Executive Director, Total Rewards
Role Overview
The Executive Director, Total Rewards will lead compensation and rewards strategies and programs supporting business objectives, culture, talent attraction, performance, and retention.
The role covers Canada and the United States and works with HR, Finance, Legal, business leaders, external advisors, and suppliers.
The position reports to the Executive Vice President, Human Resources and is hands-on, with plans to grow a team as business needs require.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
About Xenon Pharmaceuticals
Xenon Pharmaceuticals is a neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company involved in drug discovery, clinical development, and commercialization.
The company is advancing therapies for epilepsy, depression, pain, and other indications with high unmet medical need.
About the Role
The Executive Director, Total Rewards will lead compensation and rewards strategies and programs supporting business objectives, culture, talent attraction, performance, and retention.
The role covers Canada and the United States and works with HR, Finance, Legal, business leaders, external advisors, and suppliers.
The position reports to the Executive Vice President, Human Resources and is hands-on, with plans to grow a team as business needs require.
Responsibilities
- Lead integrated total rewards strategies covering base pay, bonuses, equity, recognition, and benefits.
- Manage base salary programs, incentive compensation, equity programs, recognition programs, compensation governance, and US benefits.
- Support Compensation Committee and Board materials, compensation disclosures, financial planning, surveys, and career framework development.
- Collaborate on HR systems, data, communications, compliance, and stakeholder relationships.
- Maintain life sciences compensation knowledge, develop function objectives, manage budgets, and lead direct reports if applicable.
Qualifications
- Relevant undergraduate degree with coursework in mathematics, accounting, finance, and/or law; an MBA is strongly preferred.
- At least 15 years of progressive compensation or HR management experience in public, multinational life sciences organizations undergoing rapid growth and change.
- Deep business acumen related to biopharma strategy and total rewards, with hands-on expertise in data and systems.
- Strong analytical, conceptual, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, organizational, prioritization, and project management skills.
- Strong skills in Office software, HR systems, finance systems, and data.
Location and Work Arrangement
- The position is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, or Needham, Massachusetts, USA.
- Hybrid positions require a minimum of two onsite days per week.
- Some international travel may be required.
Total Rewards and Benefits
- The company offers base salary, target bonus, stock options, medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, travel insurance, and retirement savings programs.
- Additional programs include vacation, personal and sick days, company shutdown, training and development, and tuition assistance.
Compensation
- The compensation range is CA$204.2K to CA$258.3K.
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