The posting
Who We Are:
Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:XENE https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/xene) is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need. 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 https://xenon-pharma.com/pipeline to address indications with high unmet medical need, including epilepsy, depression and pain. Our Phase 3 azetukalner program represents the most advanced, clinically validated potassium channel modulator in late-stage clinical development for multiple indications. In March 2026, we announced positive topline data from our Phase 3 X-TOLE2 study of azetukalner in focal onset seizures (FOS), and we submitted a New Drug Application to the Food and Drug Administration in the third quarter of 2026. Our Phase 3 epilepsy program also includes a second FOS study, X-TOLE3, which would support regulatory submissions outside the U.S., and the X-ACKT study in primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures, which would support regulatory submissions for an additional epilepsy indication. We also have multiple Phase 3 azetukalner clinical trials underway in major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression (BPD), based on topline data from our Phase 2 X-NOVA clinical trial. In addition, we are proud of our strong heritage in human genetics, deep understanding of ion channel biology, and expertise in novel chemistries to enable potent, selective ion channel targeting. We continue to advance an early-stage pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates, including Phase 1 studies for XEN1701 and XEN1720 (targeting Nav1.7) and XEN1120 (targeting Kv7), which are being developed for pain. 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 a dynamic, patient-centric, strategic, collaborative, agile, and results-oriented Executive Business Director (EBD), Epilepsy to lead our West region. This leader will be responsible for leading and developing a team of Regional Sales Managers and ensuring successful execution of Xenon's commercial strategy across a multi-state geography. Reporting to the Vice President, Sales, the ABD serves as the senior field leader within the assigned area and is accountable for launch readiness, business performance, leadership development, field effectiveness, and cross-functional execution.
As Xenon prepares for its first commercial launch, the ABD will play a critical role in building the field organization, developing frontline leadership capabilities, establishing performance expectations, and ensuring consistent execution across all regions. The ABD serves as the key link between national commercial strategy and field execution, translating corporate priorities into actionable plans while fostering collaboration across the field and cross-functional partners.
Success in this role requires exceptional leadership, launch expertise, strategic business acumen, strong cross-functional influence, and the ability to build and scale high-performing teams in a dynamic and evolving commercial environment.
This position reports to the VP, Sales and will be fully remote.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership of Leaders
- Build and maintain a high-performing team of Regional Sales Managers.
- Establish consistent leadership expectations, performance standards, coaching practices, and operating rhythms across the area.
- Coach and develop Regional Sales Managers in leadership effectiveness, business planning, strategic account management, and organizational leadership.
- Ensure Regional Sales Managers effectively recruit, onboard, develop, and retain high-performing field teams.
- Conduct talent reviews, succession planning, development discussions, and performance management activities.
- Foster an ethical, inclusive, and patient-focused culture grounded in accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
Launch Readiness & Commercial Execution
- Lead launch readiness activities across all regions within the assigned area.
- Monitor readiness milestones and proactively identify risks, capability gaps, dependencies, and resource needs.
- Partner with Regional Sales Managers to ensure launch plans are executed effectively and consistently.
- Support field deployment planning, territory readiness, customer engagement preparation, and adoption of commercial systems and processes.
- Translate national commercial priorities into aligned regional execution plans.
- Provide field perspectives and recommendations to the Vice President of Sales and Commercial Leadership Team regarding launch readiness and business opportunities.
Business Performance & Field Effectiveness
- Drive achievement of area business objectives and commercial priorities.
- Lead area business reviews and performance discussions to assess regional trends and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Monitor business performance through leading and lagging indicators and implement actions to address performance gaps.
- Ensure consistency in customer engagement, account planning, coaching effectiveness, CRM utilization, and execution standards across regions.
- Ensure collaboration with internal partners and regional sales managers to improve productivity, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness.
- Identify and share best practices across the area to drive continuous improvement and execution excellence.
Strategic Account Leadership & Market Insights
- Provide leadership and support for key epilepsy centers, academic institutions, health systems, integrated delivery networks, and other strategic accounts spanning multiple regions.
- During the pre-launch phase, develop relationships with key accounts across assigned regions to support launch readiness and future customer engagement.
- Support Regional Sales Managers in navigating complex customer, health system, and access-related opportunities and challenges.
- Aggregate and synthesize field insights across the area to identify emerging customer needs, patient journey barriers, treatment trends, competitive developments, and market opportunities.
- Ensure field perspectives are incorporated into commercial planning, customer engagement strategies, and business decision-making.
- Communicate actionable recommendations and market intelligence to the Vice President of Sales and Commercial Leadership Team.
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Serve as the senior field leader for cross-functional initiatives impacting the assigned area.
- Partner closely with Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Patient Services, Commercial Operations, Commercial Training, Analytics, Human Resources, Legal, and Compliance.
- Ensure alignment around launch plans, customer engagement activities, business priorities, and field execution.
- Facilitate communication and collaboration between field teams and headquarters functions.
- Support coordinated resolution of business issues affecting multiple regions and customers.
- Promote transparency, accountability, and shared ownership across the organization.
Compliance, Culture & Resource Management
- Model Xenon's values of collaboration, ambition, resilience, ethical and science driven
- Ensure all field activities comply with company policies, industry regulations, and legal requirements.
- Promote a culture of ethical leadership, compliance, and responsible decision-making.
- Oversee area budgets, resource allocation, travel, meetings, and commercial investments.
- Ensure Regional Sales Managers maintain strong compliance standards within their teams.
- Foster an environment where employees feel empowered, supported, engaged, and accountable.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 12+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical commercial experience.
- 7+ years of progressive commercial or sales leadership experience.
- Significant biotechnology or pharmaceutical launch experience required.
- Experience leading first-line sales leaders required; second-line leadership experience strongly preferred.
- Neurology experience required; epilepsy experience strongly preferred.
- Proven success building, developing, and leading high-performing organizations and leadership teams.
- Strong experience working with academic institutions, epilepsy centers, health systems, integrated delivery networks, and specialty markets.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and lead within complex matrix organizations.
- Strong strategic thinking, business planning, analytical, coaching, and organizational leadership capabilities.
- Excellent communication, collaboration, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Proficiency with CRM platforms, analytics tools, and Microsoft 365 applications.
- Ability to travel up to 75%.
- Develop and propose short- and long-term objectives for the function in accordance with overall Company strategies and plans
- Plan and manage budget proposals and approved budgets in accordance with the Company’s strategic and operating plans and Finance policies
- Recruit, lead, direct, develop, coach and evaluate direct reports, if any, in accordance with the Company’s Human Resource policies and practices
- 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, if any
- Some international travel may be required
Other duties as assigned
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.
