Executive Director, External Engagement

Join Amgen’s mission of serving patients. At Amgen, our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do. Since 1980, we’ve pioneered the world of biotech in the fight against tough diseases. With a focus on Oncology, Inflammation, General Medicine, and Rare Disease, we reach millions of patients annually. Amgen advances a broad pipeline of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, inflammatory conditions, rare diseases, and obesity-related conditions. As part of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on patients' lives through research, manufacturing, and delivering innovative medicines.

About the Role

In this role, the Executive Director of External Engagement leads Amgen's strategy and execution across all external communications channels and stakeholder engagement platforms. You will shape how Amgen engages with media, influencers, digital audiences, and emerging communications ecosystems to advance corporate reputation, business priorities, and stakeholder trust. Reporting to the Vice President of Corporate Affairs, you will serve as a strategic advisor and builder of modern engagement capabilities, overseeing media relations, social media, digital channels, influencer strategy, and emerging forms of external engagement.

Responsibilities

• External Engagement Strategy
  • Develop and lead an integrated external engagement strategy aligning earned, owned, shared, and emerging channels.
  • Create innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement that strengthen Amgen's reputation and visibility.
  • Identify opportunities to reach audiences through new platforms, technologies, and content formats.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to Corporate Affairs leadership and senior executives on external engagement trends.
  • Establish measurement frameworks and analytics to assess engagement effectiveness and business impact.
• Media Relations
  • Lead Amgen's global media relations strategy and execution.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with traditional, digital, trade, healthcare, financial, and emerging media outlets.
  • Oversee proactive storytelling and reactive issues management.
  • Guide media engagement strategies and ensure consistent messaging across the enterprise.
• Social Media and Digital Channels
  • Lead strategy and governance for Amgen's social media presence and digital engagement platforms.
  • Drive audience growth, engagement, and content effectiveness across channels.
  • Oversee editorial planning, content distribution, community engagement, and social listening.
  • Ensure digital platforms support business priorities, corporate reputation, and stakeholder engagement objectives.
  • Partner across Corporate Affairs, Commercial, Medical, and Global Marketing functions to maximize impact and consistency.
• Influencer Strategy and Activation
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive influencer engagement strategy across healthcare, science, policy, patient advocacy, business, and culture.
  • Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with key external voices and communities.
  • Evaluate emerging influencer ecosystems and engagement models.
  • Design scalable programs that increase reach, credibility, and audience engagement.
  • Establish governance, measurement, and compliance frameworks for influencer partnerships.
• Emerging Media and Innovation
  • Monitor shifts in media consumption, audience behavior, technology, and platform evolution.
  • Assess opportunities related to AI-enabled communications, creator ecosystems, podcasts, newsletters, digital communities, and future engagement channels.
  • Pilot and scale innovative engagement approaches to position Amgen ahead of industry trends.
  • Build capabilities for rapid adaptation to changing communications environments.
  • Serve as an internal thought leader on the future of communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Team Leadership
  • Lead and develop a high-performing team of communications professionals.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Build organizational capabilities in digital engagement, content strategy, analytics, and emerging communications practices.
  • Manage agency relationships and external partners.
  • Oversee budget planning and resource allocation.

Requirements

• Basic Qualifications
  • Doctorate degree and 6 years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields, or
  • Master’s degree and 10 years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields, or
  • Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields.
  • 6 years of managerial experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, or directing resource allocation.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
  • 15+ years of experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, digital engagement, or related fields.
  • Leadership experience managing teams and complex communications programs.
  • Experience building integrated engagement strategies across earned, owned, shared, and emerging channels.
  • Experience leading media relations and executive visibility programs.
  • Understanding of social media, digital communications, and influencer ecosystems.
  • Experience navigating issues management and high-profile corporate communications environments.
  • Experience in healthcare, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or other highly regulated industries.
  • Experience identifying and scaling innovative communications approaches.
  • Understanding of analytics, audience insights, and measurement frameworks.
  • Experience advising senior executives and enterprise leaders.
  • Knowledge of AI-driven communications tools and emerging engagement technologies.

Benefits

Amgen supports your professional and personal growth with a competitive benefits package and collaborative culture. Benefits include:

• 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.
• Discretionary annual bonus program or sales-based incentive plan for field sales representatives.
• Stock-based long-term incentives.
• Award-winning time-off plans and bi-annual company-wide shutdowns.
• Flexible work models where possible.

Pay

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is $266,637 to $360,745. Actual salary will vary based on relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.