Executive Assistant/Office Manager

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 Executive Assistant/Office Manager to join our team. This pivotal role provides high-level administrative support to the CEO, CFO, and EVP, Strategy & Innovation, ensuring seamless calendar management, travel coordination, and meeting logistics. The Executive Assistant/Office Manager will also support investor relations activities, including scheduling meetings, managing IR data, and organizing conferences and other IR events.

Additionally, as Office Manager for our Vancouver headquarters, this role will ensure the office operates seamlessly, creating a productive and welcoming environment for all employees by overseeing the organization and maintenance of office spaces and supplies. This role requires a proactive, organized, and collaborative individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and excels at anticipating and responding to the needs of senior leaders and stakeholders.

This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer and will be in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The level of the position will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and industry experience. This role is a hybrid position, requiring a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Duties

• Provide dedicated administrative support to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our EVP, Strategy & Innovation, including calendar management, travel and expense support.
• Support the direct reports of the Chief Financial Officer and EVP, Strategy & Innovation with scheduling of large meetings, and travel and expenses.
• Provide investor relations administrative support to the CEO and CFO including ongoing scheduling of buy-side and sell-side meetings, data management of the IR CRM, conference registration, and logistics pertaining to non-deal roadshows and conference appearances.
• Assist Corporate Affairs team with logistics and execution of CEO-hosted events, including but not limited to executive and/or board offsites.
• Work with Legal team to coordinate logistics and calendar bookings for all board and committee meetings.
• Support board members with travel and expense support.
• Plan and book large/complex internal or external meetings, including but not limited to Senior Executive Team meetings, and investor events, while supporting the execution of such meetings, as required.
• Work with corporate travel agency and/or through Concur to manage all travel arrangements and prepare detailed travel packages, including itineraries and supporting documents.
• Prepare expense reports and obtain approval signatures for board member expenses. Assist CEO, CFO, and EVP, Strategy & Innovation with entering and reconciling expenses in Concur.
• Diligently manage confidential and sensitive information relating to leadership roles and responsibilities, as well as key stakeholders (such as directors, investors).
• Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders to meet or exceed their expectations within organizational parameters.
• Proactively review administrative systems and processes to develop, update or improve to maximize efficiency and effectiveness; work with other administrative staff, including those in Boston, MA office, to ensure consistency across procedures where applicable.
• Vacation coverage for other administrative staff as applicable.

Office Management Duties

• Working closely with Facilities and IT, coordinate and support facilities-related activities in the Vancouver office.
• Manage boardroom booking system, including: coordinating bookings; responding to requests; liaising with IT, Facilities and other departments as needed to ensure proper set-up and clean up; ordering food and beverages as needed; and greeting external guests.
• Maintain office and kitchen supplies; managing relationships, budget, and invoice processing with these vendors.
• Recommend best practices and process improvements to ensure consistent and effective services and provide and contribute to the overall success of the office and organization.
• Work with Corporate Affairs team to assist with logistics and execution of in-office events as needed.
• 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.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least 6 to 8 years of administrative experience with C-Suite executives.
• Experience in the biotech or pharma industry preferred.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a quick-paced environment, adapt well to changing circumstances, direction, and strategy.
• Stellar verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Professional and friendly demeanor with a “can do” approach.
• Attention to detail and great organizational skills.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with integrity and discretion, exercising sound judgment, and being proactive.
• Experience recognizing needs, solving problems, and anticipating issues; solid analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and with limited supervision.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software (including Excel).

The base salary range for this role is $92,800 to $112,300 CAD; 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.

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.