Executive Director, Knowledge and Learning, R&D

Amgen • Los Angeles, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This Executive Director, Knowledge & Learning role at Amgen is within the R&D Strategy & Operations organization. The successful candidate will lead the transformation of learning and knowledge capabilities across Research & Development (R&D) and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO), with a strong emphasis on generative AI-enabled platforms, adaptive learning, and data-driven insights. The R&D Knowledge & Learning team is crucial for enabling scientific innovation, operational excellence, and organizational agility by strengthening how knowledge is created, shared, and applied to support Amgen’s mission to serve patients. The role involves accountability for the design, integration, and outcomes of an intelligent, digitally enabled learning and knowledge ecosystem that supports R&D transformation. By leveraging emerging technologies, analytics, and modern operating models, the Executive Director will drive performance, support change, and build organizational readiness, ensuring learning and knowledge solutions align with business priorities, scientific advancement, and Amgen’s long-term strategic objectives. This position sets the enterprise-level strategic direction, modernizing learning delivery, embedding knowledge into the flow of work, and enabling faster, more scalable capability building. The role reports to the Vice President of R&D and involves leading a senior team of experts while serving as a trusted partner to executive leaders.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree and 6 years of Knowledge & Learning experience
• Master’s degree and 10 years of Knowledge & Learning experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of Knowledge & Learning experience
• 6 years of experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, or directing allocation or resources

Nice To Haves

• Senior leadership experience in a complex, matrixed organization, with demonstrated success driving enterprise level transformation—preferably within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry.
• Proven ability to set strategic direction and lead modernization of learning and knowledge capabilities, including the use of digital platforms, generative AI, adaptive learning, and data driven approaches.
• Strong executive presence, with the ability to influence and partner effectively with VP and SVP level leaders to align learning and knowledge strategies with business and scientific priorities.
• Deep understanding of adult learning principles, modern instructional design, and knowledge management, with a track record of translating these into scalable, high impact solutions.
• Experience leading cross functional initiatives and integrating learning, knowledge, and talent strategies across enterprise ecosystems.
• Demonstrated change leadership, with the ability to guide organizations through transformation and adoption of new operating models, technologies, and ways of working.
• Strong analytical and systems thinking skills, with experience using metrics, insights, and outcomes-based measures to assess impact and inform strategic decisions.
• Commitment to developing leaders and building high performing teams, with a leadership style that fosters accountability, inclusion, and continuous growth.

Responsibilities

• Set and lead the enterprise-level strategy for Knowledge & Learning across R&D and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer, encompassing learning and development, knowledge management, and the Amgen Library.
• Drive the transformation of learning and knowledge capabilities through digital platforms, generative AI, adaptive learning, and data-driven insights, modernizing how knowledge is created, accessed, and applied.
• Partner with senior and executive leadership to understand business priorities, anticipate capability needs, and shape integrated, multi-year learning and knowledge strategies that enable R&D transformation and organizational readiness.
• Oversee the design and delivery of scalable, high-impact learning experiences that embed knowledge into the flow of work and support performance, innovation, and change.
• Influence and align cross-functional stakeholders to integrate learning, knowledge, and talent initiatives into a cohesive enterprise ecosystem.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a senior team of Knowledge & Learning leaders, building a high-performing organization capable of delivering transformation at scale.
• Provide strategic oversight of budget and resource allocation, balancing investment trade-offs to maximize business impact and alignment with R&D priorities.
• Establish clear measures of success, using analytics and outcomes-based metrics to assess impact and inform continuous improvement.
• Represent R&D Knowledge & Learning at the Enterprise Learning Council, advocating for R&D and OCMO needs while driving alignment with enterprise talent and learning strategies.

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, including remote work arrangements, where possible.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees