R&D Lab Operations - Global Director

Career Category

Project Management

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 mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives 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.

R&D Lab Operations- Global Director

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role you will oversee and drive the strategic vision for our global R&D laboratory network. This person will be responsible for leading all aspects of lab operations across multiple geographies, ensuring the highest standards of quality, efficiency, safety, and compliance. This is a leadership role that requires a blend of operational expertise, technical knowledge, and an ability to lead large teams across diverse regions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the global strategy for laboratory operations to ensure alignment with organizational goals. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase operational efficiency and meet business demands, including leading R&D Lab Operations through changes to support business transformations.

• Global Operations Management: Oversee daily operations of labs across multiple regions, ensuring consistent and high-quality delivery of results. Optimize lab workflows, staffing, and resource utilization across various global sites.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead a global team of lab managers, technicians, and support staff. Develop a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional development. Provide mentorship and guidance to ensure skill development and team performance.

• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight: Ensure all lab operations comply with local, national, and international regulations and industry standards (e.g., ISO, GLP, GxP, FDA). Stay updated on changes in regulations to ensure the organization remains compliant.

• Financial Management: Partner with budget and finance teams to monitor budgets and resources for the global lab network and identify opportunities for cost optimization while maintaining the integrity of operations.

• Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement: Implement and maintain a robust quality management system (QMS – partnering with Quality) across all lab sites. Lead efforts in driving process optimization, reducing variability, and enhancing the overall quality of outputs.

• Technology Integration: Lead the integration of innovative laboratory technologies and innovations that improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of lab operations. Stay at the forefront of trends and technologies that can enhance lab capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with R&D leaders, Global Finance & Strategy, Global Facility Operations & Compliance teams to ensure laboratory operations are aligned with broader company goals. Provide data and insights to support decision-making across departments.

• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate operational risks related to lab operations, including safety hazards, regulatory non-compliance, and operational inefficiencies.

• Sustainability: Develop and implement initiatives to reduce environmental impact in laboratory operations, including waste management, energy efficiency, and sustainable sourcing of materials.

• 30% travel is associated with this position.

What we expect of you

We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dynamic professional we seek is a director with these qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree and 4 years of pharmaceutical/life science experience OR

• Master’s degree and 7 years of pharmaceutical/life science experience OR

• Bachelor’s degree and 9 years of pharmaceutical/life science experience

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