Director, Strategic Engagements (Central)

Xenon Pharmaceuticals

3d•$245,000 - $270,000•Remote

About The Position

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Director, Strategic Engagements (Central) to join its Commercial team and support commercially focused healthcare professional engagement activities for Azetukalner. The role supports U.S. commercial strategic market development for the epilepsy launch, with a regional focus on maintaining key opinion leader (KOL) engagement, uncovering market impact drivers, and supporting business planning with matrix colleagues. The successful candidate will build strong cross-functional relationships and work compliantly with Commercial, Medical Affairs, and other business partners to advance corporate brand awareness and advocacy. The position calls for an experienced epilepsy business leader who can operate effectively in a dynamic and ambiguous environment. It is fully remote and reports to the Senior Director, Customer Engagement. Travel is greater than 50% and may reach 75%, including travel to educational events, internal meetings, advisory boards, medical meetings, and congresses; many events occur on weekends. International travel may also be required. The Central region includes CO, MN, WI, IL, MI, IN, MO, KS, NE, IA, ND, and SD. Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of therapeutics. Its pipeline includes late-stage Azetukalner programs for epilepsy and mood disorders, as well as early-stage candidates for pain.

Requirements

A minimum of a BA/BS degree in a related field.
A minimum of 10 years of experience in epilepsy marketing, medical, key account management, sales, or sales leadership.
Experience engaging KOLs, influential healthcare professionals, and professional healthcare organizations is ideally suited to the role.
Deep understanding and experience working cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders, with the ability to innovate, collaborate, and deliver results.
Understanding of key industry trends and ability to develop strategies to stay ahead of competition and maximize patient outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to build and manage lasting customer relationships, with a focus on patient impact and customer centricity.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Ability to work independently under tight timelines and contribute significantly to day-to-day operations as needed.
Ability to travel greater than 50%, up to 75%; international travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

An MBA, PharmD, PhD, or other related graduate degree.
Experience engaging KOLs, influential HCPs, and professional healthcare organizations.

Responsibilities

Identify, cultivate, and maintain long-term relationships with national and regional epilepsy KOLs, advisors, and other influential stakeholders.
Own commercial KOL influence mapping, including stakeholder profiling, engagement strategies, and communication plans that inform customer prioritization and commercial planning.
Monitor and synthesize stakeholder insights, treatment trends, unmet needs, and competitive dynamics, translating findings into actionable recommendations for commercial strategy, launch readiness, and regional business decisions.
Advise Commercial leadership by providing market intelligence, stakeholder perspectives, and recommendations that shape launch planning, customer engagement strategies, and business priorities.
Support launch readiness by identifying and engaging stakeholders who influence awareness, perception, advocacy, treatment positioning, and early adoption of Azetukalner within assigned regions.
Lead cross-functional coordination across Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Advocacy, and other matrix partners to align customer engagement strategies and execution.
Drive coordinated account planning by integrating stakeholder insights and partnering across matrix teams to develop and execute aligned engagement plans for priority customers and accounts.
Identify emerging market opportunities, adoption barriers, and customer needs, and recommend actions to strengthen launch preparedness and commercial execution.
Attend and lead strategic engagement activities at national and regional congresses, professional meetings, and industry events, including stakeholder mapping, partner engagement, and field education support.
Collaborate with Marketing, Analytics, Medical Affairs, and other partners to refine disease-state education, brand strategy, customer engagement approaches, and market development initiatives.
Develop strategic partnerships with professional societies, advocacy organizations, and other external stakeholders to advance disease awareness, education, and advocacy.
Facilitate high-impact engagements between Xenon senior leadership and national and regional KOLs.
Formalize live, virtual, and congress meetings between senior leadership and national and regional KOLs.
Develop and propose short- and long-term functional objectives aligned with overall company strategies and plans.
Plan and manage budget proposals and approved budgets in accordance with company strategic and operating plans and Finance policies.
Recruit, lead, direct, develop, coach, and evaluate direct reports, if any, in accordance with Human Resource policies and practices.
Act in accordance with company policies, including the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and ensure policies are understood and followed by any direct reports.
Travel 50–75%, with international travel potentially required.
Perform other duties as assigned.