Senior Medical Science Liaison

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Tuition assistance

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking a Senior Medical Science Liaison to join our field-based Medical Affairs team.

This role covers the Southeast region (Florida, Georgia, Alabama) with preference for Florida residency, engaging with HCPs, KOLs and patient groups to educate on Xenon's epilepsy programs. The Senior MSL will communicate complex clinical data, support clinical development and trial enrollment, and travel up to 50% domestically.

Qualifications

• Doctorate degree required.
• 5+ years MSL experience; 8+ years preferred; neurology/epilepsy experience.
• Established KOL relationships in neurology; epilepsy preferred.
• Clinical trial development and drug launch experience preferred.
• Strong communication, independent and cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of clinical research processes, FDA regulations, and OIG guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop and maintain valued scientific relationships with KOLs, HCPs, academia, payors and advocacy groups.
• Act as a key scientific resource to communicate up-to-date medical information about Xenon's neurology and epilepsy products.
• Advance Xenon's scientific platform and medical information in alignment with objectives.
• Engage in projects aligned to medical strategies; adapt plans for the territory.
• Identify and report scientific/clinical insights, trends, opportunities, and threats for targeted products.
• Collaborate with internal clinical development teams to enhance patient enrollment in Xenon-sponsored trials.
• Respond to unsolicited requests for scientific information.
• Lead national/regional congress activities per Medical Affairs strategies.
• Mentor new or less experienced MSLs.
• Travel domestically up to 50% (overnight as needed); international travel on ad-hoc basis.

Skills

MSL experience

Neurology/epilepsy knowledge

KOL relationships

Clinical trial development

FDA regulations knowledge

Education

Doctorate degree (MD/PhD/PharmD)

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 Senior Medical Science Liaison (Senior MSL). This is an opportunity to join Xenon in a field-facing role to shape and advance the MSL function in support of Medical Affairs and Clinical Development teams. This role will engage external Healthcare Providers (HCPs), Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and patient groups to provide education on Xenon's pipeline in epilepsy.

This position reports to the Regional Senior Director, Field Based Medicine, and the Senior MSL will be responsible for the Southeast Region: Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Preference is for the selected individual to reside in Florida.

The successful candidate is a clinical or scientific professional with a passion for science and deep scientific knowledge and a proven ability to communicate complex scientific and medical information clearly. This candidate seeks to understand the needs of healthcare providers, patients, and families, and collaborates to solve critical scientific and business challenges.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Identify, develop and maintain valued and productive scientific relationships with key external stakeholders including KOLs, HCPs, academic and healthcare institutions, payors, and advocacy groups.
• Act as a key scientific resource to communicate up-to-date medical, clinical, and scientific information about Xenon's neurology and epilepsy products and pipeline.
• Advance Xenon's scientific platform and medical information in alignment with corporate and medical objectives.
• Engage in projects and/or initiatives aligned to medical strategies and objectives; adapt plans and tactics for the assigned territory.
• Identify and report timely and relevant scientific/clinical insights, trends, opportunities, and threats for targeted products.
• Collaborate with internal clinical development teams to enhance patient enrollment in Xenon-sponsored clinical trials. This includes investigator identification for clinical programs in epilepsy.
• Respond to and document unsolicited requests for scientific information.
• Lead assigned national and/or regional congress activities in accordance with Medical Affairs strategies and plans.
• Provide instruction, coaching and mentoring to new or less experienced MSLs.
• Travel domestically up to 50% of the time, including overnight travel as business needs require. International travel may be required on an ad-hoc basis.
• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of a relevant doctorate degree (i.e. M.D., PhD, PharmD, DPH, DNP).
• Minimum 5 years relevant MSL related experience required, with 8+ years strongly preferred. Experience in neurology therapeutic area or epilepsy required
• Established relationships with KOLs and knowledge of institutions in neurology; epilepsy strongly preferred.
• Clinical trial development and drug launch experience are strongly preferred.
• Effective communication: Able to communicate accurately, concisely, credibly, and confidently; easily understands other points of view and responds appropriately; adjusts communication according to the audience.
• Accountability: Delivers reliably against goals; proven ability to work both independently and cross-functionally; demonstrates a willingness and aptitude to learn if not yet well-versed.
• Knowledge of clinical research processes, FDA regulations, and OIG guidelines required.

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.