This BioTech firm helps employees grow their careers – both across borders and disciplines

Working in California was not part of her career plan when Ms Chew Jia Mei first joined BioTech pioneer Amgen Singapore Manufacturing as a manufacturing associate in 2013. One of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Amgen harnesses the best of biology and technology to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases, and rare diseases.

Five years later, she moved to the US – a decision that ended up, in her own words, “radically changing” her life.

Born and raised in Singapore, Ms Chew had never imagined working overseas. “I had a very traditional mindset – I was born in Singapore, I studied in Singapore, I thought I would work in Singapore and retire in Singapore,” she says.

Her move to the US marked more than just a change in location. It also opened the door to a new role and the opportunity to pursue further education – in a field outside of her technical background.

While based in the US, Amgen sponsored her part-time MBA studies. Ms Chew had initially considered a technical postgraduate degree, but a manager encouraged her to explore business management instead, as she was already building technical expertise through her work. This allowed her to move to her current role as a strategic resource planning senior manager, where she works on improving how Amgen makes and delivers its medicines, and prepares for new product launches.

“Amgen has been very supportive of my career growth and advancement,” says the 33-year-old, who has worked in four locations – Singapore, California, Rhode Island, and Washington – during her 12-year career with the American multinational corporation (MNC).

Ms Chew says that at each stage in her career, her managers have consistently encouraged her to map out her future roles during yearly career planning sessions, and connected her with the right people for mentorship.

Now back in Singapore since 2024 – while continuing to report remotely to the US headquarters – she believes her overseas stints have given her valuable international experience and a global perspective.
 

Amgen’s commitment to employee development can also be seen in Mr Shahreyll Khairoullah’s journey. Armed with a diploma in biologics and process technology, he joined Amgen in 2019 as a manufacturing process technician working in quality assurance, after a one-year internship at the company.

“I expected an MNC to be very corporate-like, but the internship was very fun and people were very welcoming,” says the 30-year-old.

In just five years, Mr Shahreyll has risen through the ranks to become a shift lead in manufacturing, managing a team of four and overseeing operations and maintenance in the production of Amgen’s medicines to serve patients globally.

Along the way, he has gained valuable leadership experience by taking on cross-functional projects involving multiple departments and external partners, including vendor management, and also participated in quality-assurance discussions.

“My managers always had my career growth in mind,” he says. For instance, he was encouraged to take on projects beyond his usual responsibilities, which helped him develop essential soft skills.

“They also gave me roles that allowed me to interact with the cross-functional teams such as being the EHSS (environment, health, safety, and sustainability) representative and joining in discussions on quality assurance. Looking back, these were all opportunities that made me better equipped with the required skills as a shift lead,” he says.
 

Like Ms Chew, he was also encouraged to further his education. He is now pursuing a part-time chemical engineering degree at the National University of Singapore, with Amgen partially sponsoring his tuition fees.

Amgen supports lifelong learning by offering financial assistance and exam leave to eligible full-time employees pursuing part-time or full-time education – helping them grow while balancing their professional responsibilities.

For its efforts in supporting employee career growth, Amgen has been consistently named one of Singapore’s best employers by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista.
 

A purposeful job

Both employees say that beyond the growth opportunities and supportive culture at Amgen, the visible impact of their work also fuels the passion in their jobs.

Each year during Amgen’s Mission Week, patients around the world share powerful stories of how the company’s medicines have changed their lives – a moving reminder of the purpose behind the work Ms Chew and Mr Shahreyll do.

Ms Chew agrees: “Knowing that what I do every day helps to give patients a second lease of life is fulfilling. Once, a patient said, ‘I am living proof that your hard work is working.’ I will never forget that.”
 

Unlocking potential: How Amgen empowers career growth

At Amgen, developing talent is not left to chance – it is built into the company’s DNA. One example is its Fuel Your Potential programme, designed to equip employees at every level with the tools, experiences, and confidence to grow into leadership roles.

The programme blends on-the-job development, job rotations, leadership assessments, mentoring, coaching, and structured learning. Participants also gain opportunities to broaden their networks and raise their visibility across the organisation – all part of a holistic approach to career growth.

Career progression at Amgen goes far beyond climbing the corporate ladder, says Ms Shobha D’Sa, the firm’s human resources director. “It’s about continually future-proofing our people, and helping them stay relevant by expanding their skills and experiences. We encourage employees to take ownership of their career development and tap the many resources available to unleash their full potential.”

Supporting this philosophy is a comprehensive suite of development initiatives. These include targeted learning paths, a clear career development framework, and hands-on opportunities such as job rotations and cross-functional projects.

Mentorship plays a vital role, too. The Ignite Mentoring Programme, open to 500 Amgen employees globally, fosters meaningful connections between junior and senior staff across regions.

Ms Chew, for instance, contributed twice as a mentor in the programme, helping guide others as they chart their own paths in the company.

Young professionals can also engage with leadership through the Early Career Professionals Employee Resource Group. Through informal coffee chats, learning sessions, and networking lunches, employees in their first three years gain valuable exposure and insight early in their careers.

“Amgen is building a robust, agile, future-ready workforce through a continuous learning workplace culture. We are strong believers of investing in our people to help them stay relevant,” says Ms D’Sa.
 

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.