Manager/Senior Manager, Trial Operations

Xenon Pharmaceuticals; Needham (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals in Needham, MA is seeking a Senior Manager, Trial Operations to lead multiple Phase 3 trials, with hands-on data compilation, trial setup, and operational support across a fast-paced neuroscience program.

Based in Boston with the Needham office, this hybrid role requires two onsite days per week; exceptional candidates may be considered for remote locations. Our Total Rewards include base salary, target bonus, and stock options.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline and/or healthcare designation.
• 5-8 years clinical project/study management experience in pharma/biotech or CRO.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong knowledge of ICH/GCP and regulatory environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical trial management leadership for multiple Phase 3 studies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align trial plans and documents.
• Develop, propose, and manage study plans and activities.
• Lead RFP preparation and CRO/vendor contracting and evaluations.
• Manage contracted service providers to deliver against contracts.
• Lead investigator/site selection with Clinical Development.
• Oversee study budgets and vendor invoicing per contracts.
• Develop and manage study timelines and metrics.
• Conduct risk assessments and contingency planning.
• Communicate with internal/external teams to mitigate challenges.
• Train and mentor new staff and share lessons learned.
• Ensure adherence to regulations and update SOPs as required.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Vendor management

Study lifecycle

Budget management

ICH/GCP knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline

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 (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 Senior Manager, Trial Operations to join our team. This person may work flexibly across a number of clinical stage trials and projects, acting as a study lead and manager for select clinical trial and be hands-on in data compilation, review and analysis, clinical trial set-up and management, and operational support activities. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently on a variety of tasks and projects. In addition, the successful candidate must have strong project management experience, excellent verbal and written communication, an ability to work collaboratively, demonstrate good judgement, and be flexible and detail oriented.

This position reports to the Director, Trial Operations, and will be based out of Boston, MA, USA in our Needham office. We may consider remote locations for exceptional candidates. This is a Hybrid position requiring a minimum of two onsite days per week.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide clinical trial management leadership for multiple Phase 3 studies, across therapeutic areas.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members to ensure highly integrated plans and documents for clinical trials.
• Develop, propose, and manage plans for assigned studies and activities.
• Lead the preparation of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) in collaboration with other internal team members, coordinate the evaluation of proposals and provide input into the selection and contracting of Contract Research Organizations (CRO) and other clinical service providers.
• Manage contracted service providers to deliver against the contracts.
• Lead the selection of qualified investigators and study sites in collaboration with the Clinical Development team.
• Review and oversee study budgets and invoices to ensure vendors are invoicing in accordance with their contracts.
• Develop and manage study timeline and study metrics cross-functionally.
• Conduct risk assessments, mitigation strategies and contingency planning.
• Communicate with internal/external teams to proactively recognize challenges and work cross-functionally on strategies to mitigate/resolve.
• Actively participate in all aspects of clinical trial operations, including the coordination, writing, review and/or finalization of clinical trial protocols, consent forms, case report forms, study plans, safety reviews and other essential regulatory documents.
• Train and mentor new staff or peer mentorship of new hires.
• Actively participates in documentation, sharing and implementation of trial conduct best practices and lessons learned with junior staff.
• Oversee adherence to applicable regulations, recognized guidelines, clinical trial protocol, and standards of clinical practice.
• Participate in the development and updating of standard operating procedures as required.
• Act in accordance with Company policies, including, for example, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline and/or other healthcare designation (e.g., RN).
• A minimum of 5-8 years clinical project/study management experience within the pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology/biopharmaceutical industry or at a CRO. Job level will be commensurate with experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional team through all activities in the full clinical study life cycle.
• Strong vendor management skills and experience managing outsourced work.
• A good understanding of all phases of the drug development process and the interdependencies between Clinical and other functional areas (e.g., CMC, nonclinical/toxicology, Regulatory Affairs etc.), with specific experience in phase 3 clinical trials preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work across a variety of teams and manage multiple conflicting priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage and deliver on critical milestones in the successful completion of clinical trials on time and within budget.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of ICH/GCP and US and Canadian regulatory environments; a comprehensive understanding of clinical trial regulations across multiple jurisdictions with previous experience with CTA and IND submissions preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to foster strong collaborative relationships with internal and external team members.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Exceptional attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Ability to prioritize duties and manage multiple matters from start to finish with minimal supervision and with a demonstrated ability to lead change and make independent decisions.
• Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive materials and information with complete discretion.
• Ability and willingness to travel 5-10% of the time (internationally and domestic)

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.