Sr. Consultant

Cognizant; Chennai Metropolitan Area; Hybrid; INR 1,200,000 - 2,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a senior consultant to drive design and implementation of MES and digital transformation solutions for global pharma manufacturing clients in a hybrid, day-shift environment. You will apply expertise in MES platforms, industry 4.0 concepts, and regulatory compliance to improve quality and data-driven decision making.

Lead engagements, configure MES, integrate with ERP and lab systems, and mentor junior staff while ensuring validation and traceability across projects.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience implementing MES solutions in pharma manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of industry 4.0 concepts and regulatory expectations.
• Familiarity with GMP and computerized systems validation.
• Ability to connect MES with ERP and shop floor control systems.
• Proven consulting skills including stakeholder management and training.
• Experience working in hybrid/multi-location global teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex pharma MES engagements and define transformation roadmaps.
• Develop MES designs that deliver real-time visibility and traceability.
• Gather requirements through workshops with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Configure MES functionalities such as work orders and recipe execution.
• Coordinate integration between MES, LIMS, ERP, and equipment control.
• Analyze production data to identify inefficiencies and improvements.
• Prepare functional specs, configs, and test scenarios with traceability.
• Support validation activities to meet regulatory standards.
• Mentor junior consultants and share best practices.
• Evaluate new Industry 4.0 technologies for client relevance.
• Communicate project status and risks to clients clearly.

Skills

MES implementations

Consulting

Stakeholder management

Requirements analysis

Documentation

User training

Hybrid work

Education

MES platform certification

Industry 4.0 credential

Smart manufacturing credential

Job description

Job Summary

Serve as a senior consultant driving design and implementation of manufacturing execution and digital transformation solutions for global pharma manufacturing clients using strong expertise in MES platforms industry 4.0 concepts and manufacturing processes to improve quality compliance efficiency and data driven decision making in a hybrid work environment with day shift schedule.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex consulting engagements for pharma manufacturing clients by assessing current MES and shop floor capabilities and defining clear transformation roadmaps that align with business goals and regulatory expectations.
• Develop robust MES solution designs that integrate production quality and warehouse processes to deliver real time visibility traceability and electronic batch records tailored to pharma manufacturing needs.
• Coordinate detailed requirement gathering workshops with cross functional client stakeholders to capture user journeys system interactions and compliance constraints that influence MES and industry 4.0 solutions.
• Configure and guide implementation of MES functionalities such as work order management recipe execution deviation capture and equipment integration to optimize manufacturing cycle times and reduce errors.
• Drive integration between MES laboratory systems enterprise planning and equipment control systems to create a connected manufacturing landscape that supports industry 4.0 use cases.
• Analyze production data from MES and related digital platforms to identify patterns inefficiencies and improvement opportunities and translate findings into actionable optimization plans.
• Prepare clear functional specifications configuration documents and test scenarios that ensure traceable alignment from business requirements through validation and go live.
• Collaborate with validation teams to support computer system validation activities for MES deployments so that all documentation testing evidence and traceability meet pharma regulatory standards.
• Guide incident resolution problem analysis and continuous improvement activities for live MES environments to maintain high system availability and stable operations.
• Mentor junior consultants and project team members by sharing best practices in MES design pharma manufacturing processes and digital manufacturing concepts to build overall team capability.
• Coordinate with product vendors and internal architecture teams to evaluate new industry 4.0 technologies such as advanced analytics digital twins and smart devices and assess fit for client environments.
• Communicate project status risks and mitigation actions to client stakeholders in a structured manner that enables timely decisions and maintains alignment with project objectives.
• Participate in business development activities by contributing to solution proposals effort estimates and demonstrations that showcase MES and industry 4.0 capabilities.

Qualifications

• Describe extensive experience in implementing MES solutions within pharma manufacturing environments and applying industry 4.0 principles to enhance operational excellence.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of manufacturing and supply chain processes including production planning materials management quality operations and warehouse workflows.
• Exhibit familiarity with regulatory frameworks relevant to pharma manufacturing such as good manufacturing practice and validation expectations for computerized systems.
• Apply knowledge of systems integration concepts to connect MES with enterprise resource planning quality systems and shop floor control equipment using standard integration patterns.
• Utilize strong consulting skills including stakeholder management requirement analysis documentation and user training to ensure successful adoption of MES and digital solutions.
• Show capability to work effectively in a hybrid model and coordinate across global teams while maintaining clear communication and timely delivery in a day shift context.

Certifications Required

Preferred certifications include MES platform certification and industry 4.0 or smart manufacturing professional credential.