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Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications

Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications

AmgenNewbury Park, CA, US
30+ days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
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 missionto serve patients living with serious illnessesdrives 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. 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.

Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications

Let's do this! Let's change the world! In this vital role we're seeking a bold, strategic, and forward-thinking Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications, to lead a newly established team that will function as an internal communications agency, responsible for both external and internal audiences, amplifying the voice of our science, enhancing our innovation reputation, and connecting our people to purpose.

This Thousand Oaks-based role sits at the intersection of R&D strategy, scientific storytelling, employee engagement, and external reputation-building.

Reporting to the VP, Corporate Affairs for Science and Innovation, you will :

  • Build and lead a high-paced, high-performing Strategic Communications team that brings together content creators, internal comms experts, science writers, and digital strategists to the entirety of the R&D organization from discovery to development.
  • Architect a compelling, unifying R&D narrative that brings clarity to our work, drives reputational value externally, and strengthens culture internally.
  • Oversee content strategy and editorial planning across platformsweb, social, video, executive communications, internal channels, events, and more.
  • Drive alignment and editorial consistency across functions, channels, and geographies.
  • Champion innovation in how we communicateleveraging AI, data insights, and emerging tools to elevate storytelling, refine strategies, optimize content delivery, and measure impact.

Lead with a deep understanding of science and dataand the confidence to partner with researchers, scientists, and physiciansto develop communications that are credible and impactful, whether that means engaging at a highly scientific level or translating complex science for broader audiences.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead a multi-functional team : content creators, internal communications specialists, digital / social strategists, and science communicators.
  • Develop and execute a holistic R&D communications strategy across internal, digital, social, and executive channels.
  • Translate complex scientific ideas into clear, compelling narratives that resonate with employees, media, policy influencers, and scientific peers.
  • Partner directly with scientific executives, site heads, and functional leaders to shape and amplify the R&D narrative.
  • Serve as a reputation strategist, helping position Amgen as a powerhouse of science to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ensure editorial excellence and creative innovation across all content formatsfrom videos and speeches to social media, digital platforms, and executive communications.
  • Build and manage a team responsible for content planning, campaign execution, analytics, and thought leadership to deliver high-impact storytelling and engagement
  • Utilize AI-enabled tools and digital platforms to improve content development workflows, personalization, engagement tracking, and amplification.
  • Oversee budgets, agency partnerships, and resource planning for the team.

    • Who You Are

    You are both a strategist and a doer. You see what's coming next and prepare your team accordingly. You're credible with scientists, respected by executives, and creative enough to reinvent how we tell the story of science.

    Basic Qualifications

    Doctorate degree and 5 years of communications or public affairs experience

    Or

    Master's degree and 8 years of experience

    OR

    Bachelor's degree and 10 years of experience

    Preferred Qualifications

  • PhD or equivalent scientific or medical training strongly preferredyou'll be leading a team that interacts with world leading scientists and researchers at Amgen to communicate scientific innovation. Credibility and fluency matter.
  • Demonstrated leadership in strategic communications, within a life-sciences, medical, or innovation-led organization. Communications agency experience a bonus.
  • Proven success in building and scaling communications functions or teams.
  • Experience crafting narratives that drive external reputation while building internal connection and pride.
  • Strong understanding of AI and emerging communications technologiesand a proactive mindset for integrating them into team workflows.
  • Executive presence, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to influence cross-functional and senior stakeholders.
  • Experience working closely with or within R&D, Clinical Development, or Scientific Affairs environments.

    • Location Requirement

    This role is based in Thousand Oaks, CA to enable strong proximity to the R&D Senior Leadership Team and other key partners. On-site collaboration is essential to succeed in this role.

    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, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, where possible
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