Job Description
In this vital role within External R&D in Business Development, you will lead a team responsible for identifying and evaluating innovative external therapeutics in Rare Disease for potential in-licensing, M&A, or collaboration opportunities. The successful candidate will develop and nurture a network of key industry and academic contacts to ensure robust communication of ideas, interests, and information between the external rare disease ecosystem and internal Amgen groups. The role requires proactive efforts to search for and identify external opportunities through networking, conference coverage, company engagement, academic outreach, and systematic reviews of the external landscape. The candidate will assess and prioritize opportunities based on Amgen’s rare disease strategy, scientific rationale, medical need, competitive differentiation, development feasibility, and strategic fit. This role requires scientific and strategic breadth across rare disease areas, potentially including immunology, ophthalmology, nephrology, neurology, hematology, metabolic and genetic diseases, and other specialty areas. The candidate should be comfortable evaluating diverse therapeutic modalities, including biologics, small molecules, RNA-based therapeutics, and gene therapy. The role includes leading technical evaluations of external opportunities by creating and managing cross-functional review teams and providing clear recommendations grounded in scientific, clinical, development, and strategic judgment, including rare disease-specific considerations such as patient identification, endpoints and development feasibility. This person will ensure efficient reviews, support business negotiations and contractual execution for selected projects, and lead strategic discussions with senior management, R&D, Commercial, Regulatory, Medical, and other stakeholders to define priorities for licensure, collaboration, M&A, or out-licensing.
