Executive Director, Research – Technology & Innovation for Inflammation Discovery

Amgen • South San Francisco, CA

13d • $272,388 - $368,525 • Onsite

About The Position

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 pioneered 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.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree & 6 years of immunology discovery research experience OR
• Master’s degree & 10 years of immunology discovery research experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree & 12 years of immunology discovery research experience AND
• 6 years of managerial experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, strategies and/or directing the allocation of resources

Nice To Haves

• PhD and/or MD with specialization in a relevant biological sciences discipline
• Immunology research credentials with expertise in leading programs and people and publications; this could come from various relevant areas including Immunology, Rheumatology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Dermatology, Neuroscience, Systems Biology, Computational Biology or AI/ML Biology.
• A scientist with a passion for biological discovery and pursuit of novel Immunotherapeutics with an exemplary track record of success emanating from current leadership experience in academia or the biopharmaceutical industry
• Experience as a target and drug hunter combined with scientific excellence
• A deep curiosity to understand tissue and disease pathobiology as it relates to clinical unmet need and drug discovery
• Ability to make scientific connections across functions and therapeutic areas
• Ability to recruit, retain and develop top talent
• Experience with mentorship and career development of colleagues and reports

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic and scientific direction for a portfolio of inflammation and autoimmune disease programs, including early discovery, preclinical development, and clinical-stage support.
• Provide senior scientific leadership for immune and structural cell biology and related therapeutic strategies, including program prioritization, indication strategy, target biology, and translational rationale.
• Oversee the advancement of pipeline programs through key decision points, ensuring robust biology and mechanistic insight, clear development hypotheses, and fit-for-purpose data packages.
• Represent Inflammation Research in cross-functional and governance forums and portfolio strategy discussions.
• Identify and evaluate new therapeutic opportunities including external innovation and internal pipeline expansion.
• Lead highly matrixed teams across sites and functions, fostering collaboration, accountability, scientific rigor, and delivery through organizational change.
• Provide expert guidance to senior management on high-impact scientific, portfolio, and organizational issues.
• Develop and execute a research strategy which builds on Amgen’s strengths and unique capabilities in inflammation-related drug development, emphasizes breakthrough innovation, and establishes near-term and long-term objectives
• Recruit, develop and retain world class scientists and build research teams that are skilled in AI-enabled target and drug discovery
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to scientific talent, including direct and indirect reports, while strengthening team capabilities
• Create a cohesive, inclusive, creative and high-performing scientific culture.
• Contribute to broader site and functional leadership initiatives, including culture, sustainability, operational excellence, and cross-functional engagement.
• Maintain strong internal and external scientific presence through publications, presentations, collaborations, and thought leadership in immunology and inflammation.
• Partner with Research and Development colleagues as needed to support clinical strategy, regulatory submissions, protocol development, and responses to preclinical or scientific questions.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree