Director, Manufacturing, Quality & Supply Chain Information Systems

We are seeking a Director, Manufacturing, Quality & Supply Chain (MQ&SC) Information Systems, to join our team. This role will be the IT business partner for the drug substance and drug product teams (note that Xenon does not have – or intend to have – internal manufacturing facilities); the Quality organization; the supply chain function; and the development program management team. The Director will be the primary point of contact on all topics related to IT.

The Director will partner with these groups to develop and execute against a functional technology roadmap, support existing enterprise applications (e.g. MasterControl eQMS), design and build effective and compliant data flows, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations (e.g. GxP and 21 CFR Part 11). In addition to designing, building, and supporting systems, the Director will facilitate the design and adoption of effective data governance and lifecycle management processes, including the design and adoption of new technology to support these practices as needed.  The Director will play a central role in the company’s planned implementation of a new ERP system, in collaboration with functional colleagues and the Director of Enterprise Systems.   The Director will also help to reshape the company’s approach to building and maintaining validated information systems, including adoption of a new System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and related practices.  The successful candidate will act as the primary point of contact for the designated user groups on all topics related to IT and will partner with colleagues in IT to resolve issues and deliver solutions.  The Director will also ensure that IT-sponsored initiatives and standards are tailored to meet the needs of the MQ&SC functions and are successfully adopted. 

The IT group at Xenon is expanding rapidly to support the company’s growth plans.  The Director will begin as an individual contributor in a hands-on role, with the expectation that their team will expand over time as new systems are implemented and as the IT operating model evolves.  During this period of rapid growth and evolution, the Director will be assigned additional responsibilities (beyond the core responsibilities described) based on company needs, the individual’s experience and expertise, and the availability of resources within IT.      

This position reports to the Senior Vice President, Information Systems and will be located in the Boston, MA, USA. This role is a hybrid position. The level of the position will be commensurate with the candidate’s education and industry experience. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as the IT owner for all MQ&SC systems and collaborate with functional system owners and colleagues in IT to evolve the support model based on the needs of the users and the overall IT strategy.
• Partner with key stakeholders in the MQ&SC functions to develop and execute against a functional technology roadmap encompassing current and future systems to address existing pain points, maximize the usage and value of existing systems, and develop new capabilities as needed.
• Serve as the primary point of contact between the MQ&SC functions and IT to resolve issues, align on processes and standards, and ensure awareness and alignment on key initiatives (function- or IT-sponsored). Ensure that IT standards and processes are tailored to meet the unique needs and capabilities of the MQ&SC functions.
• Actively collaborate with other IT business partners to manage common or cross-functional requirements and project dependencies, and to ensure an effective enterprise approach to system planning and design.
• Facilitate effective IT planning, governance, and project delivery as these processes evolve.
• Collaborate with the head of Data Architecture & Engineering to ensure effective and secure data exchange with external vendors and service providers, and to facilitate the design and adoption of effective data governance and lifecycle management processes and tools to control data lineage.
• Design, develop, and document effective data flows and integrations among systems to enable efficient processes and workflows (including automation) and effective reporting and analytics.
• Collaborate with functional stakeholders and with the Quality department to ensure relevant systems are built and maintained in compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies and procedures.
• Manage vendor relationships (e.g. software and service providers) in the context of both project delivery and ongoing operations to maximize value to Xenon.
• As a member of the IT Leadership Team, contribute to the development and execution of the strategy to evolve the overall IT operating model, including new structure, processes, and ways of working.
• Take on additional responsibilities as the IT group grows and evolves based on company needs, relevant experience and expertise, and availability of resources within IT.
• 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 undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Informatics, or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive information technology / informatics experience in a commercial life sciences organization, including people management.
• Experience working in a regulated environment including extensive knowledge of system validation requirements and frameworks.
• Domain knowledge of the work performed with the Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain functions, including the ability to effectively collaborate with functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to set direction and lead while simultaneously performing hands-on work.
• Proven ability to diagnose and solve problems, and to identify opportunities to more effectively leverage technology and data to drive agility, efficiency, insights, and compliance.
• Broad knowledge base of cloud technology offerings as they relate to life sciences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain highly technical information in a concise and effective manner to an audience of varying technical aptitude.
• Strong interpersonal skills that support quickly building rapport with IT colleagues, functional stakeholders, and external vendors; ability to manage competing interests in a professional, collaborative and solution-driven manner.
• A problem-solving mindset – i.e. data-driven focus on understanding root causes and developing robust solutions.
• Ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced environment with a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to lead continuous improvements in IT delivery processes and practices.

The base salary range for this role is $199,800 to $222,800 USD; we will consider above this range for exceptional candidates. Base salary is determined by a combination of factors including, but not limited to, education and other qualifications, years of relevant experience, and internal equity.