Xenon
Who We Are:
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of people living with neurological and psychiatric disorders. We are looking for great people who thrive in a respectful, collaborative, inclusive, and productive culture to join the Xenon team.
What We Do:
We are advancing an exciting product pipeline to address indications with high unmet medical need, including epilepsy and depression. Our flagship azetukalner program represents the most advanced potassium channel modulator in clinical development for multiple indications. Building upon the positive results and compelling data from our Phase 2b "X-TOLE" study in adult patients with focal epilepsy, our Phase 3 epilepsy program includes multiple clinical trials evaluating azetukalner in patients with focal onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. In 2024, we are planning to initiate a Phase 3 azetukalner program in major depressive disorder, based on topline data from our Phase 2 "X-NOVA" clinical trial. In addition, we are proud of the leading-edge science coming out of our discovery labs, including early-stage research programs that leverage our extensive ion channel expertise and drug discovery capabilities to identify validated drug targets and develop new product candidates. Backed by a strong balance sheet to support our growth plans, we continue to build a fully integrated, premier neuroscience company with strong discovery, clinical development, corporate, and commercial operations.
About the Role:
We are seeking an
Associate Director, Medical Affairs, Operations
to help lead enterprise level operational initiatives and major cross-functional events across the Medical Affairs team at Xenon. To succeed in this role, you need to have a strategic mindset, strong project management skills, and experience in digital initiatives. You need to bring energy, structure, and creativity to large-scale programs and thrive in matrixed environments where influence and collaboration are essential. Ideally, you are an individual that is excited by both high impact events and the behind-the-scenes work that makes strategic execution possible.
This role centers on orchestrating strategic projects and major events that shape how Medical operates, while also identifying opportunities to innovate and streamline processes through digital solutions. You will manage high visibility programs including support of the Medical Annual Plan preparation, field system rollouts, and capability building frameworks that can improve field engagement and operational workflows. Reporting to the Head of Medical Operations, this role combines operational leadership with strategic execution and innovation support.
You will work within a multidisciplinary team, interfacing with management, key internal stakeholders and partners from IT, finance, and operations amongst others. Your contributions will directly influence and shape the successful execution of our medical affairs strategies.
This position will be based out of Boston, MA, USA in our Needham office. For Boston based candidates, this is a hybrid position, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. We will consider other jurisdictions for exceptional candidates.
RESPONSIBILITIES: • Support enterprise-level system and capability rollouts (e.g. Veeva enhancements, Launch Excellence framework, etc.), collaborating across therapeutic areas and functions. • Lead the planning and execution of Medical major cross-functional meetings, including key congresses, internal summits and other events, ensuring alignment across functions and seamless execution. • Oversee the development of scalable operational frameworks, and RACI that drive process optimization and enable Medical Affairs plan execution. • Lead initiative to enhance operational excellence, aligning internal stakeholders around shared priorities and continuous improvement efforts. • Manage the monthly agenda planning and coordination for the Medical Leadership Team, ensuring strategic content delivery and leadership alignment. • Collaboratively lead the establishment, process development and operational management for the evidence generation initiatives (e.g. Investigator-Sponsored Research and Collaborative Studies) and for the strategic oversight of annual and long-range financial planning and budget management for medical affairs. • Identify, assess, and pilot emerging technologies (e.g., AI, omnichannel, automation) that enhance the impact of Medical's operations and external engagement. • Serve as a connector with external benchmarking groups (e.g., MAPS, best practices consortiums) and internal partners like IT and Operations to stay ahead of innovation trends. • Engage regularly with Field Directors, Medical Directors, and other key stakeholders to surface opportunities for digital integration into operational workflows. • Act as a trusted partner to the Head Medical Operations, supporting high-priority strategic initiatives and enabling seamless cross-team collaboration. • Coordinate efforts across teams and support communication, alignment, and execution on special projects. Have a high level of agility, providing operational bandwidth when needed, to ensure key NA Medical items are executed rapidly and in alignment with stakeholders. • Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor's degree is required. Advanced Scientific or Clinical degree (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD) is preferred. MBA and/or PMP certification or equivalent (e.g., PgMP, Lean/Six Sigma) is highly desired. • Minimum of 8 years of management experience in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry is required. We will consider a combination of degrees and experience. • Proven experience in medical affairs, operations, vendor or contract management, research operations, budget management, or related fields is required. • Demonstrated program/project management expertise in cross-functional and matrixed environments is required. • Experience executing digital projects (e.g., AI, omnichannel), preferably in medical affairs or life sciences, is highly desired. • Strong systems thinking and ability to develop scalable frameworks and tools is required. • Proven ability to create and manage documents such as SOPs, JDs, and training aids to support organizational development and operational improvements is required. • Skilled in Excel, PowerPoint, Smartsheet, and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Outlook) is preferred. • Ability to travel up to 25%, both domestically and internationally.
The base salary range for this role is
$168,000 to $212,400 USD ; we will consider above this range for exceptional candidates. Base salary is determined by a combination of factors including, but not limited to, education and other qualifications, years of relevant experience, and internal equity.
Our Total Rewards program includes base salary, target bonus, and stock options, as well as a full range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-& long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, and life insurance programs, Employee Assistance Program, travel insurance, and retirement savings programs with company matching contributions. Xenon encourages time to rest and re-charge through vacation, personal days, sick days, and an end-of-year company shutdown. Xenon highly values employee development and has an expanding Training, Learning & Development program, including a Tuition Assistance program for advanced degrees. As part of our hiring process, Xenon conducts background checks for finalist candidates. The types of checks conducted will vary depending on the relevance to the position. US positions only: Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. participates in the E-Verify program in all states in which we hire. Learn more about the E-Verify program here. To apply for this position, click Apply Now to complete the application. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the volume of applicants, only those chosen for interview will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing, and commercializing innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of people living with neurological and psychiatric disorders. We are looking for great people who thrive in a respectful, collaborative, inclusive, and productive culture to join the Xenon team.
What We Do:
We are advancing an exciting product pipeline to address indications with high unmet medical need, including epilepsy and depression. Our flagship azetukalner program represents the most advanced potassium channel modulator in clinical development for multiple indications. Building upon the positive results and compelling data from our Phase 2b "X-TOLE" study in adult patients with focal epilepsy, our Phase 3 epilepsy program includes multiple clinical trials evaluating azetukalner in patients with focal onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. In 2024, we are planning to initiate a Phase 3 azetukalner program in major depressive disorder, based on topline data from our Phase 2 "X-NOVA" clinical trial. In addition, we are proud of the leading-edge science coming out of our discovery labs, including early-stage research programs that leverage our extensive ion channel expertise and drug discovery capabilities to identify validated drug targets and develop new product candidates. Backed by a strong balance sheet to support our growth plans, we continue to build a fully integrated, premier neuroscience company with strong discovery, clinical development, corporate, and commercial operations.
About the Role:
We are seeking an
Associate Director, Medical Affairs, Operations
to help lead enterprise level operational initiatives and major cross-functional events across the Medical Affairs team at Xenon. To succeed in this role, you need to have a strategic mindset, strong project management skills, and experience in digital initiatives. You need to bring energy, structure, and creativity to large-scale programs and thrive in matrixed environments where influence and collaboration are essential. Ideally, you are an individual that is excited by both high impact events and the behind-the-scenes work that makes strategic execution possible.
This role centers on orchestrating strategic projects and major events that shape how Medical operates, while also identifying opportunities to innovate and streamline processes through digital solutions. You will manage high visibility programs including support of the Medical Annual Plan preparation, field system rollouts, and capability building frameworks that can improve field engagement and operational workflows. Reporting to the Head of Medical Operations, this role combines operational leadership with strategic execution and innovation support.
You will work within a multidisciplinary team, interfacing with management, key internal stakeholders and partners from IT, finance, and operations amongst others. Your contributions will directly influence and shape the successful execution of our medical affairs strategies.
This position will be based out of Boston, MA, USA in our Needham office. For Boston based candidates, this is a hybrid position, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the office. We will consider other jurisdictions for exceptional candidates.
RESPONSIBILITIES: • Support enterprise-level system and capability rollouts (e.g. Veeva enhancements, Launch Excellence framework, etc.), collaborating across therapeutic areas and functions. • Lead the planning and execution of Medical major cross-functional meetings, including key congresses, internal summits and other events, ensuring alignment across functions and seamless execution. • Oversee the development of scalable operational frameworks, and RACI that drive process optimization and enable Medical Affairs plan execution. • Lead initiative to enhance operational excellence, aligning internal stakeholders around shared priorities and continuous improvement efforts. • Manage the monthly agenda planning and coordination for the Medical Leadership Team, ensuring strategic content delivery and leadership alignment. • Collaboratively lead the establishment, process development and operational management for the evidence generation initiatives (e.g. Investigator-Sponsored Research and Collaborative Studies) and for the strategic oversight of annual and long-range financial planning and budget management for medical affairs. • Identify, assess, and pilot emerging technologies (e.g., AI, omnichannel, automation) that enhance the impact of Medical's operations and external engagement. • Serve as a connector with external benchmarking groups (e.g., MAPS, best practices consortiums) and internal partners like IT and Operations to stay ahead of innovation trends. • Engage regularly with Field Directors, Medical Directors, and other key stakeholders to surface opportunities for digital integration into operational workflows. • Act as a trusted partner to the Head Medical Operations, supporting high-priority strategic initiatives and enabling seamless cross-team collaboration. • Coordinate efforts across teams and support communication, alignment, and execution on special projects. Have a high level of agility, providing operational bandwidth when needed, to ensure key NA Medical items are executed rapidly and in alignment with stakeholders. • Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are understood and followed by direct reports.
QUALIFICATIONS: • Bachelor's degree is required. Advanced Scientific or Clinical degree (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD) is preferred. MBA and/or PMP certification or equivalent (e.g., PgMP, Lean/Six Sigma) is highly desired. • Minimum of 8 years of management experience in the Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry is required. We will consider a combination of degrees and experience. • Proven experience in medical affairs, operations, vendor or contract management, research operations, budget management, or related fields is required. • Demonstrated program/project management expertise in cross-functional and matrixed environments is required. • Experience executing digital projects (e.g., AI, omnichannel), preferably in medical affairs or life sciences, is highly desired. • Strong systems thinking and ability to develop scalable frameworks and tools is required. • Proven ability to create and manage documents such as SOPs, JDs, and training aids to support organizational development and operational improvements is required. • Skilled in Excel, PowerPoint, Smartsheet, and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams, Outlook) is preferred. • Ability to travel up to 25%, both domestically and internationally.
The base salary range for this role is
$168,000 to $212,400 USD ; we will consider above this range for exceptional candidates. Base salary is determined by a combination of factors including, but not limited to, education and other qualifications, years of relevant experience, and internal equity.
Our Total Rewards program includes base salary, target bonus, and stock options, as well as a full range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-& long-term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, and life insurance programs, Employee Assistance Program, travel insurance, and retirement savings programs with company matching contributions. Xenon encourages time to rest and re-charge through vacation, personal days, sick days, and an end-of-year company shutdown. Xenon highly values employee development and has an expanding Training, Learning & Development program, including a Tuition Assistance program for advanced degrees. As part of our hiring process, Xenon conducts background checks for finalist candidates. The types of checks conducted will vary depending on the relevance to the position. US positions only: Xenon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. participates in the E-Verify program in all states in which we hire. Learn more about the E-Verify program here. To apply for this position, click Apply Now to complete the application. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, due to the volume of applicants, only those chosen for interview will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr