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- Tasks: Lead global study start-up initiatives and drive innovation in clinical trial execution.
- Company: Amgen, a leading biotechnology company dedicated to serving patients worldwide.
- Benefits: Generous rewards plan, remote work options, and focus on personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in biopharmaceutical science and improve lives globally.
- Qualifications: Degree educated with extensive biotech or pharma experience and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Join a diverse community that values your ideas and fosters career development.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
At Amgen, every challenge is an opportunity. Our shared mission—to serve patients—has driven our status as one of the world’s preeminent biotechnology companies, reaching over 10 million patients worldwide. Leverage your high-level expertise to lead and forge partnerships that advance the biotechnical and biopharmaceutical science that can turn the tide of serious, life-interrupting illnesses.
In this vital role, you will lead the Study Start-Up (SSU) Hub as a global center of excellence, defining and implementing a unified SSU capability strategy that accelerates start-up timelines and ensures consistent quality across all programs and therapeutic areas. You will shape a scalable operating model, influence portfolio and program planning through governance forums, and champion innovation, digital solutions, and continuous improvement to strengthen global study start-up performance.
Key Responsibilities- Defining and governing the global SSU strategy, integrating sub-function approaches into a cohesive, scalable capability aligned with enterprise priorities.
- Serving as the global escalation point for start-up risks and issues, ensuring timely resolution and portfolio-level visibility.
- Building and leading global SSU leadership team, fostering accountability, talent development, and center-of-excellence.
- Overseeing global study start-up planning and execution to consistently meet timeline, quality, and performance targets.
- Embedding standardized metrics, KPIs, and performance management to drive transparency and improvement.
- Partnering with senior leaders across Clinical Development, Operations, Regulatory, and Regions to align resources and enable trial success.
- Representing Amgen externally and internally, bringing industry insights into the organization and positioning the SSU Hub as a strategic enabler of clinical trial administration.
We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. What we seek in you as an experienced professional, are these qualifications and skills:
- Degree educated.
- Extensive experience in biotech or pharma, with deep expertise in clinical trial execution.
- Strong leadership experience in global, cross-functional, and geographically diverse clinical teams, including managing leaders in complex organizations.
- Demonstrated success driving cross-functional change and operational transformation.
- Deep knowledge of end-to-end clinical development across early and late stages.
- Experience building capabilities, including training and performance improvement.
- Strong stakeholder management and senior-level influencing skills.
- Strategic, enterprise-minded problem solver with a portfolio-level perspective.
As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, so we work to care for our teammates’ professional and personal growth and well-being. Clear and disciplined strategic vision for the future that leverages superior-quality products, operational excellence and top-shelf-talent. Diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table and act. Generous Total Rewards Plan comprising health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.
LOCATION: Ability to work fully remote, or, if situated near an office, the option to work flexibly from home with occasional office presence at our Cambridge or Uxbridge next-generation workspace.
Application due date: 12th February 2026
APPLY NOW for a career that defies imagination. What we do is hard. It should be. We are working with each other against the challenges of today for the promise of tomorrow. Lead the way.
Executive Director Study Start-Up employer: Amgen SA
Contact Detail:
Amgen SA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Director Study Start-Up
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend relevant events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We want to show that we’re not just a good fit for the role, but also for the team. Tailor your answers to reflect how your experience aligns with their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. We need to be confident and articulate when discussing our skills and experiences, especially in high-stakes roles like Executive Director.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission to serve patients.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Director Study Start-Up
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Executive Director Study Start-Up role. Highlight your relevant experience in biotech or pharma, especially in clinical trial execution, to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your strong leadership experience shine through! Share examples of how you've managed global, cross-functional teams and driven operational transformation. This is your chance to impress us with your ability to lead diverse teams.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the heart of your qualifications.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Amgen SA
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of clinical trial execution and the biotech industry. Familiarise yourself with Amgen's mission and recent innovations. This will not only show your enthusiasm but also help you answer questions confidently.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience in global, cross-functional teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you drove change or improved performance. This is crucial for a role that requires managing diverse teams.
✨Understand the SSU Strategy
Dive deep into what a unified Study Start-Up capability strategy looks like. Be ready to discuss how you would define and implement such a strategy at Amgen, including how you would handle risks and ensure quality across programmes.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Prepare to talk about your experience in stakeholder management. Think of ways you've influenced senior leaders and aligned resources for trial success. This will demonstrate your ability to navigate complex organisational structures effectively.
