About this role
Senior Manager, Promotional Planning and Marketing Operations
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 Senior Manager, Promotional Planning and Marketing Operations leads Vericel’s marketing operations, including the Medical, Legal and Regulatory (MLR) review process, and provides centralized coordination across key Commercial initiatives. The role ensures all promotional resources, programs and campaigns move efficiently from planning through review, approval and execution in accordance with prospectively established timelines and while maintaining appropriate quality and compliance.
Working across Marketing, Medical Affairs, Legal, Regulatory, Commercial Operations and agency partners, this individual drives continuous improvement, manages the promotional content portfolio, annual Promotional Calendar, as well as providing Commercial Leadership with clear visibility into priorities, timelines, risks and dependencies to support effective decision-making and execution.
Schedule: This position is in-office from Monday – Thursday in our new Burlington, MA location, with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Content & MLR Governance
Serve as the operational business owner for Vericel's MLR promotional review process and end-to-end promotional content lifecycle through Veeva PromoMats.
Establish and maintain governance, standards, procedures and service expectations that enable efficient, consistent and compliant content development and review.
Continuously improve the MLR operating model to increase speed and quality, while maintaining appropriate Medical, Legal and Regulatory oversight.
Coordinate content progression from concept through submission, review, approval, production, deployment, maintenance and retirement.
Ensure approved materials and associated documentation are appropriately maintained and distributed through Veeva PromoMats, Allego and other enterprise platforms.
Establish clear escalation pathways and facilitate timely resolution of content-review issues.
Promotional Content Portfolio Management
Establish and maintain a centralized view of key Commercial initiatives, content, resources programs and campaigns across functions.
Develop consistent portfolio intake, prioritization, tracking and reporting practices.
Maintain visibility into project owners, milestones, decisions, dependencies, risks, capacity constraints and delivery commitments.
Identify cross-functional dependencies, competing priorities and potential execution risks early and drive resolution or appropriate escalation.
Provide Commercial Leadership with clear, decision-oriented portfolio reporting that enables prioritization and resource allocation.
Lead quarterly promotional portfolio reviews and ensure agreed actions and decisions are translated into execution.
Process Improvement & Technology Enablement
Lead continuous improvement initiatives that simplify workflows, eliminate unnecessary steps, reduce cycle time and improve execution reliability.
Establish templates, submission requirements, tools and best practices that improve first-pass quality and reduce rework.
Evaluate and implement appropriate automation, AI-enabled capabilities and technology enhancements that improve content development, MLR, portfolio management and reporting.
Cross-Functional Leadership
Facilitate effective MLR meetings, portfolio reviews and cross-functional working sessions with clear objectives, decisions, accountability and follow-through.
Navigate differing functional priorities while maintaining scientific integrity, compliance, business objectives and execution speed.
Metrics, Insights & Decision Support
Establish and maintain KPIs measuring content development and MLR cycle time, first-pass approval, review cycles, submission quality, on-time delivery and portfolio execution. Partner with Marketing and Commercial Analytics to incorporate available measures of resource utilization and promotional effectiveness.
Leadership Expectations
Operate as the business owner, not simply the administrator, of Commercial content and portfolio processes.
Anticipate issues and drive solutions before they become barriers to execution.
Create clarity and accountability in complex, cross-functional environments.
Challenge inefficient practices constructively and recommend practical solutions.
Demonstrate strong judgment when balancing speed, business priorities and compliance.
Champion continuous improvement, transparency and operational excellence.
Build trusted partnerships across Commercial, Medical, and all other enabling functions.
Mentor colleagues and promote scalable operating practices across the organization.
Qualifications, Education, & Experience
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Communications or a business-related discipline.
7+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or another regulated healthcare environment.
3+ years of direct experience leading MLR/promotional review, commercial content operations, or a closely related capability.
Demonstrated experience managing complex cross-functional programs or portfolios involving multiple stakeholders, priorities, and dependencies.
Strong understanding of pharmaceutical promotional review processes, FDA promotional requirements, and marketing compliance.
Experience with end-to-end commercial content lifecycle management.
Demonstrated success improving processes, implementing governance and driving adoption of new ways of working.
Strong analytical capability with experience developing operational metrics, dashboards and leadership reporting.
Excellent project/program management, facilitation, communication, problem-solving and influencing skills.
Demonstrated ability to operate independently and influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
Experience and proficiency with Veeva Vault PromoMats, Allego, or comparable commercial content platforms.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with portfolio/project management and visualization tools.
Experience supporting commercial product launches or major lifecycle initiatives.
Experience implementing workflow automation, AI-enabled content solutions, or other commercial technology enhancements.
PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or comparable certification.
Experience in biotechnology, specialty pharmaceuticals, cell therapy, or other complex therapeutic areas.
Working Conditions & Physical Demands
Full-time, exempt position based in Burlington, Massachusetts, with a hybrid work schedule (Friday’s in-office optional or remote).
Primary work environments are sitting/standing office desk, and conference room based and collaboration with remote internal and external partners via Microsoft Teams.
Limited exposure to anatomical and procedure related graphics, schematics, videos, pictures, images, including cadaveric and patient injury and treatment imagery.
Why Vericel?
Mission-Driven Work: Help bring potentially life-enhancing cell therapies to patients with serious medical conditions.
Innovative Products: Work with a first-in-class therapy backed by clinical success and provider trust.
Career Growth: Be a part of a growing organization with opportunities to expand your impact.
Collaborative Culture: Join a supportive, cross-functional team that values passion, integrity, and excellence.
The salary range Vericel reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at the time of this posting is $140,000 to $160,000 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.