Associate Director, Logistics and Warehouse Operations

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). 

Position Summary:

This role is responsible for shaping, streamlining, and elevating operational performance across logistics and distribution, including internal and external material management, global transportation, and 3PL vendor management as measured by compliance, safety, and cost optimization.

Schedule: This position is in-office Monday-Friday.

Location: This role will be split between our new, state of the art facility located in Burlington, MA and our current location in Cambridge, MA.

Position Scope:

Warehouse Management

• Manage/lead warehouse/materials team and external 3PL partners to ensure operations across receiving, warehousing, production support, shipping, and kitting meet performance objectives.
• Implement final phases of Burlington Warehouse and prepare for Commercial Operations and Regulatory preparedness. Ensure systems and operations are in alignment with Cambridge.
• 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.
• Lead cultural shift within team leveraging LEAN tools such as 5S, huddle board discussions, Gemba walks, and standardized reporting.
• Develop and implement inventory control solutions that achieve benchmark accuracy, maintain compliance, and support stock optimization programs.
• Strategically plan and staff for future workload to meet or exceed productivity performance standards. Set goals for department that demonstrate and drive continuous improvement.
• Optimize layout and material flow to improve throughput and reduce waste.
• Establish and manage KPIs to improve visibility and accountability.
• Use data-driven analysis to identify gaps and lead structured problem-solving efforts.

Logistics

• Oversee global transportation spend - manage vendor performance, identify and negotiate cost improvements, and ensure internal and external compliance.
• Build roadmap for vendor and process scalability; ID/Recommend expanded capabilities offerings to support customer service level improvement/advantage.

Strategic

• Develop and implement, in collaboration with broader operations and functional leaders, a material management strategic plan that enables business growth and advances value added capabilities to improve quality, service and cost.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with FDA, OSHA and all applicable health and safety regulations.
• Promote a culture of safety through regular training and proactive initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement of safety standards across all warehouse functions.

Leadership & People Development

• Provide leadership, guidance, and direction to staff in compliance with cGMP, safety and company corporate quality governance. Ensure compliance of staff with all SOPs controlling the GMP activities of the team.
• Develop operations supervisors/managers and front-line staff to meet growing operational demands.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and performance; Conduct regular check-ins, performance reviews, and provide coaching and feedback.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field.
• 7+ years of leadership and management experience in warehouse or distribution operations in GMP environment with demonstrated ability to advance team culture and performance.
• Experience with transformational change in a warehouse process standards and solutions.
• Prior training/certification in Lean or Six Sigma preferred.
• Process-focused mindset with a passion for operational efficiency.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and communication skills.
• Experience implementing strategic plans that drive measurable results.
• Proficiency in data analytics, warehouse systems, and continuous improvement tools.
• Comfortable balancing physical inventory work with analytical/reporting tasks.
• Ability to work weekends and/or holidays periodically.

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.

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.