Senior Discovery Operations Coordinator

Xenon Pharmaceuticals; Burnaby; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Stock options

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver, BC, seeks a Senior Discovery Operations Coordinator to support the Discovery Program Management team with day-to-day administrative and data-management activities in our Vancouver office. This on-site role requires up to 5 days in the office and offers a fast-paced scientific environment.

You will coordinate data from external contractors into ELN and enterprise systems, manage workflows, maintain records across digital platforms, and support project

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in discovery operations or similar
• Bachelor’s degree or professional diploma preferred
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Flexible and able to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and enterprise platforms

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to Discovery senior leaders (calendar, travel, expenses)
• Coordinate data from external contractors into ELN and enterprise systems
• Manage data workflows and distribute externally generated data to stakeholders
• Maintain information and finalized documents in enterprise platforms
• Review and archive Discovery documents to ensure consistency and compliance
• Maintain accurate inventory and records across physical and digital systems
• Collaborate with IT and scientific teams to support data ingestion and workflows
• Provide project coordination support including scheduling meetings and tracking deliverables
• Maintain a safe, compliant laboratory and office environment
• Adhere to company policies and participate in continuous improvement

Skills

Data management

Administrative support

Project coordination

Cross-functional teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or professional diploma

Tools

ELN software

PowerPoint

Excel

SharePoint

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 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 highly organized and detail-oriented Senior Discovery Operations Coordinator to support our Discovery Program Management team with day-to-day administrative and research activities for the Vancouver office. The ideal candidate provides integrated operational support across Discovery, combining administrative operations, scientific data management, and laboratory inventory coordination. This role ensures the accuracy, accessibility, and efficiency of data, materials, and workflows that enable drug discovery activities and serves as a connector between lab teams, project teams, and digital systems. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced scientific environment and enjoys working across data, lab operations, and team coordination.

This position reports to the Manager, Discovery Operations and will be based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada. The level of the position will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and industry experience. This is an on-site position, requiring up to 5 days in the office.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide administrative support to assigned Discovery senior leaders, including calendar management, travel coordination, and expense reimbursement. May provide onsite logistical support for meetings and events, including room setup and catering arrangements.
• Coordinate the receipt, organization, and upload of scientific data and reports from external contractors into Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) and other enterprise systems, ensuring data quality, accuracy, traceability, and accessibility.
• Manage data workflows and facilitate the timely distribution of externally generated data, reports, and deliverables to appropriate stakeholders.
• Maintain and update information and finalized documents within enterprise digital platforms, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with established standards.
• Review, process, and archive Discovery reports and documentation to ensure consistency, completeness, and adherence to organizational requirements prior to finalization and distribution.
• In collaboration with scientific teams, maintain accurate records and inventory information across physical and digital systems as required.
• Collaborate with IT, scientific, and operational teams to support data ingestion, system workflows, and process improvements.
• Provide project coordination support, including scheduling meetings, coordinating logistics, and tracking routine project activities and deliverables.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant laboratory and office environment by adhering to applicable Health & Safety policies and procedures.
• 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:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience; Bachelor’s Degree or professional diploma preferred.
• Excellent verbal, oral, and written communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with cross-functional stakeholders for administrative or systems related issues.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
• Flexible and able to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Ability to interface with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient computer skills (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint).
• Willing and able to learn new skills to meet the changing needs of the organization.

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.