Manager, Internal Communications

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 107,600 - 124,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Stock options

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking a Manager of Internal Communications to develop and execute internal communications strategies that support our science-driven culture.

This role partners with Corporate Affairs to deliver day-to-day communications and impactful events for our global employee base, reporting to the Associate Director, Corporate Communications & Events in Vancouver, BC. The position is hybrid, requiring in-office presence a minimum of two days per week, with occasional travel

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum five years of experience in communications, marketing, and/or public relations, preferably in biopharmaceuticals or life sciences.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills with ability to translate complex information.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute internal communications strategies, objectives and initiatives.
• Manage internal communications and corporate engagement across multi-channel platforms and events.
• Create internal content for intranet, company-wide emails, town halls, leadership meetings and events.
• Lead Vancouver-based corporate events within budget, coordinating with global teams.
• Oversee executive offsite logistics and vendor management to align with leadership expectations.

Skills

Communications

Writing

Event planning

Relationship building

Stakeholder management

Project management

Agile mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

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.

What We Do

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 FDA 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 (targeting Nav1.7) and XEN1120 (targeting Kv7), which are important pain targets. 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 Manager, Internal Communications to join our team. This role supports and executes communication strategies to foster the internal mission and vision at Xenon by ensuring a consistent internal communications program that focuses on science and a culture that is built upon our shared Xenon CARES values to improve and enhance the lives of patients and employees. This individual will work with the Corporate Affairs team, and with direction from the Corporate Communication lead, to develop, support and execute tactical implementation for day‑to‑day internal communications and related programming, including corporate events.

This is a high‑visibility role requiring relationship development and management across the organization, representing the corporate affairs and executive teams in internal, cultural events with the intent of fostering community & connection among our global employee base. This position reports to the Associate Director, Corporate Communications & Events and will be located 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 two days per week in the office, with some weeks needing more depending on events taking place. There may also be occasional in‑person time outside of core business hours executing and/or attending company or sponsored events. Infrequent travel, including international travel, on an ad hoc basis may be required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of annual and long‑term internal communications strategies, objectives and initiatives.
• Manage internal communications and corporate engagement initiatives that align with departmental goals and company culture using multi‑channel communications and event planning.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to develop internal content for the corporate intranet, company‑wide emails, town halls and department leader meetings, annual leadership summit, and other internal meetings and events.
• Act as a Vancouver‑based event lead by executing large‑ and small‑scale corporate events within planned budgets and managing project costs, logistics, vendors, and deadlines, partnering with the Boston office event captain to align on objectives, deliverables, and timelines.
• Manage logistics and execution of executive and senior leadership team offsites, partnering with the CEO and key stakeholders to drive alignment on event expectations and delivery.
• Contribute to forward‑looking communications plans and systems for remote employees as well as future commercial and medical field teams.
• Source and manage branded items, oversee vendor relationships and project logistics, and ensure consistent application of Xenon’s visual identity across all internal and external materials.
• Manage contract and invoice tracking and submissions for the Corporate Affairs department.
• Proactively identify and propose solutions for challenges and/or process improvements within areas of responsibility.
• Support initiatives driven by external communications, patient advocacy, and other corporate affairs functions, as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree required.
• Creative thinker with five or more years experience in communications, marketing, and/or public relations roles, with biopharmaceutical or life sciences experience preferred.
• Strong communications skills, including written, verbal, presentation, interpersonal skills, with the ability to support translation and simplification of complex information.
• Strong writing skills with experience in content development, generation, and amplification.
• Experience with employee engagement.
• Experience leading the planning and execution of large‑scale events.
• Highly organized, with attention to detail, adherence to deadlines, and ability to work independently under pressure with multiple, shifting priorities.
• Ability to solve problems and comfortable operating in an agile environment; possess solid experience successfully navigating a growing organization.
• Ability to build and retain knowledge of a company, business strategies & objectives to be able to develop support innovative concepts that will work in the organization.
• Can effectively interact with all functions, teams, senior leadership, independent contributors, contractors, agency partners and vendors in gaining consensus, developing strategies, or executing a program.
• Can build effective, trusted relationships, influence others with confidence, and has the ability to interact with all levels and functions within the organization.

Benefits

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‑ and long‑term disability, accidental death & dismemberment, 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.

Compensation

Compensation Range: CA$107.6K – CA$124.4K