Director of Corporate Affairs - Research & Development

Amgen is seeking a Director of Corporate Affairs for Research & Development (R&D), based at our corporate campus located in Thousand Oaks, California. The Director will report directly to the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, R&D.

The Director Corporate Affairs, R&D will partner with R&D leadership, particularly Discovery Research and Clinical Development, to develop and execute external and internal communications strategies that help to advance the goals of Amgen R&D, notably to drive our reputation based on our science, innovation and pipeline. To achieve their goals, they will interface with numerous cross-functional partners to identify and deliver compelling narratives for media, executive and employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities of the Director of Corporate Affairs - R&D will include:

• Develops and executes external and internal executive and functional communication strategies that help to advance functional and corporate goals
• Provides strategic communications counsel to senior leadership across Discovery Research and Clinical Development - works directly Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) to identify needs, objectives and strategies to create effective and meaningful executive communications
• Serves as a member of the Discovery Research and Clinical Development senior leadership teams in order to fully integrate and align communications activities with business goals and objectives.
• Leads development of communication strategy, content and materials around key activities and initiatives (i.e. research efforts, collaborations, early pipeline/pipeline milestones, senior organizational changes, business updates, corporate cascades, all-staffs, emails, video, etc.).
• Develops news releases and other media materials to support key milestones/initiatives/early pipeline milestones/collaborations/business development deals.
• Leads media outreach related to Amgen's R&D organization and early pipeline; accountable for key R&D related media publications
• Proactively works with enterprise media team to garner favorable press coverage with business, health, trade and consumer press and long-lead coverage spanning a variety of topics of key importance to Amgen.
• Ensures execution of regular, multi-channel communications to inform, engage, and inspire the R&D community during time of immense change
• Serves as the CA representative on many of the formal and informal internal groups that have important value for R&D, for example, the R&D External Outreach Committee
• Anticipates and proactively prepares company spokespeople and third-party spokespersons (where appropriate) for issues or events; including media training external and internal spokespeople

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree and 4 years of Corporate Affairs experience

OR

Master's degree and 7 years of Corporate Affairs experience

OR

Bachelor's degree and 9 years of Corporate Affairs experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of Corporate Affairs experience
• 7+ years in R&D / Biopharma communication
• Bachelor's Degree in public relations, communication or journalism
• Experience working in-house on the communication activities of a major biotech or pharma company, including in support of the R&D organization
• Ability to interface and influence behaviors and outcomes at all levels
• Experience leading communications for Senior Executives
• Proven experience developing/implementing strategic communication plans with foresight in anticipating and solving complex communication issues
• Media / journalist experience - experience in maintaining relationships, ability to pitch and highly effective at identifying "big picture" stories that are of interest to top-tier publications
• Superior verbal and writing communication skills including the ability to understand and translate complex R&D language
• High emotional intelligence coupled with refined interpersonal and relationship management skills; enthusiastic, team player and self-starter; serious commitment to hard work and excellence
• Strong project management and facilitation skills
• Strategic thinker with ability to think quickly, analytically and creatively to accommodate a dynamic environment.to develop actionable programs that address business objectives

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 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.