Director, Human Resources

Vericel® Corporation; Burlington (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vericel Corporation is seeking an HR Director to partner with Sales, Marketing and Medical Office teams, translating business priorities into talent strategies that drive performance and scalable growth.

You will design and execute talent and organizational initiatives spanning design, workforce planning, performance management and succession planning, influencing senior leaders with data-driven insights and hands-on execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience with HRBP leadership.
• Experience supporting Commercial organizations in biotech/pharma or life sciences.
• Expertise in organizational design, workforce planning, performance management, talent reviews and succession planning.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Business Partnership: align talent and organizational strategies with business goals.
• Leadership Development & Capability Building: design and drive leadership development solutions.
• Organizational Design & Workforce Planning: lead design and assess structures and gaps.
• Talent Strategy, Development & Succession: lead reviews and succession planning.
• Performance Management & Accountability: strengthen practices and coach leaders.

Skills

Executive presence

Strategic HR partnership

Coaching senior leaders

People leadership

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Advanced degree preferred

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).

Position Summary

The HR Director serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to our Sales, Marketing and Medical Office teams, translating business priorities into clear, actionable talent strategies that drive performance, innovation and scalable growth. In this role, you will lead the design and execution of talent and organizational strategies spanning organizational design, workforce planning, performance management, talent development and succession planning. You will play a critical role in shaping how these organizations operate, build capability and deliver results. This position requires a strong balance of strategic thinking and hands‑on execution, along with the ability to influence senior leaders, facilitate complex discussions and use data and insights to improve organizational and business outcomes.

Schedule

This position is in‑office from Monday – Thursday in our new Burlington, MA location, with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

• Partner with senior leaders to align talent and organizational strategies with business goals.
• Translate business strategy into clear organizational, workforce and talent priorities.
• Advise leaders on leadership effectiveness, team performance and organizational health.

Leadership Development & Capability Building

• Identify individual, team and organizational capability gaps and determine the appropriate development interventions.
• Design and drive targeted learning, leadership development and team effectiveness solutions.
• Ensure development investments address demonstrated business needs and translate into improved capability and performance.

Organizational Design & Workforce Planning

• Lead organizational design efforts to support growth and evolving business needs.
• Assess organizational structure, spans and layers, talent and capability gaps.
• Develop workforce strategies aligned with current priorities and future business needs.

Talent Strategy, Development & Succession

• Lead talent reviews, succession planning and high‑potential identification.
• Build leadership pipelines and targeted development plans aligned with business and capability needs.
• Partner with leaders to strengthen internal talent and succession for critical roles.

Performance Management & Accountability

• Strengthen performance management practices to drive accountability and results.
• Partner with leaders to differentiate performance and proactively address performance gaps.
• Coach leaders on feedback, development and difficult conversations.

Qualifications

• Previous experience supporting Commercial organizations and senior Commercial leaders, ideally within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, or life sciences.
• Demonstrated expertise assessing organizational and individual capability gaps and designing learning and development strategies that strengthen leadership, functional capability, and business performance.
• Extensive experience in organizational design, workforce planning, performance management, talent reviews, and succession planning.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant HR Business Partner leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute talent and organizational strategies aligned with business priorities and performance goals.
• Proven ability to assess team effectiveness and determine the appropriate talent, structure, leadership, development, or performance interventions needed to improve results.
• Strong business acumen, executive presence, and demonstrated ability to coach, challenge, and influence senior leaders with confidence, credibility, and independence.

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 $180,000 - $210,000 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.