Director of Payor Relations, Sports Medicine

Smith+Nephew•Minneapolis, MN

1d•$150,000 - $260,000•Remote

About The Position

Life Unlimited. At Smith+Nephew, we design and manufacture technology that takes the limits off living. The Director of Payor Relations, Sports Medicine is responsible for developing and executing payer engagement strategies that drive commercial payer coverage and ensure broad patient access for our Sports Medicine portfolio. This role serves as the primary interface between the organization and key payer stakeholders, shaping value narratives, influencing policy, and supporting commercial execution through evidence‑based access strategies. This leader will shape, execute, and optimize coverage, reimbursement, and access for the Sports Medicine portfolio across U.S. payers. The Director will serve as the primary voice to the private payer ecosystem and a critical influencer of national coverage strategy. The Director will partner closely with Commercial, Sales, Marketing, Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR) to ensure payer strategies align with business objectives and evolving reimbursement landscapes. What will you be doing?

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, MHA, PharmD) preferred.
8–10+ years of experience in payer relations, market access, reimbursement, or related roles within medical devices or healthcare;
Demonstrated experience engaging with U.S. commercial payers.
Established relationships with regional and national commercial payer decision‑makers.
Proven track record of influencing payer policy or contracting outcomes (new coverage, expanded coverage, or removal of barriers).
Ability to articulate strategic vision and translate it into executable plans.
Excellent communication skills with ability to engage C‑Suite executives.
Strong understanding of U.S. reimbursement systems & payer methodologies, including coding, coverage, and payment dynamics, contracting, clinical criteria, and HEOR principles.

Nice To Haves

Experience within Sports Medicine and/or Orthopaedics preferred.

Responsibilities

Payor Strategy & Engagement Develop and execute a comprehensive payer relations strategy for the Sports Medicine portfolio, aligned with franchise growth priorities.
Serve as the primary relationship owner for national and regional payers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Lead payer discussions related to coverage, coding, payment, and utilization management policies.
Reimbursement & Coverage Optimization Drive favorable coverage policies for existing and new Sports Medicine technologies.
Monitor and proactively respond to payer policy changes impacting Sports Medicine procedures and technologies.
Value Proposition & Evidence Strategy Contribute to evidence‑generation planning to support payer needs and improve product value demonstration.
Support payer value propositions grounded in clinical evidence, health economics, and real‑world outcomes.
Support the development of payer‑focused materials, including value dossiers, economic models, and coverage submissions.
Cross‑Functional Leadership & Compliance Partner with Sales leadership to ensure field teams are equipped with compliant payer-relevant messaging and tools.
Act as a strategic advisor to Commercial leadership on payer-related risks and opportunities.
Partner cross-functionally with Market Access, Marketing, Medical Affairs to align on value messaging, economic evidence, and payer-ready materials.
Monitor payer market trends and track assess reimbursement, coverage, and policy trends affecting Sports Medicine.
Coordinate closely with Legal, Compliance, and Regulatory teams to ensure payer engagements adhere to applicable policies and regulations.