At a Glance
- 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: Flexible remote work, generous rewards plan, 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. And every opportunity brings the potential to change lives. 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.
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.
- 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: 12 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
Contact Detail:
Amgen 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 role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We want to show that you’re not just a 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! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors. We can’t stress enough how important it is to articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our mission to change lives.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Director Study Start-Up
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how your passion for biotech and improving patient lives aligns with our mission at StudySmarter.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to customise your CV to highlight relevant experience that matches the job description. We love seeing how your unique skills can contribute to our global SSU strategy!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Executive Director role. Share specific examples of your leadership experience and how you've driven change in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Amgen
✨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, especially in managing 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 building and leading a global SSU leadership team.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Strategy
Since this role involves defining and governing the global SSU strategy, be prepared to discuss your strategic thinking. Bring examples of how you've integrated various approaches into cohesive strategies in past roles, and how you can apply that to Amgen's goals.
✨Engage with Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask your interviewers. This shows your interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values. Ask about their approach to innovation and how they support continuous improvement within the SSU Hub.