Associate Director​/Director, Development Program Management, CMC

Who We Are:

Xenon Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: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.

We are advancing an exciting product 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 anticipate submitting 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 XEN
1701 and XEN
1720 (targeting Nav
1.7) and XEN
1120 (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.

We are seeking an Associate Director/Director, Development Program Management, CMC to join our team. The Associate Director/Director, Development Program Management, CMC will provide strategic and operational project management leadership for CMC teams, with an initial focus on phase 1 and 2 compounds. This role will drive integrated planning, execution support, governance, and communication across multiple cross-functional programs and initiatives.

The successful candidate will partner closely with CMC and program stakeholders to translate strategy into clear, actionable execution plans; maintain high-quality project plans, dashboards, milestone trackers, risk and action logs; and ensure timely follow-up on key deliverables, decisions, dependencies, and risks. The role will also help strengthen project management practices through scalable tools, clear meeting governance, financial tracking, continuous improvement, and appropriate use of emerging technologies.

This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Portfolio and Alliance Management and will be based out of Boston, MA, USA in our Needham office. We will consider remote locations for exceptional candidates. The level of the position will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and industry experience. Hybrid positions require a minimum of two onsite days per week.

• Plan and manage budget proposals and approved budgets in accordance with the Company’s strategic and operating plans and Finance policies. Partner with CMC, Development Program Management, Program Team Leaders, and functional stakeholders to translate program strategy into integrated CMC execution plans, project charters, and team ways of working for assigned programs and initiatives.
• Lead project management for assigned CMC activities, including new molecules, tech transfer, scale-up, lifecycle management, and other development initiatives, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and risks.
• Develop, baseline, and maintain project management tools and reporting, including CMC project plans, dashboards, milestone charts, action logs, risk logs, status reports, and financial tracking, as appropriate.
• Drive team execution and governance through effective meeting management, decision and action documentation, follow-up with accountable owners, and clear communication of progress, risks, issues, and key decisions.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks or execution gaps, and partner with stakeholders to develop mitigation plans, escalation recommendations, and decision-ready updates.
• Improve CMC project management effectiveness through scalable tools, templates, Smartsheet solutions, automation, AI-enabled approaches, and other process improvements that enhance planning, visibility, and execution.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and ensure policies are…