Executive Director, Research – Technology & Innovation for Inflammation Discovery
Amgen
August 15, 2026
On-site
South San Francisco, CA
Clinical Research and Development
Responsibilities:
- Lead early discovery inflammation research at Amgen from target identification through preclinical assessment to IND and FIH.
- Provide strategic, scientific, and organizational leadership across the Inflammation Research portfolio; advance high-impact programs from early discovery through clinical and regulatory support.
- Shape and execute disease-area strategy, guide portfolio prioritization, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver therapies driven by immunological/inflammatory mechanisms.
- Oversee pipeline advancement through key decision points; ensure robust biology, mechanistic insight, clear hypotheses, and fit-for-purpose data.
- Represent Inflammation Research in governance and portfolio strategy forums.
- Identify/evaluate new therapeutic opportunities via external innovation and internal pipeline expansion.
- Lead highly matrixed teams across sites/functions; provide expert guidance to senior management.
- Develop and execute an AI-enabled discovery strategy integrating multimodal data (human genetics, omics, HTS outputs, computational methods) to inform target discovery/validation and pipeline advancement.
- Recruit, develop, and retain world-class scientists; provide mentorship.
Qualifications:
Basic:
- Doctorate + 6 years immunology discovery OR Master’s + 10 years OR Bachelor’s + 12 years; and 6 years managerial/people-leadership experience and/or leading teams/projects/programs/strategies/resource allocation.
Preferred:
- PhD and/or MD; immunology research credentials (e.g., Immunology/Rheumatology/GI/Pulmonology/Dermatology/Neuroscience/Systems/Computational/AI-ML Biology).
- Track record leading programs and publications; experience as a target and drug hunter; understanding tissue/disease pathobiology and clinical unmet need; ability to connect science across functions; talent development/mentorship.
Benefits (if eligible):
- Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical/dental/vision, life/disability insurance, flexible spending accounts; discretionary annual bonus; stock-based long-term incentives; time-off and company-wide shutdowns; flexible work models where possible.
- Lead early discovery inflammation research at Amgen from target identification through preclinical assessment to IND and FIH.
- Provide strategic, scientific, and organizational leadership across the Inflammation Research portfolio; advance high-impact programs from early discovery through clinical and regulatory support.
- Shape and execute disease-area strategy, guide portfolio prioritization, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver therapies driven by immunological/inflammatory mechanisms.
- Oversee pipeline advancement through key decision points; ensure robust biology, mechanistic insight, clear hypotheses, and fit-for-purpose data.
- Represent Inflammation Research in governance and portfolio strategy forums.
- Identify/evaluate new therapeutic opportunities via external innovation and internal pipeline expansion.
- Lead highly matrixed teams across sites/functions; provide expert guidance to senior management.
- Develop and execute an AI-enabled discovery strategy integrating multimodal data (human genetics, omics, HTS outputs, computational methods) to inform target discovery/validation and pipeline advancement.
- Recruit, develop, and retain world-class scientists; provide mentorship.
Qualifications:
Basic:
- Doctorate + 6 years immunology discovery OR Master’s + 10 years OR Bachelor’s + 12 years; and 6 years managerial/people-leadership experience and/or leading teams/projects/programs/strategies/resource allocation.
Preferred:
- PhD and/or MD; immunology research credentials (e.g., Immunology/Rheumatology/GI/Pulmonology/Dermatology/Neuroscience/Systems/Computational/AI-ML Biology).
- Track record leading programs and publications; experience as a target and drug hunter; understanding tissue/disease pathobiology and clinical unmet need; ability to connect science across functions; talent development/mentorship.
Benefits (if eligible):
- Retirement and Savings Plan, group medical/dental/vision, life/disability insurance, flexible spending accounts; discretionary annual bonus; stock-based long-term incentives; time-off and company-wide shutdowns; flexible work models where possible.