Smith & Nephew

Director, Health Economics & Market Access (HEMA) - Policy, Advocacy & Strategy

Smith & Nephew$140K — $235K *
Healthcare
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MPH, MBA, MHA, MS) preferred
  • 10+ years of experience in medical device reimbursement, market access, or health policy
  • Proven track record influencing Medicare policy and reimbursement frameworks
  • Strong executive presence for translating complex policy into business impact
  • Ability to lead strategically in a highly matrixed environment

Responsibilities

  • Lead end-to-end reimbursement strategy development for pre-launch products
  • Identify reimbursement risks and opportunities at the portfolio level
  • Develop multi-year reimbursement roadmaps aligned with growth objectives
  • Shape integrated reimbursement policy and advocacy strategy
  • Monitor CMS rulemaking and broader healthcare policy developments
  • Engage with external stakeholders to support favorable reimbursement environments
  • Advise executive leadership on reimbursement trends and strategic implications

Benefits

  • 401k Matching Program and Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off and Paid Community Service Day
  • Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision coverage with employer contributions
  • Hybrid Work Model for most professional roles
  • Hands-On, Team-Customized Training and Mentorship
  • Discounts on fitness clubs, travel, and more
Full Job Description

Director, Health Economics & Market Access (HEMA) – Policy, Advocacy & Strategy

The Director, Health Economics & Market Access (HEMA) – Policy, Advocacy & Strategy is responsible for shaping and advancing reimbursement policy, advocacy, and access strategy to support sustainable patient access and commercial success across the company’s Advanced Wound Management portfolio.

This role leads proactive reimbursement strategy across coding, coverage, and payment, while driving policy and advocacy initiatives that influence payer, regulatory, and legislative outcomes. Operating early in the product lifecycle, the Director partners cross-functionally to embed reimbursement and policy considerations into portfolio strategy, evidence generation, and launch readiness, reducing access risk and enabling successful commercialization.


What will you be doing?

Reimbursement Strategy (Upstream Focus)

  • Lead end-to-end reimbursement strategy development for pipeline and pre-launch products, including assessment of coding, coverage, and payment pathways
  • Identify reimbursement risks and opportunities at the portfolio level and inform go/no-go, sequencing, and investment decisions
  • Develop multi-year reimbursement roadmaps aligned with product lifecycle milestones and enterprise growth objectives
  • Serve as the internal expert on future reimbursement pathways and access readiness

Policy & Advocacy Leadership

  • Shape and execute an integrated reimbursement policy and advocacy strategy in partnership with Government Affairs and senior leadership
  • Monitor, analyze, and influence CMS rulemaking, Medicare payment policy, and broader healthcare policy developments impacting device reimbursement
  • Represent the organization in trade associations, coalitions, and policy forums to advance industry positions and reimbursement priorities
  • Engage with external stakeholders, including professional societies and key opinion leaders, to support favorable coverage and payment environments
  • Partner with Government Affairs to engage policymakers and regulatory agencies
  • Identify and proactively mitigate policy risks that could impact access, adoption, or value recognition

Evidence & Value Alignment

  • Partner with Clinical, Medical Affairs, and HEOR teams to define payer-relevant clinical and economic evidence requirements
  • Ensure reimbursement and policy needs are embedded into evidence generation strategies, endpoints, and real-world data plans
  • Provide strategic guidance on value narratives and positioning aligned to payer and policy decision drivers

Cross-Functional & Executive Leadership

  • Advise executive leadership on reimbursement and policy trends, risks, and strategic implications
  • Establish governance frameworks and tools to embed reimbursement and advocacy considerations into enterprise planning
  • Lead cross-functional initiatives through influence in a highly matrixed organization

Measures of Success:

  • Reduced reimbursement and policy risk at product launch
  • Favorable or defensible reimbursement and policy positioning
  • Early alignment between evidence generation and payer expectations
  • Demonstrated impact and influence within policy and industry forums

Travel: Up to 30%

What do you need to be successful?
  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MPH, MBA, MHA, MS) preferred
  • 10+ years of experience in medical device reimbursement, market access, or health policy
  • Demonstrated experience influencing Medicare policy, reimbursement frameworks, and/or industry advocacy efforts
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to translate complex policy issues into clear business impact
  • Proven ability to lead strategically within a highly matrixed environment

Location:  

  • Your Future: 401k Matching Program, 401k Plus Program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Tuition Reimbursement
  • Work/Life Balance: Flexible Personal/Vacation Time Off, Paid Holidays, Flex Holidays, Paid Community Service Day
  • Your Wellbeing: Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (Employer Contribution of $500+ annually), Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave, Fertility and Adoption Assistance Program
  • Flexibility: Hybrid Work Model (For most professional roles)
  • Training: Hands-On, Team-Customized, Mentorship
  • Extra Perks: Discounts on fitness clubs, travel and more!

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology company headquartered in London, England. The company designs, manufactures, and sells medical devices and products for orthopedic reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma. Smith & Nephew operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 17,500 people worldwide. The company was founded in 1856 by Thomas James Smith and his nephew, Horatio Nelson Smith, and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Smith & Nephew's products include joint replacement systems, wound care products, and surgical instruments. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
Learn more about Smith & Nephew
Size
17,500 employees
Market Cap
$11.5 billion
Industry
Net Income
$448 million
5 Year Trend
+2.2%
Revenue
$4.5 billion

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