Director, Commercial Learning & Field Enablement
- Role
- Operations
- Experience
- Lead
- Employment
- Full-time
Open to US only. Set where you work from to check your eligibility.
No BS summary
Director-level commercial learning leader with 10+ years in biopharma commercial work across sales, training, learning & development, or commercial operations. Must have built launch-focused commercial training programs, leadership programs for front-line leaders, and be willing to travel up to 40%-50%.
Optional skills
Who We Are:
We are looking for great people who thrive in a respectful, collaborative, inclusive, and productive culture to join the Xenon team.
What We Do:
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.
The Director, Commercial Learning & Field Enablement is responsible for defining and delivering a comprehensive commercial learning strategy that builds field capability, supports launch readiness, and enables sustained commercial performance across Xenon’s U.S. organization.
This role owns the design, development, and delivery of all commercial training programs, ensuring field teams are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to execute effectively. The Director will build and scale a best-in-class learning ecosystem, integrating functional training, leadership development, and enterprise training to support both immediate launch needs and long-term capability building.
Acting as a strategic partner across Sales, Marketing, Market Access, Medical, Commercial Operations, and Human Resources, this role translates commercial strategy into structured, role-specific learning programs that enable field readiness and performance.
This position reports to the Senior Director, Field Strategy & Enablement and is a key member of the extended commercial leadership team. This position will be remote.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Commercial Learning Strategy & Execution
- Define and execute a holistic commercial learning strategy aligned to business priorities and go-to-market objectives
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs across:
- Product, disease state, and market access education
- Selling skills and account-based engagement models
- Systems and tools training
- Build structured learning journeys spanning onboarding, advanced development, and ongoing capability enhancement
- Translate strategic priorities into role-specific, applied learning experiences
- Launch Training & Readiness
- Own training readiness for launch, including curriculum design, certification, and delivery
- Partner with Sales and Marketing to align training to brand strategy, messaging, and milestones
- Ensure field teams are fully prepared with the knowledge and skills required to execute from day one
Commercial Leadership Development
- Design and implement leadership development programs for Regional Sales Managers and emerging leaders
- Equip front-line leaders with frameworks, tools, and approaches to effectively coach and develop their teams
- Partner with HR to align with enterprise leadership development initiatives
Training Design & Delivery
- Develop high-quality, engaging learning experiences including workshops, virtual sessions, simulations, and e-learning
- Ensure training reflects real-world field scenarios and customer engagement complexity
- Oversee internal subject matter experts and external vendors to ensure consistency and quality
- Capability Assessment & Continuous Improvement
- Assess field capability using structured assessments, training metrics, and input from field leadership and execution teams
- Measure training effectiveness through knowledge outcomes, skill development, and readiness indicators
- Continuously evolve programs based on business needs, performance trends, and field feedback
Commercial Meetings & Learning Integration
- Lead the learning strategy and training components of national and regional meetings
- Align training delivery with the commercial operating cadence to reinforce key priorities
- Additional Responsibilities
- 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:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
- 10+ years of biopharma commercial experience across sales, training, learning & development, or commercial operations
- Proven experience designing and delivering commercial training programs aligned to launch and performance outcomes
- Deep understanding of adult learning principles and commercial field models
- Experience developing leadership programs for front-line leaders
- Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to translate business strategy into measurable capability programs
- Experience with learning systems and platforms preferred
- Willingness to travel up to 40%-50%
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.
What you'll do
- Define and execute a holistic commercial learning strategy aligned to business priorities and go-to-market objectives
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs across product, disease state, and market access education
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs across selling skills and account-based engagement models
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs across systems and tools training
- Build structured learning journeys spanning onboarding, advanced development, and ongoing capability enhancement
- Translate strategic priorities into role-specific, applied learning experiences
- Own training readiness for launch, including curriculum design, certification, and delivery
- Partner with Sales and Marketing to align training to brand strategy, messaging, and milestones
- Ensure field teams are fully prepared with the knowledge and skills required to execute from day one
- Design and implement leadership development programs for Regional Sales Managers and emerging leaders
- Equip front-line leaders with frameworks, tools, and approaches to effectively coach and develop their teams
- Partner with HR to align with enterprise leadership development initiatives
- Develop high-quality, engaging learning experiences including workshops, virtual sessions, simulations, and e-learning
- Ensure training reflects real-world field scenarios and customer engagement complexity
- Oversee internal subject matter experts and external vendors to ensure consistency and quality
- Assess field capability using structured assessments, training metrics, and input from field leadership and execution teams
- Measure training effectiveness through knowledge outcomes, skill development, and readiness indicators
- Continuously evolve programs based on business needs, performance trends, and field feedback
- Lead the learning strategy and training components of national and regional meetings
- Align training delivery with the commercial operating cadence to reinforce key priorities
- 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
What they require
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
- 10+ years of biopharma commercial experience across sales, training, learning & development, or commercial operations
- Proven experience designing and delivering commercial training programs aligned to launch and performance outcomes
- Deep understanding of adult learning principles and commercial field models
- Experience developing leadership programs for front-line leaders
- Strong facilitation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to translate business strategy into measurable capability programs
- Preferred: Experience with learning systems and platforms
- Willingness to travel up to 40%-50%
Benefits
- Offers Equity
- Offers Bonus
- Base salary
- Target bonus
- Stock options
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Short-& long-term disability insurance
- Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
- Life insurance programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- Travel insurance
- Retirement savings programs with company matching contributions
- Vacation
- Personal days
- Sick days
- End-of-year company shutdown
- Training, Learning & Development program
- Tuition Assistance program for advanced degrees
Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization of life-changing therapeutics for patients in need.