External Research & Development - Technology Innovation Business Development, Director

Amgen Inc. (IR); South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 203,000 - 274,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock-based long-term incentives

Retirement plan

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Paid time off

Job summary

Amgen Inc. is seeking a Director for External Research & Development - Technology Innovation Business Development.

This role leads AI-enabled technology partnerships and evaluates opportunities across biotech and tech ecosystems, collaborating with R&D, Commercial, Legal, and Strategy teams. Based in South San Francisco, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA, the Director will drive complex diligence, negotiations, and governance, shaping Amgen's external innovation strategy and delivering high-impact

Qualifications

• Doctorate level and 4+ years in biotech, HealthTech, technology, or biopharmaceutical business development.
• Master's degree plus 7 years of BD experience in biotech/tech/pharma.
• Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant BD experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation of external AI, digital, HealthTech opportunities aligned with R&D strategy.
• Negotiate partnerships, collaborations and licensing with biotech and tech firms.
• Direct cross-functional diligence teams to assess scientific merit and strategic fit.
• Present opportunity assessments to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Coordinate with Legal and cross-functional groups to finalize terms and agreements.
• Mentor team members and grow the External R&D organization.

Education

Doctorate degree in a scientific field

Master's degree in a scientific field

Bachelor's degree in a scientific field

Job description

Career Category Business Development 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. 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 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.

External Research & Development - Technology Innovation Business Development, Director

What you will do Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role, you will lead Amgen's search, evaluation, and selected transaction activities for external partnerships focused on AI-enabled technologies and other technology innovation opportunities across the biotech and technology ecosystem. You will help shape and execute Amgen's external technology innovation strategy while identifying opportunities that accelerate research, development, and enterprise capabilities.

Working closely with cross-functional partners across Research & Development, Technology Innovation, Commercial, Operations, Legal, and Corporate Strategy, you will evaluate emerging technologies, lead complex assessments, negotiate strategic partnerships, and cultivate relationships with leading technology companies, biotech organizations, venture investors, and innovation ecosystems. You will also contribute to broader External R&D business development initiatives as business priorities evolve.

This role is ideally based at an Amgen Research hub in South San Francisco, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA to enable close collaboration with research teams.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, evaluate, and advance external AI, digital, HealthTech, and technology innovation opportunities aligned with Amgen's R&D and enterprise strategy.
• Monitor scientific, technology, and competitive trends to uncover high-value partnership opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with technology companies, biotech organizations, investors, academic institutions, and innovation networks.
• Represent Amgen externally to strengthen strategic partnerships and enhance visibility within the innovation ecosystem.
• Lead scientific, technical, commercial, and strategic assessments of external opportunities.
• Direct cross-functional diligence teams to evaluate scientific merit, feasibility, strategic fit, and business value.
• Translate complex technical and business insights into clear recommendations for senior leadership.
• Drive governance and decision-making processes throughout opportunity evaluation.
• Lead business development transactions, including collaborations, licensing agreements, and strategic partnerships.
• Partner with Legal and cross-functional teams to negotiate terms and execute agreements.
• Support broader External R&D transactions, including collaborations, licensing opportunities, and acquisitions.
• Present opportunity assessments and transaction strategies to leadership and governance committees.
• Collaborate across R&D, Technology Innovation, Commercial, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Corporate Strategy to align external innovation efforts with business priorities.
• Influence strategic direction through data-driven analysis, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams to deliver business objectives.
• Mentor team members and contribute to the growth of the External R&D organization.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The professional we seek is a strategic business development leader with the following qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in a scientific field and 4 years of biotech, HealthTech, technology, or biopharmaceutical business development experience
• Master's degree in a scientific field and 7 years of biotech, HealthTech, technology, or biopharmaceutical business development experience
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific field and 9 years of biotech, HealthTech, technology, or biopharmaceutical business development experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in a scientific discipline with expertise spanning biotechnology, HealthTech, artificial intelligence, data science, technology innovation, and biopharmaceutical research.
• Demonstrated business development experience, including evaluation, licensing, strategic partnerships, collaborations, and transaction execution.
• Experience leading technology-focused evaluations involving AI-enabled platforms, digital technologies, or emerging innovation capabilities.
• Strong understanding of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, technology, and venture capital ecosystems.
• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.
• Excellent scientific, strategic thinking, analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex opportunities, prioritize competing demands, and make sound business decisions.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
• Track record of building trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, including technology companies, biotechnology companies, venture investors, and emerging innovators.
• Professional presence with strong negotiation, influencing, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work independently while mentoring colleagues and contributing to a highly collaborative team environment.

What you can expect of us

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.

Benefits:

• 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.

Salary Range

Salary Range 202,674.85USD -274,207.15 USD

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 diverse, 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.

Equal Opportunity

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. Amgen will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen