Executive Director, External Engagement

Amgen•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$266,637 - $360,745

About The Position

Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients. At Amgen, if you feel like you are a 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-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. What you will do Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role the Executive Director, External Engagement leads Amgen's strategy and execution across all external communications channels and stakeholder engagement platforms. This role is responsible for shaping how Amgen engages with media, influencers, digital audiences, and emerging communications ecosystems to advance corporate reputation, business priorities, and stakeholder trust. Reporting to the Vice President, Corporate Affairs, the Executive Director serves as a strategic advisor and builder of modern engagement capabilities. The role oversees media relations, social media, digital channels, influencer strategy and activation, and emerging forms of external engagement. The leader is responsible for identifying trends early, evaluating new platforms and technologies, and ensuring Amgen remains at the forefront of how organizations connect with audiences in a rapidly evolving communications landscape. This role requires a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, creativity, strong leadership, and deep understanding of the changing media environment.

Requirements

Doctorate degree & 6 years of communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields experience OR Master’s degree & 10 years of communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields experience OR Bachelor’s degree & 12 years of communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields experience AND 6 years of managerial experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs or directing the allocation of resources

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
15+ years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields
Leadership experience managing teams and complex communications programs
Experience building integrated engagement strategies across earned, owned, shared, and emerging channels
Experience leading media relations and executive visibility programs.
Understanding of social media, digital communications, and influencer ecosystems
Experience navigating issues management and high-profile corporate communications environments
Experience in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or other highly regulated industries
Experience identifying and scaling innovative communications approaches
understanding of analytics, audience insights, and measurement frameworks
Experience advising senior executives and enterprise leaders
Knowledge of AI-driven communications tools and emerging engagement technologies

Responsibilities

Develop and lead an integrated external engagement strategy that aligns earned, owned, shared, and emerging channels
Create innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement that strengthen Amgen's reputation and visibility
Identify opportunities to reach audiences through new platforms, technologies, and content formats
Serve as a strategic advisor to Corporate Affairs leadership and senior executives on external engagement trends and opportunities
Establish measurement frameworks and analytics that assess engagement effectiveness and business impact
Lead Amgen's global media relations strategy and execution
Build and maintain strong relationships with traditional, digital, trade, healthcare, financial, and emerging media outlets
Oversee proactive storytelling and reactive issues management
Guide media engagement strategies
Ensure consistent messaging and effective media engagement across the enterprise
Lead strategy and governance for Amgen's social media presence and digital engagement platforms
Drive audience growth, engagement, and content effectiveness across channels.
Oversee editorial planning, content distribution, community engagement, and social listening
Ensure digital platforms support business priorities, corporate reputation, and stakeholder engagement objectives
Partner across Corporate Affairs, Commercial, Medical, and Global Marketing functions to maximize impact and consistency
Develop and execute a comprehensive influencer engagement strategy across healthcare, science, policy, patient advocacy, business, and culture
Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with key external voices and communities
Evaluate emerging influencer ecosystems and engagement models
Design scalable programs that increase reach, credibility, and audience engagement
Establish governance, measurement, and compliance frameworks for influencer partnerships
Monitor shifts in media consumption, audience behavior, technology, and platform evolution
Assess opportunities related to AI-enabled communications, creator ecosystems, podcasts, newsletters, digital communities, and future engagement channels
Pilot and scale innovative engagement approaches that position Amgen ahead of industry trends
Build capabilities that enable rapid adaptation to changing communications environments
Serve as an internal thought leader on the future of communications and stakeholder engagement
Lead and develop a high-performing team of communications professionals.
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning
Build organizational capabilities in digital engagement, content strategy, analytics, and emerging communications practices
Manage agency relationships and external partners
Oversee budget planning and resource allocation

Benefits

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 and bi-annual company-wide shutdowns
Flexible work models where possible

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