HR Operations & Total Rewards Manager

HR Operations & Total Rewards Manager

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

We are seeking a hands-on HR Operations & Total Rewards Manager to drive the effective delivery and continued evolution of our HR programs and processes. As an individual contributor on a collaborative HR team, you will own key operational activities across the employee lifecycle, benefits, compensation, HR systems, and compliance while providing thoughtful and timely support to employees and managers.

The ideal candidate combines strong HR operational expertise with sound judgment, analytical curiosity, and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset. You are comfortable rolling up your sleeves, independently managing competing priorities, and collaborating across the HR team. Beyond day-to-day execution, you will identify opportunities to enhance how we work, leverage data to provide meaningful insights and recommendations, and thoughtfully use technology, including AI, to help build a more innovative and efficient HR function.

Schedule: Onsite Monday – Thursday in our Burlington, MA office with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

Key Responsibilities:

HR Operations

• Own and continuously improve core HR operational and employee lifecycle processes, including onboarding, employee transitions, and offboarding, ensuring efficient workflows, accurate execution, and a positive employee experience.

• Manage HR systems and data integrity, reviewing information across platforms, resolving discrepancies, and leveraging technology to strengthen processes, reporting, and operational efficiency.

• Analyze workforce data and HR metrics to identify trends, anticipate needs, and present actionable insights and recommendations to HR leadership.

• Manage recurring HR compliance obligations, including employment postings, ACA, VETS-4212 and EEO-1 reporting, recordkeeping, audits, and related deadlines.

• Partner with Payroll to ensure employee changes and HR information are accurately documented, captured, and communicated for payroll processing.

• Drive HR process improvements as well as operational projects, and contribute to HRIS initiatives through requirements gathering, testing, coordination, and implementation follow-through; using technology and AI thoughtfully to improve efficiency and service delivery.

• Serve as a responsive resource for employees and managers, and support HR colleagues on evolving priorities and projects as needed.

Total Rewards

• Own day-to-day benefits administration and enhancements, including eligibility, enrollment, vendor coordination, employee support, and data reconciliation.

• Partner with brokers, carriers, COBRA and leave administrators to monitor service delivery, resolve complex issues, and help employees navigate benefits, leave, and disability programs.

• Collaborate with HR leadership to coordinate and execute Open Enrollment activities, including communications, system readiness, employee education, and post-enrollment review; plan and deliver recurring wellness and benefits education events.

• Conduct compensation analysis, including market pricing, job benchmarking, salary positioning, and internal equity reviews; support annual compensation planning and administration.

• Compile, validate, and analyze data for compensation survey participation; partner with HR leadership on compensation recommendations, job architecture, career leveling, and program enhancements.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Typically 7+ years of progressive HR experience, including independent ownership of HR Operations and/or Total Rewards programs.

• Strong benefits administration experience, practical leave-program knowledge, and ability to manage vendors and complex employee questions.

• Working knowledge of compensation analysis, market benchmarking, and recurring compensation processes.

• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions (e.g., XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP), and data reconciliation and analysis.

• Experience with HRIS, data management, reporting, HR compliance, employee lifecycle processes, and cross-functional projects.

• Excellent judgment, prioritization, follow-through, and communication; ability to work independently, influence partners, and provide thoughtful employee service.

Preferred Experience

• ADP Workforce Now or comparable HCM systems; talent management platforms such as Lattice.

• Compensation survey tools such as Aon Radford; third-party benefits and leave administrators.

• HR technology enhancements, process redesign, and responsible use of AI tools in HR workflows.

• Life sciences, biotechnology, medical device, manufacturing, or another regulated environment; relevant HR certification.

Why You'll Thrive Here

You enjoy owning outcomes while staying close to the work. You bring structure to competing priorities, translate data into practical recommendations, and seek smarter ways to support employees and the business. You are collaborative, adaptable, and willing to roll up your sleeves wherever your expertise can help the team succeed. This is a manager-level individual contributor role with no direct reports.

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 $110,000 - $130,000 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.