Director of External Research & Development

Role Summary

Director of External Research & Development - Technology Business Development

Responsibilities

• Lead Amgen’s search and evaluation, negotiate and execute on certain transactions for external partnerships focusing on small molecule drug discovery and technologies supporting oncology.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with the business's broader goals.
• Contribute to and execute Amgen’s external strategy; develop and nurture a global network of industry and academic contacts to communicate ideas, interests, and information between external parties and internal groups.
• Identify opportunities through networking and landscape reviews; prioritize based on Amgen’s R&D strategy.
• Lead technical evaluations of opportunities by creating and managing cross-functional review teams; provide recommendations based on scientific and industry knowledge; ensure efficient decision-making processes.
• Engage in business negotiations and work with the legal team to execute contractual agreements for projects.
• Lead strategic discussions and presentations; collaborate with senior management, R&D, and other functions to develop priorities for collaboration, licensing, or M&A of external innovation.
• Contribute to search, evaluation, and transactions for technology areas outside of small molecule drug discovery and oncology as needed.
• Mentor others and present professionally to internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications:
  • Doctorate degree in a scientific field with 4 years of experience in drug development industry and/or biopharma business development
  • Or Master’s degree in a scientific field with 7 years of experience in drug development industry and/or biopharma business development
  • Or Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field with 9 years of experience in R&D and/or biopharma business development
• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Doctorate in a scientific field with strong knowledge in discovery and technology platforms
  • 4+ years of management/leadership experience in business and drug development, with strong technical R&D and licensing experience
  • Strong leadership, scientific, organizational, communication, and project management skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills for scientific and business development; ability to foresee and solve problems, prioritize, and meet deadlines; strong team player with experience managing direct reports and interfacing with staff across functions
  • Demonstrated ability to create and establish relationships with internal and external parties
  • Professional demeanor with strong decision-making
  • Ability to work independently, manage large cross-functional teams, and mentor individuals

Skills

• Scientific and drug development knowledge
• Business development and licensing
• Strategic thinking and portfolio management
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
• Negotiation and contract execution
• Stakeholder communication and presentation

Education

• Doctorate, Master’s, or Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field (as required by qualifications above)

Additional Requirements

• Location: South San Francisco, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA preferred