need to work closely with HR Business Partners and Centres of Expertise on a global level to understand, improve and deliver efficient and effective HR Technology capabilities. Responsibilities: (Please specify % amount against each responsibility) As part of the Global HR Technology management team, contribute to the development of the service’s strategic direction, formulate the HR Technology Tier 2 services/technology roadmap, set standards, and monitor the service’s overall performance. Define, develop and deliver the HR Technology Workday Product strategy and roadmap for specific initiatives and HR domains through strategic partnerships, influence, and both internal/external best-practices to maximise cost effectiveness, aligned with business needs, comply with legal requirements and to reflect HR best practise benchmarks. Act as a SME with full autonomy for the global alignment, solution design, delivery and maintenance of the functional specialism and will be responsible for configuration and support of solutions for our global customers, working closely with the business and wider HR organization to understand business needs and requirements to ensure that the relevant Workday product performs to the desired business outcomes. The role is empowered to prioritize the product backlog and determine priorities working with the business. Partner with the relevant COE and the wider HR function to build a strong technology foundation and drive change across all levels of stakeholders, leading highly complex initiatives with accountability/ responsibility that crosses multiple teams and projects across HR and IT organizations, interfacing with key partners and vendors, ensuring they understand project deliverables, project scope, meet timing and cost deadlines, and collaborate with internal project stakeholders while augmenting internal team resources. Proactively identify opportunities to further leverage best-in-class technology and minimize technology debt that hinders long-term scalability and work to drive and implement best practices across all platforms, digital innovation, process automation, and emerging technologies that fit business requirements. Responsible for writing user stories and traceability of business requirements to technical solution designs, test cases, test evidence approval. Lead User Acceptance Testing (UAT) which includes creating, maintaining, and executing UAT scripts including regression testing the new functionality before deployment. Proficient in generating reports and data analysis to assist with decision-making and planning. Adept at creating Documentation artifacts such as User Guides, Process Flow Charts, Project Plans, Test Plans and other slide decks for presenting to leadership. The position will participate in global business projects and develop customer centric business processes and procedures to increase usability, efficiency and to follow good practice. The role will provide an audit function to support Manager and Employee Self Service and HR data entry in their area of specialism specifically but also in other areas of Workday. Act as a champion for customer focus and listen to and communicate with customers and stakeholders effectively; ensuring that procedures and systems are in place to inform and receive feedback from service users, partners, stakeholders and colleagues, and evaluating that feedback, taking appropriate action to secure continuous improvement. Location: EMEA/Americas Education: Bachelor’s Degree (Business, Human Resources, IT or relevant subject) or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Licenses/ Certifications: Workday Advanced Project Management (ideally) Experience: A strong background of Workday HCM and technical experience in the relevant Product specialism, with Reporting capabilities. Recognized as a technical expert in their subject area, defining the strategy and roadmap for the Workday product, leading on large scale changes and projects. Excellent working understanding and experience of implementing and supporting HR IT cloud-based systems and experience of integrating processes Knowledge of HR Technology, vendors, and implementation across multiple markets Knowledge of data privacy regulations and the ways global companies manage and share data to operate global HR processes/programs to meet business needs Experience of programme and project management experience, encompassing the technology design and delivery Demonstrable experience of dealing with and prioritising complex business requirements within a project Good working knowledge of process improvement methodologies i.e. Lean or Six Sigma. Highly developed data manipulation skills Competences: Leadership - Ability to mentor and coach team members in the relevant product specialism Business acumen/Knows the business. Understands the business and can translate strategy into clear action plans. Uses insight of the business environment to improve business outcomes Communication skills: Clearly articulates messages. Effectively listens, can express ideas in written format and verbal format clearly, succinctly, and persuasively. Manages conflicts and can diffuse tensions across employees to resolve issues. Maintains confidences. Coach people managers and team members to further develop their capability in their role and improve their own performance. Customer Focused: Thinks customer first and anticipates current and future needs. Acts with customers in mind and is dedicated to meeting the expectations and needs of internal customers. Uses first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in services Be bold about the customer problem to solve, driving deep empathy and data-driven decision, with continuous experimentation to deliver for the customer. Initiative: Able to work independently and receives minimal guidance from leadership, able to reach agreements and consensus despite differing priorities. Ability to deliver on projects. Team skills: Can be equally effective participating on team (as member) and on an individual basis. Works towards the organizational best interest rather than personal interests. Manages well across the matrix through individuals and processes both at a function level and across the business. Uses networks to achieve better business & in particular people outcomes. Fosters teamwork, comradery, and accountability within the team in which they work. Relates well to people at all levels. Builds effective relationships and gains trust and respect. Problem Solving: Can solve problems; takes a new perspective on existing solutions; exercises judgment based on analysis of multiple sources of information. Analyses situations and applies critical thinking to resolve situations and advises on courses of action. Evaluates the constraints and risks associated with each course of action identified and selects the viable option to address the problem. Reputation for Delivery: Consistently delivers against agreed project plans, is responsive and realistic about time/resources to deliver. Anticipates and prevents future problems, taking charge to bring about change and taking initiative within role. Develops and evaluates solutions to problems and implements solutions. Applies systematic thinking to identify new solutions. Able to win impact and influence regardless of organisation boundaries and relationships. Is personally credible. Project Management & Service Improvement - Effective user of project management tools and techniques. Knowledge of project management is important. Able to take a holistic view of the internal customer journey. Physical Demands: N/A Travel Requirements: <0-15% 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. Join our talent community.