{"id":2569809,"url":"https://alion.io/job/smithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2","title":"NPD Materials Specialist","company":{"id":1768800,"name":"Smith+Nephew","domain":"smith-nephew.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/smith-nephew-com","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":77,"open_postings":64,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.922,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":31,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Alajuela, Costa Rica"],"countries":["CR"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":22000,"max_usd":49000,"period":"year","method":"global_role_cell_scaled_by_country","sample_n":2517},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Microsoft Excel","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T22:38:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T06:32:22Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":7,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":7},"description":"Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living.\nAbout the Role\nWe are seeking an experienced NPD Materials Specialist to play a key role in supporting the successful transition of new products from development into full-scale manufacturing.\nIn this position, you will act as the critical link between NPD Procurement and the manufacturing site, ensuring material readiness for new product launches. You will be responsible for creating and maintaining the Plan for Every Part (PFEP), managing temporary purchasing activities prior to SAP setup, coordinating supplier readiness, and facilitating a seamless handoff to the factory Buyer/Planner.\nThe ideal candidate combines strong procurement and supply chain expertise with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders, navigate complex BOM structures, and proactively resolve material-related risks.\nWhat You'll Be Doing\nMaterial Planning & Readiness\nCreate and maintain PFEPs for assigned NPD projects, including: BOM structures Supplier information Forecasts Lead times Pricing Delivery status\nTrack and report material readiness for validation builds, pilot builds, and product launches.\nMaintain open order, shortage, and delivery status reports.\nPurchasing & Supplier Coordination\nPlace and manage temporary indirect purchase orders before SAP purchasing processes are established.\nCoordinate and expedite supplier deliveries to meet critical project timelines.\nWork closely with suppliers to resolve delivery risks and material shortages.\nSystem & Process Support\nSupport procurement-related SAP master data setup activities required for product launches.\nAssist in converting temporary purchase orders into SAP purchase orders once system setup is complete.\nEnsure procurement data is accurate and ready for transition into routine operations.\nCross-Functional Collaboration\nPartner with: NPD Procurement Engineers Supply & Demand Planning teams Manufacturing Buyer/Planners Suppliers\nDrive resolution of material issues and supply chain risks.\nLead the formal handoff of suppliers, forecasts, purchase orders, and PFEP data to the factory Buyer/Planner as projects move into production.\nSupport launch stabilization activities to ensure continuity of supply.\nThis position is P3 level\nWhat will you need to be successful? \nEducation\nBachelor's degree in: Supply Chain Business Operations Manufacturing Engineering Technology Or a related field\nExperience\n 3+ years of experience in: Purchasing Procurement Operations Material Planning Supply Chain Manufacturing Support\nExperience working with: Bills of Material (BOMs) Demand forecasts Supplier management\nExperience with SAP, Ariba, or other ERP systems preferred.\nPrevious experience supporting New Product Introductions (NPI/NPD) or product launches preferred.\nLanguages:\nFluent in English (C1)\nSkills\nAdvanced Microsoft Excel skills.\nStrong understanding of procurement, suppliers, and material planning.\nAbility to interpret and manage BOMs and product structures.\nExcellent organizational and follow-up skills.\nStrong communication and stakeholder management abilities.\nAbility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.\nDetail-oriented with a high level of ownership and accountability.\nStrong problem-solving and risk mitigation mindset.\nSuccess in This Role Looks Like\nAccurate and complete PFEP management.\nOn-time material availability for builds and product launches.\nEffective management of temporary purchasing activities before SAP implementation.\nSmooth transition to SAP purchasing processes.\nSuccessful handoff of projects to factory Buyer/Planners.\nMinimal disruption during launch and stabilization phases.\nYou. Unlimited\nWe believe in creating the greatest good for society. Our strongest investments are in our people and the patients we serve.\nInclusion+belonging: Committed to Welcoming, Celebrating and Thriving, learn more about employee inclusion groups on our website\nOther reasons why you will love it here!\nYour future: stock purchase program, referral bonus, subsidy in transport and food, recognition program.\nWork/Life Balance: Extra days off, birthday off, voluntary hours.\nYour Wellbeing: company doctor, medical insurance, gym, health campaigns, employee assistance program, parental leave. \n Flexibility: Hybrid work model (for more professional roles), flexible schedules.\nTraining: Training program, unlimited learning.\nExtra perks: employees association, and more…\nStay connected by joining our Talent Community.\nWe're more than just a company - we'rea community! Follow us on LinkedIn to see how we support and empower our employees and patients every day.\nCheck us out on Glassdoor for a glimpse behind the scenes and a sneak peek into You. Unlimited., life, culture, and benefits at S+N.\nExplore our website and learn more about our mission, our team, and the opportunities we offer.","description_format":"text","description_chars":4906,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"Advanced (C1)","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Health insurance","Hybrid work","Parental leave"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"Costa Rica","iso":"CR","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Surgical Instruments & Devices","Orthopedic & Spine Implants"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-14T22:38:55Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":63,"band":"ok","label":"Likely open","p_open":1,"p_active":0.632,"p_room":1,"age_days":7,"expected_fill_days":31,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","velocity","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/smithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/smithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T07:12:38Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2686,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":1768800},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=1768800"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fsmithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fsmithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fsmithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/smithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fsmithnephew-npd-materials-specialist-2"}]}