General Manager (UK/EU) presso Vericel Corporation

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 General Manager – UK/EU will be responsible for establishing, leading, and scaling Vericel’s operations in the United Kingdom and EU. This includes the commercial launch of MACI® including all tools and services related to the use of MACI®, the formation of the local business entity, team building, regulatory readiness, and market access execution. The GM will act as the senior-most representative in the UK/EU and serve as the bridge between the U.S. headquarters and local operations.  This role requires a strong balance of strategic leadership and hands-on execution to build a high-performing, compliant, and mission-driven organization in a dynamic healthcare environment.  Additionally, this role will be responsible for establishing logistics and business processes while overseeing the execution of the business to ensure all requirements and needs are met.

Position Scope:

• Market Strategy & Launch Leadership
  • Lead the UK and EU launch of MACI®, aligning with global strategy and tailored to local healthcare dynamics.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive commercial plans, including pricing, reimbursement, go-to-market strategies, training, customer engagement, and logistics.
  • Monitor UK and EU market trends, competitive landscape, customer and payor landscape, and regulatory shifts to inform on and support agile decision-making.
• Business Operations & Financial Oversight
  • Lead UK and EU P&L ownership, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency.
  • Track performance against KPIs, commercial milestones, and strategic goals.
  • Provide regular updates to U.S. executive leadership on market progress, risks, and opportunities.
  • Board member of UK and EU entity.
• Regulatory & Market Access
  • Oversee all regulatory activities in collaboration with global regulatory affairs; serve as local lead for MHRA, NICE, UKAB and other HTA bodies within the UK and for EU serve as local lead towards EMA, IJG, JHTA, Notified Body and other governmental bodies involved in the regulatory process in Europe.
  • Drive market access initiatives including value dossiers, reimbursement submissions, health economic evaluations, and presentations to private/commercial payors.
  • Ensure compliance with all UK/EU regulatory standards, including GxP, MHRA, GDPR, ISO13485 and pharmacovigilance.
• Team Building & Operational Management
  • Recruit, develop, and manage a cross-functional UK and EU team spanning commercial, medical affairs, regulatory, operations, customer care, and quality.
  • Establish local business infrastructure including legal entity formation, supply chain, IT, finance, quality and commercial operations.
  • Foster a strong, collaborative, and compliant team culture aligned with Vericel’s mission and values.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with key stakeholders including payors, orthopedic surgeons/KOLs, hospital administrators, and patient advocacy groups.
  • Develop and cultivate a clinical advisory board.
  • Serve as the UK and EU spokesperson for Vericel at external engagements, conferences, and industry forums.
  • Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships, distribution agreements, or service collaborations.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industry, with at least 5 years in senior commercial or general management roles.
• Demonstrated success launching cell therapy, biologics, or specialty medical products in the UK/EU
• Deep knowledge of UK/EU healthcare systems, including NHS, NICE, and MHRA, as well as EMA, IJG and NB processes.
• Proven track record in team building, operational setup, and cross-functional leadership.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience in market access, pricing, and reimbursement.
• Experience in leading a geographically dispersed team with different cultural backgrounds and able to work within the matrix organization. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Existing relationships in orthopedics, knee surgery, and sports traumatology.
• Background in regenerative medicine or musculoskeletal therapy.
• Experience leading start-up or scale-up operations in a new international market.
• Fluency in English, Dutch and/or German.
• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Business, or Health Economics (MBA, MSc, PhD, MD).

Key Competencies

• Strategic Vision & Execution
• Entrepreneurial Leadership
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
• Operational Excellence & Compliance
• Integrity, Accountability, and Collaboration

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.