Associate Consultant - CMC Development & Analytics

Zs Associates; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive total rewards package

Skills-building programs

Career progression paths

Job summary

ZS Associates in South San Francisco is looking for an Associate Consultant in CMC Development & Analytics to support pharmaceutical CMC development and analytics projects. The role involves solving complex challenges in drug development and manufacturing while collaborating closely with clients.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2.5 years of relevant experience and a strong foundation in process science. This position offers a hybrid work model and opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• At least 2.5 years of pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical CMC experience.
• Experience in process development, process engineering, or drug product manufacturing.
• Fluency in English and strong client-first mentality.

Responsibilities

• Support client engagements in pharmaceutical CMC development.
• Apply CMC and analytical skills to solve client questions.
• Generate actionable insights from data analysis.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Engineering, or related

Tools

Data analytics tools

ELN, LIMS, ERP systems

Job description

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Here you’ll work side‑by‑side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life‑changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client‑first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life‑changing impact to ZS.

Associate Consultant, CMC Development & Analytics

ZS is looking to hire a Decision Analytics Associate Consultant in its Supply Chain and Manufacturing practice with experience in pharmaceutical CMC development, process science, biologics manufacturing, and tech transfer. The primary responsibility of this role is to support client engagements in the pharmaceutical CMC development area, with a focus on helping clients solve business and technical challenges across drug development, manufacturing, analytics, and technology‑enabled transformation.

What You’ll Do

• Apply CMC, process science, and analytical skills to solve client questions related to pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, tech transfer, process validation, and regulatory readiness.
• Support client engagements focused on biologics manufacturing and development; small molecule experience is also relevant.
• Work collaboratively with clients to understand business needs, technical requirements, available data sources, and decision‑making priorities.
• Analyze data from CMC, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and development systems to generate actionable insights.
• Support projects involving drug substance, drug product, process development, formulation, analytical chemistry, tech transfer, process validation, and related CMC functions.
• Help clients think through future lab setups, lab operating models, digital lab capabilities, and ways to accelerate drug development.
• Contribute to the design of future‑state CMC and lab operating models, including processes, roles, systems, data flows, and technology enablement.
• Translate scientific, manufacturing, and analytical findings into clear recommendations for client stakeholders.
• Communicate results with an emphasis on answering the client’s business question, not just explaining the analytical process.
• Right‑size deliverables based on client needs, project scope, timeline, and stakeholder expectations.
• Support project planning, workstream execution, deliverable development, and day‑to‑day client engagement.
• Build expertise across CMC analytics, biologics development, process science, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and digital transformation topics.
• Upskill on new CMC concepts, therapeutic modalities, analytics methods, and emerging technologies relevant to client challenges.
• Contribute to ZS’s Supply Chain and Manufacturing practice development through knowledge assets, reusable tools, and thought leadership.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related technical discipline; PhD may substitute for work experience.
• At least 2.5 years of relevant pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical CMC experience, preferably with biologics; small molecule experience is also acceptable.
• Hands‑on experience in at least one CMC function, such as process development, process engineering, process chemistry, formulation, analytical chemistry, drug substance manufacturing, or drug product manufacturing.
• Strong process science foundation, including understanding of unit operations, process characterization, scale‑up, tech transfer, process validation, manufacturing readiness, QbD, CQAs, CPPs, and control strategy.
• Familiarity with CMC regulatory milestones, submission requirements, and systems such as ELN, LIMS, ERP, LCM, PLM, MES, or related platforms.
• Experience using data analytics, modeling, reporting, visualization, AI‑enabled tools, or technology solutions to generate insights and accelerate CMC development.
• Some consulting or client‑facing experience, including working with clients, right‑size deliverables, managing stakeholder expectations, and communicating recommendations clearly.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, attention to detail, teamwork, ownership, adaptability, and client‑first mindset.
• Fluency in English.
• Client‑first mentality.
• Intense work ethic.
• Collaborative spirit and problem‑solving approach.

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.

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.

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.

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.