---
title: 'Associate Director, Patient Marketing at Xenon Pharmaceuticals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-patient-marketing-xenon-pharmaceuticals-boston-qgbkezstxc3m'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-29'
---

# Associate Director, Patient Marketing at Xenon Pharmaceuticals

- **Company:** Xenon Pharmaceuticals
- **Location:** Boston, MA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-10-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-29
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xenon/17a5285f-9bd8-493a-8c26-aba1b7d8992a

## Job description

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 an Associate Director, Patient Marketing, to join our team. The Associate Director, Patient Marketing, will serve as a key contributor to the strategic and operational efforts for patient-focused marketing initiatives supporting the launch and growth of a novel therapy for epilepsy. This individual contributor role is responsible for developing and executing integrated patient marketing strategies that drive disease awareness, patient education, adoption, and long-term engagement. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of patient-centric marketing, healthcare consumer behavior, and rare or specialty pharmaceutical launches. Working cross-functionally with Medical Affairs, Advocacy, Market Access, Commercial Operations, Legal, Regulatory, and external agency partners, the Associate Director will ensure the patient voice is embedded throughout the brand strategy and patient experience. This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with accountability for delivering impactful patient-facing campaigns, educational resources, digital initiatives, and advocacy partnerships that support patients and caregivers throughout their treatment journey. This position reports to the Senior Director, Patient Marketing, 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.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership

- Contribute to the development and execute the patient marketing strategy aligned with overall brand objectives and launch milestones
- Identify barriers, unmet needs, and opportunities for engagement across diagnosis, treatment initiation, and long-term disease management through a thorough understanding of the patient journey
- Translate patient and caregiver insights into actionable marketing strategies and programs
- Partner with market research and analytics teams to measure patient attitudes, behaviors, and campaign effectiveness
- Serve as the internal advocate for patient-centricity across brand planning and commercialization efforts Patient and Caregiver Marketing
- Design and implement patient-facing campaigns to increase disease awareness, treatment understanding, and brand engagement
- Develop educational resources and support materials that address the needs of patients, caregivers, and families impacted by epilepsy
- Lead development of branded and unbranded marketing initiatives across digital, social, print, video, and experiential channels
- Manage content strategy and execution for patient websites, CRM programs, email campaigns, and other digital engagement platforms
- Oversee agency partners responsible for creative development, media planning, content production, and campaign execution Launch Excellence
- Support pre-launch, launch, and post-launch planning for a novel epilepsy therapy
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of patient initiatives aligned with launch timelines
- Develop launch materials and activation plans that drive awareness and engagement among patients and caregivers
- Identify innovative channels and approaches to accelerate patient education and activation Advocacy and Community Engagement
- Build and maintain productive relationships with patient advocacy organizations and epilepsy community stakeholders
- Partner with advocacy teams to identify opportunities for education, awareness, and patient support programs
- Ensure patient perspectives are incorporated into strategic planning and program development
- Support patient ambassador and testimonial programs in compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Legal, Market Access, Commercial Operations, and Sales leadership to execute compliant and impactful initiatives
- Collaborate with HCP marketing colleagues to ensure alignment across customer-facing strategies
- Effectively deliver strong agency management, budget oversight, and project prioritization to achieve business objectives Performance Measurement
- Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess program effectiveness
- Analyze campaign performance and patient engagement metrics to optimize marketing investments
- Deliver regular updates and strategic recommendations to brand leadership

## ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Develop and propose short- and long-term objectives for the function in accordance with overall Company strategies and plans
- 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

## QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education and Experience

- Minimum undergraduate degree. 8+ years of relevant management experience or combination of degrees and experience; Advanced degree (MBA, MPH, or related field) preferred
- 7+ years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, or consumer health marketing experience
- 3+ years of experience developing patient-focused marketing strategies and campaigns
- Experience supporting product launches and commercialization activities
- Demonstrated success managing agencies, budgets, and cross-functional initiatives

## Preferred Experience

- Neurology, epilepsy, CNS, rare disease, specialty pharmaceutical, or orphan drug experience
- Experience working with patient advocacy organizations and community stakeholders
- Strong understanding of patient support programs and patient engagement strategies
- Experience leveraging digital marketing, CRM platforms, social media, and omnichannel engagement approaches 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.

## About Xenon Pharmaceuticals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and commercializing life-changing therapeutics for people living with neurological and psychiatric disorders.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Ticker: XENE on Nasdaq)
- **Headquarters**: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- **Founded**: 1996
- **Founders**: Not publicly listed as individual founders; the company was founded based on a platform science capable of discovering new genetic targets to treat human disease.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Pharmaceuticals
- **Target customers**: Patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders (epilepsy, major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, pain); healthcare providers; payers.
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To deliver innovative medicines that provide a brighter future for people living with neurological and psychiatric disorders." [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)

## Products & Services
Xenon’s pipeline is focused on ion channel science, specifically potassium (KV7) and sodium (NaV) channel modulators.

- **Azetukalner (KV7 Potassium Channel Opener)**: The lead late-stage investigational candidate. It is in multiple Phase 3 clinical trials for:
    - Focal onset seizures (Phase 3 X-TOLE2 completed, X-TOLE3 ongoing)
    - Primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (Phase 3 X-ACKT)
    - Major depressive disorder (Phase 3 X-NOVA2 and X-NOVA3)
    - Bipolar depression (Phase 3 X-CEED)
- **XEN1120 (KV7 Potassium Channel Opener)**: An early-stage (Phase 1) candidate for the treatment of pain.
- **XEN1701 (NaV1.7 Sodium Channel Inhibitor)**: An early-stage (Phase 1) candidate for the treatment of pain.
- **NBI-921355 (Partnered with Neurocrine Biosciences)**: A NaV1.2/1.6 inhibitor in development for epilepsy, pain, and psychiatry. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/pipeline)

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available in the provided search results. As a public company, this fluctuates daily.
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue of $7.5M (as per LinkedIn). As a clinical-stage biotech, the primary focus is on pipeline progress and cash runway rather than revenue.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Neurocrine Biosciences (partner for NBI-921355). The company has also had strategic partnerships with multiple premier biopharmaceutical companies focused on pain, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
- **Growth Signals**: The company is in a significant growth phase, having initiated multiple Phase 3 clinical trials for its lead candidate, azetukalner, across epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and bipolar depression. This represents a major expansion of its clinical pipeline and a transition towards a late-stage, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Deep Expertise in Ion Channel Biology**: Xenon is one of the scientific leaders in ion channel drug discovery, with a specific focus on potassium (KV7) and sodium (NaV) channel modulators. This is a highly specialized and technically difficult area of drug development. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
- **Proprietary Pipeline**: The company has a wholly-owned, late-stage pipeline led by azetukalner, a novel KV7 potassium channel opener being studied across multiple high-need indications (epilepsy, MDD, bipolar depression). This provides significant potential upside and control over its future.
- **Strong Scientific Foundation**: Founded on a platform capable of discovering new genetic targets, the company has a deep history of translating genetic insights into novel therapeutic candidates. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
- **Strategic Partnerships**: A history of partnerships with premier biopharmaceutical companies (e.g., Neurocrine Biosciences) validates its platform and provides non-dilutive funding. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)

## Strategic Focus
- **Advancing Late-Stage Pipeline**: The primary focus is on executing the Phase 3 clinical programs for azetukalner across epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and bipolar depression, with the goal of regulatory approval and commercialization.
- **Expanding Early-Stage Pipeline**: Continuing to advance early-stage candidates (XEN1120, XEN1701) for pain and other high-need indications.
- **Building a Fully Integrated Company**: Transitioning from a discovery and development company to one with commercial capabilities, as evidenced by the hiring of a Chief Commercial Officer. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
- **Deepening Ion Channel Leadership**: Maintaining its position as a scientific leader in ion channel drug discovery, with a deep focus on potassium (KV7) and sodium (NaV) channel modulators. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-Driven Work**: Employees are united by a clear and compelling mission to deliver innovative medicines for patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders who have been underserved for too long. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
- **Culture of Collaboration and Impact**: The company describes itself as collaborative, ambitious, resilient, ethical, and science-driven. The culture is shaped by the "XenonCARES" program, which focuses on professional growth, wellness, and community. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
- **Competitive Compensation & Benefits**: Offers a total compensation package including base salary, performance-based bonuses, and equity. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage (US and Canada), a retirement savings program with a generous employer match, and a tuition reimbursement program. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
- **Work Flexibility**: The company values flexibility and provides a stipend for work-from-home setups. They also offer generous paid vacation time and an annual holiday shutdown. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
- **Growth & Development**: Recognizes and supports team member growth through leadership and development opportunities, a tuition reimbursement program, and recognition programs for both big and small wins. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
- **Work Model**: Hybrid/Remote-friendly with a stipend for home office setups. Offices are located in Burnaby, British Columbia (HQ) and the United States. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
- **Diversity & Inclusion**: The company states it cultivates and celebrates diversity, viewing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and opinions as a great asset, and is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)

## Sources
1. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/)
2. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/about)
3. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/join-us)
4. [xenon-pharma.com](https://xenon-pharma.com/pipeline)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenonpharma)

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