Senior Manager, Materials

Job Description

Job Description

At Vericel Corporation, we are pioneers in advanced cell therapies for sports medicine and severe burn care, transforming patient lives through cutting-edge regenerative medicine. Our commitment to innovation, patient-centered focus, and scientific excellence drives us to develop groundbreaking treatments including MACI (knee cartilage repair), Epicel and Nexobrid (burn care). 

Summary:

The Senior Manager, Materials is responsible for leading and overseeing warehouse and materials management operations across two facilities, ensuring the efficient receipt, storage, control, and distribution of materials in support of manufacturing operations. This role drives operational excellence, inventory accuracy, and regulatory compliance (cGMP/GDP) while building a high-performing team and scalable infrastructure to support current and future business needs.

Schedule: This position will be onsite Monday through Friday in our new Burlington office, but will be required to spend some days in our Cambridge office as we transition to our new facility.

Responsibilities:

Materials & Warehouse Operations

• Oversee daily warehouse operations across two sites including receipt, storage, inventory control, planning, and material issuance to manufacturing
• Manage and optimize daily capacity planning and scheduling to meet production demands and service levels.
• Ensure accurate and timely execution of inventory transactions and material movements across both facilities.
• Lead cycle count and physical inventory programs, ensuring high levels of inventory control and accuracy, traceability, evaluation, and reconciliation.
• Drive inventory optimization strategies to balance supply, cost, and operational efficiency.
• Establish and manage KPIs to improve visibility, accountability, and performance improvement, including daily, weekly, and monthly metric monitoring, reporting, and improvement action management.
• Support facility expansion and transition activities, including the successful transfer of materials operations to new sites.
• Optimize layout and material flow (across two sites and 3PL’s) to improve throughput and reduce waste.

Compliance, Quality & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with cGMP, GDP, safety, and corporate quality standards across all materials operations and support investigations related to deviations, CAPAs, and non-conformances, ensuring timely and compliant resolution.
• Establish and reinforce adherence to SOPs governing all GMP material handling activities.
• Proactively identify and mitigate operational and compliance risks.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing materials organization across multiple warehouse locations.
• Oversee development, implementation, and management of process standards for activities and team that improve team accountability, support achievement of performance targets, and identify areas for continued improvement
• Support cultural shift within team leveraging LEAN tools such as 5S, huddle board discussions, Gemba walks, and standardized reporting.
• Monitor and ensure all required training is completed in alignment with organizational and regulatory expectations, with appropriate redundancy in place to maintain coverage and continuity across entire organization.
• Establish staffing strategies and workforce plans to support current operations and future growth.
• Provide direction, coaching, and performance management to ensure accountability, engagement, and continuous development.
• Ensure adequate staffing and coverage to support all operational schedules, including on-call readiness or qualified delegation.
• Foster a culture of safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Strategic & Continuous Improvement

• Drive process improvements and best practices to enhance efficiency, value, scalability, and compliance across warehouse operations.
• Partner cross-functionally with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, and Facilities to align materials strategies with business needs.
• Lead operational readiness initiatives for growth, capacity expansion, and new facility integration.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with7+ years, working in a cGMP environment in the biotech, medical device or pharmaceutical industry or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of cGMP/GDP requirements, inventory control, and materials handling within a regulated environment.
• Warehouse management experience, including inventory control and production support activities.
• Demonstrated leadership in driving rates of improvement on quality, service and cost; Experience with continuous improvement systems and processes (e.g.6 Sigma or Lean)
• Competency with data-driven analysis to identify gaps and lead structured problem-solving efforts
• Must possess solid working knowledge of MS Office.
• Experience in high volume and fast-paced materials and cleanroom environment.
• Strategic thinking and planning experience.
• Previous buyer/planner, supply chain experience, distribution, or manufacturing preferred.

Working Conditions:

• Ability to gown and gain entry to manufacturing areas.
• May be required to stand for long periods of time while performing physical duties.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push and pull up to 50 lbs. 
• May need to cover/work alternate schedules as needed.

Why Vericel?

• Cutting-Edge Science: Work with a leading regenerative medicine product that is transforming patient care.
• Career Growth: Be a part of a growing organization with opportunities to expand your impact.
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving lives.

The salary range Vericel reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of this posting is $125,000 to 155,000 annually.

The actual salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, experience, and skills. Bonus, incentive pay, equity and benefits may be provided in addition to the base compensation listed above.

In accordance with Massachusetts law, Vericel provides the pay range that it reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for a particular and specific employment position at the time of posting or offer. This range is subject to change based on business needs, market conditions, and individual qualifications. Employees and applicants may request the pay range for their position or for a position to which they are applying. Retaliation for making such a request is strictly prohibited.

EEO Statement

All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or protected veteran status and will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Vericel Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Vericel Corporation is VEVRAA federal contractor and desires priority referrals of protected veterans for job openings at all locations within the state.