Neural Nexus – Data Lead

US - California - Thousand Oaks, United States

Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics.

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Career Category

Sales & Marketing Operations

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.

Neural Nexus – Data Lead

What you will do

Let’s do this. Let’s change the world. In this vital role of the Neural Nexus – Data Lead will have responsibilities to lead the overall Data strategy, infrastructures, and processes for our organization's innovative Neural Nexus (NN) - Generative AI and Automation platform. The incumbent will work closely with our Technology and AI&D organization to drive and deliver the successful design, implementation, rollout, and continuous evolution of this transformative program, ensuring its alignment with cross-functional teams and enterprise priorities to improve business impact.

The individual in this role will not merely drive and develop innovative data strategy and foundation; and will orchestrate a fundamental shift in how Amgen will adopt and harness the power of Neural Nexus and its core components – including Insights Command Center, Adaptive Resource Optimization, and Patient Intelligence Engine.

This position offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of AI adoption in a high-impact sector, addressing complex business challenges that merge advanced technology, pharmaceutical data science, and robust governance and agentic frameworks.

Flexible Commuter role to one of two US Sites, in Thousand Oaks, CA, OR Deerfield, IL. You will work on-site a minimum of 3 days a week.

We are seeking a strategic and technically adept Data Strategy Lead to drive the development of a robust data foundation that supports advanced AI capabilities, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and agentic frameworks. This role will focus on integrating structured and unstructured data, building scalable infrastructure, and delivering strategic leadership across data governance, AI readiness, and knowledge enablement.

Strategic Leadership & Roadmap Development for Data Strategy, Infrastructure & Processes for Neural Nexus

  • Define, articulate, and champion the strategic vision and long-term roadmap for the Neural Nexus data, infrastructure, and processes. This includes developing innovative and agile data infrastructure and processes, using automation and/or Agentic framework where possible, that are aligned with overarching NN key objectives and prioritized use cases
  • Working closely with AI&D / Enterprise team to ensure compliance, integrity, accuracy, and reliability of all available internal and external data used in the commercialization of our brands, and providing strategic direction to the organization related to newly available data sources and acquisition strategy to meet the needs of NN
  • Define and implement data governance framework and procedures for data ownership, lineage tracking, and stewardship to ensure traceability and accountability
  • Working closely with CD&A Data Management team to assess and develop necessary data processes, including and not limited to QC, Master Data Management, Affiliation, etc. to ensure highest standard of quality and are business ready
  • Develop AI-Readiness Infrastructure – including and not limited to
  • Develop frameworks to integrate structured data (e.g., transactional systems) and unstructured content (e.g., PDFs, emails, notes) into a unified data architecture that supports downstream AI and agentic capabilities
  • Implement automated NLP-driven pipelines to extract, normalize, and align entities and relationships across data types to support scalable AI model development and analysis
  • integration of structured and unstructured data and systems that are optimized for speed, relevance, and accuracy
  • Determine appropriate real time data pipeline or schedule to continuously embed new data (ie. public domain vs CRM logs). The pipeline would also include versioning, logging, and monitoring to ensure reliability and interpretability
  • Design and oversee the implementation of data and content tagging. Collaborate with SMEs to create and maintain a taxonomy relevant to the domain. Ensuring tagging systems are updated as new use cases, terminologies, or regulatory needs evolve
  • Define role-based access modules to ensure only authorized personnels and models can access specific datasets
  • Act as a key internal accelerator and educator for Generative AI, translating its complex capabilities and potential into clear, tangible business value propositions. This requires engaging with and influencing stakeholders at all levels, many of whom may be new to AI concepts or cautious due to regulatory implications, thereby building broad organizational consensus and enthusiasm for the AI roadmap
  • Lead and mentor cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between business, IT, data science, and engineering.

Cross-Functional Team Orchestration & Collaboration

  • Cultivate a highly collaborative and inclusive environment that breaks down traditional silos, ensuring seamless communication and execution throughout the Neural Nexus data and platform's design, development, deployment, and operational phases
  • Serve as a critical link between technical AI teams and pharmaceutical domain experts ie. CD&A, Medical, V&A, Commercial, etc. This requires exceptional skill in translating complex data and technical jargon into understandable business concepts and vice-versa, ensuring mutual understanding, shared objectives, and effective communication protocols across teams with varied backgrounds, priorities, and expertise

Driving Data and Platform Adoption & Value Realization

  • Develop and implement comprehensive strategies to drive broad and effective user adoption of Neural Nexus data and platform across the organization, improving the business value derived from its capabilities
  • Partner closely with training, change management, and communications teams to ensure users are well-equipped and motivated to integrate GenAI tools into their daily workflows
  • Define, track, and rigorously report on relevant KPIs to measure platform impact, user engagement, ensuring that the platform demonstrably contributes to achieving strategic business goals such as accelerated drug discovery timelines, reduced operational costs, or improved quality metrics

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

  • Lead and champion change management initiatives associated with the introduction of NN and new automated processes, addressing potential cultural shifts and operational adjustments
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning, experimentation (within ethical and regulatory boundaries), and adaptation within the organization, encouraging teams to embrace AI-driven transformation

What we expect of you

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

Basic Qualifications:

Doctorate degree and 4 years of data architecture, analytics, AI/ML, or data strategy roles; commercial experience

OR

Master’s degree and 8 years of data architecture, analytics, AI/ML, or data strategy roles; commercial experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of data architecture, analytics, AI/ML, or data strategy roles; commercial experience

In addition to meeting at least one of the above requirements, you must have at least 4 years experience directly managing people and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, programs, or directing the allocation or resources. Your managerial experience may run concurrently with the required technical experience referenced above

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Extensive experience in Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical internal and external datasets, and consultative experience spanning across different data – Commercial and/or Medical, analytics fields, and therapeutic areas
  • Strong experience working directly with Business ie. Marketing, Sales, Medical, and/or Analytics Functions. Identify & define data strategy and solutions to address key business opportunities
  • Extensive understanding of data architecture, data management standard processes, and cloud computing platforms as they pertain to supporting AI/ML workloads
  • Demonstrated experience in management and integration of data solutions and processes (ie. QC, MDM, Affiliation, etc.) within various disparate tools/processes
  • Demonstrated success in developing and operationalizing data foundations (e.g., data governance, architecture, and integration) that support advanced analytics and AI/ML use cases
  • Passion for deriving data insights, storytelling, and driving measurable impact
  • Adaptability and Agility: Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with the ability to quickly respond to changing market conditions and organizational priorities
  • Strong Technical Proficiency (AI/ML): Strong conceptual and practical understanding of AI/ML technologies, with a particular emphasis on Generative AI, model development lifecycles, platform architecture, and the associated data requirements
  • Knowledge of AI/ML workflows and how foundational data assets impact model performance and scalability
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure), and modern data tools like Databricks, Snowflake, or BigQuery
  • Ability to assess data maturity and develop roadmaps for improving data readiness for AI use cases
  • Consistent track record of successfully leading large-scale, complex, cross-functional initiatives from conception to completion, including handling executive-level partners in a matrixed organizational structure
  • Demonstrable experience in developing robust cases, creating strategic roadmaps, managing budgets, and allocating resources effectively for data, technology, or operational improvement projects
  • Ethical Standards: A strong commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards in all analyses and business practices, ensuring unbiased and objective decision-making
  • Demonstrated success in leading organizational change management efforts and driving the adoption of new technologies and processes within a large, complex enterprise
  • Experience working effectively with international teams and diverse global partners
  • Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Superior ability to analyze complex, multifaceted problems, synthesize diverse information streams, develop data-driven strategies, and align operational plans meticulously with overarching business objectives. This includes the crucial "synthesis skill" to connect deep technical AI possibilities with pharmaceutical domain requirements, regulatory constraints, and business strategy
  • Problem-Solving & Decision Making: Strong, critical problem-solving capabilities characterized by a pragmatic, analytical, and results-oriented approach. Ability to make sound, well-reasoned decisions, often under pressure or in ambiguous situations
  • Leadership & Influence: Exceptional leadership capabilities with proven ability to inspire, motivate, and influence cross-functional teams and senior executive partners, often without direct reporting authority. Exhibits strong executive presence and commands credibility
  • Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills. Adept at communicating highly complex technical and strategic concepts clearly, concisely, and persuasively to a wide range of audiences, from technical experts to non-technical executives
  • Project & Program Management: Expert-level proficiency in managing complex, multi-layered projects and programs from initiation through to successful completion. This includes mastery of risk management, resource allocation, timeline management, and dependency tracking
  • Business Acumen: Deep and nuanced understanding of business operations, financial management principles, value creation drivers, and competitive dynamics, particularly within the context of the pharmaceutical industry.
  • Strategic problem solver who can balance short-term delivery with long-term vision

What you can expect of us

As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.

The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.

In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save towards retirement or other goals, work/life balance, and career development opportunities that may include:

  • A 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
  • A discretionary annual bonus program, or for field sales representatives, a sales-based incentive plan
  • Stock-based long-term incentives
  • Award-winning time-off plans
  • Flexible work models, including remote and hybrid work arrangements, where possible

Apply now and make a lasting impact with the Amgen team.

careers.amgen.com

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Application deadline

Amgen does not have an application deadline for this position; we will continue accepting applications until we receive a sufficient number or select a candidate for the position.

As an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people around the world, Amgen fosters an inclusive environment of diverse, ethical, committed and highly accomplished people who respect each other and live the Amgen values to continue advancing science to serve patients. Together, we compete in the fight against serious disease.

Amgen is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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Salary Range

209,692.00 USD - 235,059.00 USD
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Category: Leadership Jobs

Tags: Agile Architecture AWS Azure BigQuery Databricks Data governance Data management Data strategy Drug discovery Engineering GCP Generative AI KPIs LLMs Machine Learning ML models NLP Pharma Pipelines Research Snowflake Unstructured data

Perks/benefits: Career development Competitive pay Equity / stock options Flex hours Flex vacation Health care Insurance Salary bonus Startup environment

Region: North America
Country: United States

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