Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications

Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications

Join Amgen as a Senior Director, R&D Strategic Communications.

Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients. Since 1980, Amgen has helped pioneer biotech in the fight against serious diseases, focusing on Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease. Amgen aims to research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to improve patients’ lives. Amgen fosters a collaborative, innovative, science-based culture.

Lead a newly established internal communications agency team responsible for 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 includes content creators, internal comms experts, science writers, and digital strategists across the R&D organization from discovery to development.
• Architect a compelling, unifying R&D narrative that clarifies work, drives external reputational value, and strengthens internal culture.
• Oversee content strategy and editorial planning across platforms—web, social, video, executive communications, internal channels, events, and more.
• Drive alignment and editorial consistency across functions, channels, and geographies.
• Champion innovation in communications—leveraging AI, data insights, and emerging tools to elevate storytelling, refine strategies, optimize content delivery, and measure impact.

Demonstrate deep understanding of science and data, collaborating with researchers, scientists, and physicians to develop credible and impactful communications, whether engaging at a highly scientific level or translating complex science for broader audiences.

• 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 for employees, media, policy influencers, and scientific peers.
• Partner with scientific executives, site heads, and functional leaders to shape and amplify the R&D narrative.
• Position Amgen as a powerhouse of science to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure editorial excellence and creative innovation across all content formats.
• 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 workflows, personalization, engagement tracking, and amplification.
• Oversee budgets, agency partnerships, and resource planning for the team.

You are a strategist and a doer. You anticipate 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.

• 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

• PhD or equivalent scientific/medical training strongly preferred; credibility and fluency matter.
• Demonstrated leadership in strategic communications within life sciences, medical, or innovation-led organizations; 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 technologies; proactive mindset for integrating them into workflows.
• Executive presence, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to influence cross-functional and senior stakeholders.
• Experi…