Manager, Training

Job Description

Job Description

Manager, Training

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 Manager, Training leads the GxP training program supporting Quality, Manufacturing, and other applicable functions. The role manages training curricula, learning systems, training records, and program effectiveness to support employee readiness, procedural compliance, and inspection readiness. The manager leads assigned training staff and works closely with functional leaders to identify needs, prioritize training, and maintain consistent practices across supported sites.

This is a hands-on training leadership role with direct responsibility for developing and facilitating in-person and virtual training sessions for all employees.

Schedule: This position is on-site Monday - Friday in our Burlington, MA location.

Key Responsibilities:

Training Program Leadership

• Develop and execute the organization's GxP training plan, programs, and processes in alignment with Quality leadership, business needs, and approved procedures.

• Partner with Quality, Manufacturing, Engineering, Validation, and other functional groups to identify training needs and competency requirements.

• Manage assigned training staff, including setting objectives, allocating work, coaching, providing performance feedback, and supporting development.

• Coordinate responsibilities and session coverage with the training Lead and trainers, while personally delivering assigned courses.

• Identify training resource needs, resolve scheduling and priority conflicts with functional leaders, and escalate gaps that could affect employee readiness or compliance.

Curricula and Learning Materials

• Manage the development, implementation, and maintenance of role-based training curricula, onboarding plans, refresher training, and qualification frameworks.

• Develop and update training materials, including instructor-led courses, e-learning, job aids, assessments, and qualification programs which align with business needs, approved procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Develop qualification and competency-based training programs for applicable roles.

• Ensure training records and associated documentation are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with applicable procedures and regulatory requirements.

Training Delivery and Effectiveness

• Personally facilitate scheduled in-person and virtual training sessions for Manufacturing and other functions, including GxP orientation, documentation practices, Quality systems, and procedural or compliance topics within demonstrated expertise.

• Use discussion, case studies, exercises, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning and assess understanding; adapt delivery to the needs of different audiences.

• Coordinate training calendars with functional leaders to support onboarding, refresher training, procedural changes, and shift coverage without disrupting production needs.

• Provide guidance to subject matter experts and on-the-job trainers on effective training development and delivery.

• Partner with functional leaders to define and document process-specific training and qualification requirements; engage qualified subject matter experts to deliver technical instruction and assess task proficiency.

• Evaluate training effectiveness using assessments, learner feedback, observations, and relevant performance trends; improve courses and recommend targeted retraining as needed.

Learning Systems and Training Records

• Oversee administration and continuous improvement of the Learning Management System (LMS).

• Establish and maintain processes for assigning, documenting, and reporting employee training; ensure records are accurate, complete, and maintained in accordance with approved procedures.

• Monitor training completion, overdue training, qualification status, and other training-related metrics.

Quality Support and Continuous Improvement

• Support audits and inspections by providing training records, explaining training processes, and coordinating responses or corrective actions within the training function.

• Maintain current knowledge of applicable regulations, industry practices, company procedures, and learning technologies relevant to assigned training areas.

• Partner with Quality and functional leaders to address training-related deviations, CAPAs, and change controls; assess whether training actions address the identified need.

• Provide key performance indicators to site leadership team. Collect and provide trending data for training.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, technical, education, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or another GxP-regulated environment, including at least 3 years developing and delivering employee training.

• At least 2 years of experience leading training programs or teams, with demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, and develop employees.

• Experience personally facilitating in-person training sessions for manufacturing employees and communicating technical or procedural information clearly.

• Working knowledge of cGMP, good documentation practices, controlled procedures, and training documentation requirements.

• Experience developing role-based curricula, instructional materials, and assessments using adult learning principles.

• Experience administering or overseeing a Learning Management System and monitoring training completion and effectiveness.

• Strong communication, facilitation, organizational, and collaboration skills, with the ability to independently manage competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications: