Director of External Research & Development

Career Category

Business Development

Job Description

Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients

At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do.

Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. With our focus on four therapeutic areas –Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease– we reach millions of patients each year. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity and obesity-related conditions. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.

Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.

Director of External Research & Development

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role within External R&D in Business Development, you will lead a team responsible for identifying and evaluating innovative external therapeutics in Rare Disease for potential in-licensing, M&A, or collaboration opportunities.

The successful candidate will develop and nurture a network of key industry and academic contacts to ensure robust communication of ideas, interests, and information between the external rare disease ecosystem and internal Amgen groups. The role requires proactive efforts to search for and identify external opportunities through networking, conference coverage, company engagement, academic outreach, and systematic reviews of the external landscape. The candidate will assess and prioritize opportunities based on Amgen’s rare disease strategy, scientific rationale, medical need, competitive differentiation, development feasibility, and strategic fit.

This role requires scientific and strategic breadth across rare disease areas, potentially including immunology, ophthalmology, nephrology, neurology, hematology, metabolic and genetic diseases, and other specialty areas. The candidate should be comfortable evaluating diverse therapeutic modalities, including biologics, small molecules, RNA-based therapeutics, and gene therapy.

The role includes leading technical evaluations of external opportunities by creating and managing cross-functional review teams and providing clear recommendations grounded in scientific, clinical, development, and strategic judgment, including rare disease-specific considerations such as patient identification, endpoints and development feasibility. This person will ensure efficient reviews, support business negotiations and contractual execution for selected projects, and lead strategic discussions with senior management, R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Medical, and other stakeholders to define priorities for licensure, collaboration, M&A, or out-licensing.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a leader with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree and 4 years of experience in drug development industry and/or biopharma business development

OR

Master’s degree and 7 years of experience in drug development industry and/or biopharma business development

OR

Bachelor’s degree and 9 years of experience in drug development industry and/or biopharma business development

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in a scientific discipline with broad working knowledge across rare disease biology and drug development. Experience in one or more areas such as immunology, ophthalmology, nephrology, neurology, hematology, metabolic disease, genetic disease, or other rare/specialty diseases is strongly preferred.
• 4+ years of management and/or leadership experience in business and drug development activities, with strong technical R&D experience and business development, licensing, collaboration, or M&A evaluation experience.
• Strong leadership, scientific, organizational, communication, and project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent presentation skills. Effective communication skills pertaining to scientific and business development. Must demonstrate ability to foresee and solve problems and prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Strong team player, experience in successfully managing direct reports and a demonstrated ability to interface effectively with all levels of staff across differing functional expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to create and build relationships with internal and external parties.
• Professional demeanor with strong decision-making.
• Be able to work independently, manage large cross-functional teams, and mentor individuals.

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A comprehensive employee benefits package, including a Retirement and Savings Plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts
• A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
• Stock-based long-term incentives
• Award-winning time-off plans
• Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies

Apply now and make a lasting impact with the Amgen team.

careers.amgen.com

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Application deadline

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Amgen will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Salary Range

191,355.40USD -258,892.60 USD