Amgen—Senior Associate - Strategic Planning & Operations

Job description

Description: Career Category Clinical Development Job Description Job Description Increasing demand for observational research (now commonly referred to as real-world evidence [RWE]) from regulatory and reimbursement authorities makes observational research a key component of drug development and commercialization. Amgen's Center for Observational Research (CfOR) is a global organization with an industry-leading analytical capability that generates RWE to support business needs across a product’s lifecycle. CfOR scientists partner with internal stakeholders and industry experts to design, conduct, interpret and publish observational research that informs decision-making from the early development of a molecule to the design of clinical trials and the safety and efficacy of Amgen medicines. We are seeking a Senior Associate, Strategic Planning & Operations, to join the Center for Observational Research (CfOR). This role will work with other Amgen functional teams to oversee and drive execution of CfOR’s operational projects and non-interventional studies ensuring timely completion within budget and at the highest quality with compliance. This role requires strong project management capabilities combined with a growth mindset and openness to leveraging emerging AI tools to improve productivity and drive CfOR-wide initiatives. Key Responsibilities - Support end-to-end operational workflows/ automate tools and standardise process maps / SOPs to improve efficiency in CfOR operational process such as budget management, contracting, dashboard management and project management/ PMO office. - Driving AI-enabled operational transformation to enhance efficiency in compliance process, budget tracking, and decision-making across global CfOR programs - Project management including project planning, governance tracking, milestone management, Vendor onboarding, risk/issue tracking, and stakeholder reporting - SharePoint management experience in content governance to enable effective collaboration and efficient document control. - Knowledge management/ training capabilities - Design, track knowledge-sharing metrics and drive team engagement with continuous learning frameworks. Operational Excellence & Process Optimization: - Automate / standardize end-to-end workflows & process maps to improve efficiency in CFOR operational process - Drive execution of operational processes by monitoring budgets, contracts, study milestones, risks, and performance metrics while ensuring data accuracy, timely reporting, and adherence to regulatory, compliance and organizational requirements. - Ensure quality, compliance, and alignment with global operational standards - Strong experience in SharePoint management, including site administration, document libraries, permission management, and content governance to enable secure collaboration and efficient document control AI & Digital Enablement: - Applied generative AI tools to improve productivity in documentation and operations - Identify automation opportunities to reduce manual effort and standardize workflows - Creating dashboards of operational processes - Drove adoption and migration of digital tools (Smartsheet, MS tools, Teams, SharePoint, Miro, lucid) for collaboration and tracking - Develop apps/ AI chatbots / migrate available processes to new technology/ tools based on organizational requirements Project Management Office - Demonstrated experience in PMO practices, including project planning, governance tracking, milestone management, stakeholder reporting, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and alignment with business priorities. - Ability to apply Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid project management methodologies to improve execution, collaboration, and operational efficiency and improve project visibility and execution tracking. Data, Reporting & Dashboarding: - Developed and maintained operational dashboards and reports (Power BI/Excel/Smartsheet) to track study performance, resource utilization, and key KPIs - Delivered actionable insights through data analysis and reporting to support leadership decision-making Financial & Resource Management: - Managed financial operations including PO processing, invoice verification, and expense tracking using SAP/Ariba/Anaplan - Supported budget planning and resource management across programs Basic Qualifications: - Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of Clinical / Scientific Operations experience OR - Master’s degree and 5+ years of Scientific or Operations experience - Pharma/ Healthcare degree with application of technology/ AI knowledge expertise, advanced excel knowledge, dashboard creation for reporting, and decision support. Preferred Qualifications/Skills: - Minimum of 6 years of project management experience, Agile Scrum master, with +4 years in pharma/biotech and cross-functional environments. Project planning & milestone tracking, process standardization & optimization, KPI design & reporting, cross-functional stakeholder management - Technical: SQL, Python (incl. applied ML/predictive modeling), Tableau, Power BI & Analytics, Advanced Excel, Dashboard Creation & Reporting - Hands-on experience with budgeting, contracting, PMO office, and working in regulated document management systems - Drive AI-enabled operational transformation to enhance efficiency in CFoR operational process - Demonstrated proficiency & adaptability with related software tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, Smartsheet, Miro, SharePoint, MS Teams, Office 365, etc.) - Quick learner with strong analytical skills and adaptability to new tools and concepts - Demonstrates autonomy and reliability in managing tasks and contributing to team goals - Highly organized, with the ability to prioritize and deliver on projects independently or collaboratively - Effective communicator with strong written, verbal, and presentation abilities - Builds positive relationships and fosters collaboration with a proactive, “can-do” attitude - Familiarity with drug commercialization & business practices .