Advisory Consultant - Business Advisory

ZS; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel opportunities

Total rewards package

Job summary

ZS is seeking Advisory Consultants within the Business Advisory Beacon in the United States. You’ll work on shaping strategic choices, guiding cross-functional teams, and delivering end-to-end projects for Commercial and R&D decision-makers.

You’ll tackle ambiguous problems by combining data and insights to develop practical, innovative solutions and communicate recommendations to clients with measurable impact. Travel is required.

Qualifications

• At least 5-8 years of relevant work experience in a management consulting firm. MBA or PhD and 3+ years of relevant experience may be considered.
• MBA or an advanced degree ideally in business, economics, marketing, psychology, physical or life sciences, engineering, applied math, statistics, or related fields. PhD in life sciences, health economics, decision sciences or related field with business application is a plus.
• Strong oral and verbal professional communication skills.
• Skilled at navigating complex stakeholder environments with strong problem-solving abilities to address ambiguous challenges.
• Ability to understand client needs deeply and tailor solutions that deliver measurable impact.
• Strong motivation, work ethic, maturity, and personal initiative.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments, managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail with a quality-focused mindset.
• Demonstrates business and financial acumen with ability to interpret strategic documents and financial statements.
• Proven experience in leading and managing teams, with a passion for developing talent.
• Passion for learning and intellectual curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Shape strategic choices, guide cross-functional thinking, and address industry-wide trends and challenges.
• Support end-to-end project delivery by collaborating with clients, ZS leadership, and delivery teams.
• Communicate interrelated business issues to clients and internal teams.
• Provide thought leadership and innovation within projects, practices and clients.
• Lead project task execution, organize project data, structure analyses, and present results.
• Participate and support in business development.

Job description

South San Francisco, California; Princeton, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Boston, Massachusetts; Evanston, Illinois; Thousand Oaks, California; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York

United States

Strategy & Transformation

Advisory

$160,000.00 - $177,000.00

Advisory Consultants within the Business Advisory Beacon at ZS

Advisory Consultants within the Business Advisory Beacon at ZS are part of a team focused on building and incubating the firm's strategic advisory capabilities. We target building and strengthening relationships with a diverse range of Commercial and R&D decision-makers. We serve them on topics that are cross-functional and relevant to their higher business priorities.

What You’ll Do

Project Execution & Impact

• Work with project leadership to shape strategic choices, guide cross-functional thinking, and address industry-wide trends and challenges
• Support and share ownership of end-to-end project delivery by collaborating with clients, ZS leadership, and delivery team members to ensure effective coordination and successful outcomes
• Communicate interrelated business issues to clients and internal teams
• Provide thought leadership and innovation within projects, practices and clients

Strategic Problem-Solving & Delivery

• Tackle complex, often ambiguous, problems by combining data, qualitative insights, and creativity to develop practical, innovative and fit-for-purpose solutions
• Develop clear, compelling deliverables that connect analysis to the recommendation, helping clients make confident decisions
• Lead project task execution by driving progress, organizing project data, structuring key analyses, coordinating team meetings and presenting results that create measurable impact
• Participate and support in business development

Culture & Growth

• Contribute to internal firm initiatives
• Champion ZS culture and values. Integrate within our values driven culture as a team player; Embody ZS’s values of treating people right, doing the right thing, and getting it right
• Actively participate in and support team & office events to cultivate an engaging, inclusive ZS work life beyond day-to-day project work

What You’ll Bring

• At least 5-8 years of relevant work experience in a management consulting firm. Candidates with MBA or PhD and 3+ years of relevant experience may be considered
• Relevant MBA or an advanced degree ideally in business, economics, marketing, psychology, physical or life sciences, engineering, applied math, statistics, or related fields. Relevant PhD ideally in life sciences, health economics, decision sciences or related field with a business application
• Strong oral and verbal professional communication skills
• Skilled at navigating complex stakeholder environments and aligning diverse perspectives, with strong problem-solving abilities to address ambiguous challenges and uncover innovative or disruptive solutions
• Ability to understand client needs deeply and tailor solutions that deliver measurable impact
• Strong motivation, work ethic, maturity, and personal initiative
• Thrives in fast-paced environments, maintaining composure and focus under pressure while effectively managing multiple projects and balancing competing priorities
• Strong attention to detail, with a quality-focused mindset
• Expertise in macro industry and/or functional trends and the ability to apply them to client contexts
• Demonstrates strong business and financial acumen with the ability to interpret strategic documents and financial statements, draw meaningful conclusions, and communicate implications—while also exhibiting sharp business intuition and the agility to quickly grasp and influence executive priorities
• Proven experience in leading and managing teams, with a passion for developing talent
• Passion for learning and intellectually curious

How you’ll grow:

• Cross-functional skills development & custom learning pathways
• Milestone training programs aligned to career progression opportunities
• Internal mobility paths that empower growth via s-curves, individual contribution and role expansions

Perks & Benefits:

At ZS, your growth matters. We offer a comprehensive total rewards package that supports your health and well‑being, financial future, time away, and professional development. With robust skills‑building programs, multiple career progression paths, internal mobility, and a deeply collaborative culture, you’ll have the opportunity to do meaningful work, expand your capabilities, and thrive as part of a global community. For details on total rewards in United States, visit ZS US office locations | Where we work | ZS.

Hybrid working model:

We are committed to giving our employees a flexible and connected way of working. A flexible and connected ZS allows us to combine work from home and on-site presence at clients/ZS offices for the majority of our week. The magic of ZS culture and innovation thrives in both planned and spontaneous face-to-face connections.

Travel:

Travel is a requirement at ZS for client facing ZSers; business needs of your project and client are the priority. While some projects may be local, all client-facing ZSers should be prepared to travel as needed. Travel provides opportunities to strengthen client relationships, gain diverse experiences, and enhance professional growth by working in different environments and cultures.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems—the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.

Work Authorization:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.

Find Out More At: www.zs.com