Director - Trade and Channel Development

Amgen SA; Thousand Oaks, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Flexible work models

Career development

Job summary

Amgen seeks a Director, Pharmacy Trade - Retail to lead relationships with major US retail pharmacy accounts and guide the channel strategy across the portfolio. You will negotiate complex commercial agreements and partner with Brand, Market Access, Patient Services, Supply Chain and Legal to shape execution for launch readiness.

The role requires extensive leadership of cross-functional teams, strong negotiation skills, and deep knowledge of pharmacy customers and business models, with up to

Qualifications

• Doctoral or equivalent education with substantial pharmacy/healthcare commercial experience.
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements within pharmacy channels.
• Strong leadership and ability to manage teams and projects.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, financial modeling, and analytics.

Responsibilities

• Lead relationships with major US retail pharmacy accounts and partners.
• Develop and drive US retail and pharmacy channel strategy across the portfolio.
• Translate customer insights into actionable strategies to improve patient flow.
• Lead negotiations and partner with cross-functional teams on launches like MariTide.

Skills

Negotiation

Strategic planning

Account management

Leadership

Financial modeling

Excel

Education

Doctorate in Pharmacy / related field

Master’s degree in a related area

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

Excel

Job description

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 helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline and portfolio of medicines to treat heart disease, obesity and obesity‑related conditions, rare diseases, inflammatory conditions and cancer. 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.

Director, Pharmacy Trade - Retail

Amgen has an exciting opportunity for an individual looking to make a significant impact on the organization. We encourage our team members to have fulfilling and meaningful careers through challenging assignments, active career development and coaching, and individual rewards. As a member of the Trade & Channel team, this Director is integral to Amgen’s success in the US Healthcare market.

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will be responsible for leading Amgen’s relationships with major US retail pharmacy accounts and targeted pharmacy partners, managing a broad portfolio of business priorities that enable patients to access and receive Amgen medicines through pharmacy with a frictionless experience. This role will have frequent interaction with Executive Director and Vice President level leaders and the potential to engage with senior‑most levels within Amgen. The Director will develop customer strategies, lead direct negotiations, identify and advance opportunities to improve the pharmacy patient journey, and serve as a strategic partner to Brand, Market Access, Patient Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, and other cross‑functional teams. A critical component of the role will be developing relationships with emerging direct‑to‑consumer and digitally enabled pharmacy models and helping shape the direct purchase capabilities, partnerships, and operating approach required to support successful launch execution for our Direct to Patient products, including MariTide.

High Level Job Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop an Account Manager who supports pharmacy account management, establishing clear priorities, building capabilities, and creating a high‑performing team environment.
• Own and strengthens enterprise strategic relationships with major national retail pharmacy accounts and targeted pharmacy partners, including new pharmacy models, serving as a senior Amgen leader and key point of escalation for complex business issues.
• Develop and lead the US retail and emerging pharmacy channel strategy, translating broader Trade & Channel objectives into customer, partnership and execution strategies across the portfolio.
• Develop a deep understanding of pharmacy customers, including business models, economics, growth drivers, competitive dynamics, strategic priorities, digital capabilities, and evolving approaches to patient engagement and fulfillment.
• Lead strategic engagement and collaborates with Obesity consumer pricing and employer leads for the emerging pharmacy and direct‑to‑consumer models, building relationships with new market entrants and identifying opportunities to establish scalable partnerships that support Amgen’s evolving channel strategy and future launches.
• Partner cross‑functionally to translate customer insights into actionable strategies that improve the patient journey, reduce friction at pharmacy, and support effective execution of Amgen products in the retail and emerging pharmacy environment.
• Lead business reviews and executive customer engagements to generate meaningful insights, align on priorities, and establish clear actions that improve customer performance and patient experience.
• Accountable for developing and directing product‑specific distribution and pharmacy strategies for new launches and the existing portfolio, with particular focus on launch readiness and early execution requirements for MariTide.
• Provide strategic leadership across major pharmacy initiatives spanning Market Access, Patient Services, Brand, Supply Chain, Finance and Legal; establish priorities, guide resource allocation and drive alignment on decisions affecting the broader US pharmacy strategy.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial analyses, business assessments, and ad hoc requests from senior leadership related to customer, product, channel, and strategic opportunities.
• Travel up to 25%
• Other duties as assigned

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree with 4 years of pharmacy, retail, healthcare, or related commercial experience and significant negotiation experience; OR
• Master’s degree and 8 years of pharmacy, retail, healthcare, or related commercial experience and significant negotiation experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of pharmacy, retail, healthcare, or related commercial experience and significant negotiation experience; AND
• 2 years of managerial experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs or directing the allocation of resources

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience solving complex business problems, developing customer strategies, and managing multiple projects concurrently
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, financial modeling, and business analytics
• Ability to read and understand legal contract documents and experience negotiating complex commercial agreements
• Demonstrated track record of increasing responsibility and leadership in pharmacy, retail, healthcare, or related commercial environments
• Previous experience in Direct to Patient/Employer or Consignment models a plus.
• Strong customer leadership, influencing, and negotiation skills with the ability to engage effectively at executive levels
• Previous experience developing partnerships or business models with emerging, digital, direct‑to‑consumer, or non‑traditional pharmacy channels
• Proven ability to lead and develop high‑performing teams and collaborate effectively across a complex, matrixed organization

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well‑being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

• A 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
• Flexible work models where possible. Refer to the Work Location Type in the job posting to see if this applies.

Application deadline

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship for this role is not guaranteed.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer. We make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities, consistent with legal requirements. Please contact us to request accommodation.