Director, National Accounts

Xenon Pharmaceuticals; United States; Remote; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Director, National Accounts to lead US market access strategy for the epilepsy pipeline. This fully remote role partners with payers, providers, and cross-functional teams to secure favorable formulary positions and patient access.

The successful candidate will have 10–12 years in market access with national accounts experience, strong analytics, and proven ability to influence senior payer leaders in a dynamic, startup-like environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10–12 years of market access experience, including national accounts
• Strong understanding of payer/PBM economics and the US healthcare landscape
• Proven ability to translate data into actionable payer strategies
• Experience collaborating with commercial, medical, and HEOR teams to optimize access

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships with strategic payer accounts and senior executives
• Develop and execute national payer access plans and contracts aligned with commercial goals
• Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Value & Access to communicate HEOR data and value propositions
• Lead cross-functional teams and field initiatives; analyze sales trends and payer dynamics to optimize access

Skills

Payer relationships

Payer navigation

Key account prioritization

Payer economics

Analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced 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 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:

The Director, National Accounts, will play a critical leadership role in shaping and executing our U.S. market access strategy with national and large regional commercial payers in preparation for our first launch of Azetukalner in epilepsy. This is a critical, field-based role responsible for building relationships with targeted customers, communicating our value proposition and securing favorable access to minimize hurdles for the patients we serve. We are seeking individuals that are strategic thinkers who thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment, and can contribute across the organization for success.

This position reports to the Senior Director, Payer Accounts, and will be fully remote.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure Xenon’s products are quickly reviewed post approval to ensure rapid formulary adoption enabling patient access that is equal to branded products in relative categories Xenon competes in:

Account Expertise & Knowledge

• Establish and maintain multiple touch points at strategic payer accounts, including senior executives, to communicate the Xenon payer value story
• Navigate payer organizations to build long-term relationships with key decision makers and potential influencers paving the way for the pipeline of innovative products from Xenon
• Have complete understanding of the complex payer organizations and different wholly owned subsidiaries who may have services and programs that impact the Epilepsy class. Monitor to assess opportunities for partnerships long term
• Prioritize top accounts using data and personal intelligence

Securing Coverage & Access

• Secure access and coverage rapidly for all Xenon products that is at parity with key competitors in respective classes
• Develop strategic business plans by account
• Secure appropriate coverage and formulary positioning in alignment with Commercial goals working collaboratively with Medical Affairs and Value and Access to ensure the value proposition and HEOR data is appropriately communicated to target audiences
• Evaluate contracting opportunities that are consistent with Xenon’s goals. Lead the contract process from initiation to negotiation/completion. Manage ongoing contracts with quarterly business reviews and evaluate ROI

Collaboration and Communication

• Review data (sales trends, competitive landscape by local market) to identify pull-through opportunities. Work with regional sales directors and sales representatives to address access challenges and maximize success by executing aligned pull-through plans.
• Assist in field training on access and reimbursement
• Deliver payer insights back to market access, medical affairs, and patient services as appropriate.
• Represent Xenon at Key Industry Conferences (e.g., AMCP, Asembia, PCMA)
• Develop and propose short- and long-term objectives for the function in accordance with overall Company strategies and plans
• Plan and manage budget proposals and approved budgets in accordance with the Company’s strategic and operating plans and Finance policies
• Recruit, lead, direct, develop, coach and evaluate direct reports, if any, in accordance with the Company’s Human Resource policies and practices
• 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:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus
• Minimum of 10-12 years of market access experience, in biotech pharmaceuticals with at least 5 years calling on national accounts
• In-depth knowledge of payer/PBM economics: understanding key issues and how these shift given changing US healthcare landscape
• Clear understanding of analytics: ability to apply analytical insight to drive account performance and ability to “ask the right questions”of analytical resources

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.