Data Excellence Delivery & BD Lead - ZS Discovery

Medullan; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Travel opportunities

Total rewards

Job summary

ZS is a leading management consulting and technology firm focused on life sciences. This role leads data and technology advisory engagements for pharma and biotech discovery, translating scientific challenges into actionable programs while guiding cross-functional teams through design and implementation.

You will engage with senior stakeholders across research, informatics, IT, and analytics to shape roadmaps and governance, and contribute to growing client relationships.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in life sciences or related field (e.g., biology, chemistry, bioinformatics, data science).
• 8–10+ years in consulting, pharma/biotech R&D, or discovery informatics.
• Direct experience with drug discovery or preclinical research organizations.
• Familiarity with data platforms and AI/ML workflows in research settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead data and technology advisory engagements for pharma and biotech discovery organizations, covering data strategy, architecture visioning, governance design, and transformation road-mapping.
• Stay involved through design and implementation, structuring workplans, managing risks, overseeing analyses and workshops, and ensuring high-quality deliverables.
• Partner with senior client stakeholders across research, discovery informatics, computational sciences, data, and IT to translate pain points into actionable programs.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning strategy, technology, analytics, and scientific domains, coordinating with offshore delivery teams.
• Contribute to business development: identify growth opportunities, shape proposals and scopes of work, and provide insights on future directions.

Skills

Data analytics

Life sciences knowledge

Project management

Client-facing

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences or related field

MBA or equivalent valued

Tools

ELN/LIMS experience

Cloud data platforms

AI/ML workflows

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.

#LI-AS4

ZS's Insights & Analytics group partners with clients to design and deliver solutions to help them tackle a broad range of business challenges. Our teams work on multiple projects simultaneously, leveraging advanced data analytics and problem-solving techniques. Our recommendations and solutions are based on rigorous research and analysis underpinned by deep expertise and thought leadership.

ZS Discovery partners with pharmaceutical and biotech clients to accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective therapeutics. The team brings hands-on scientific expertise, advanced analytics, AI, and strategic consulting to help research organizations become more productive, more data-driven, and more confident in their decisions. As a venture within ZS building toward practice status, Discovery combines agility and innovation with the resources and knowledge of the broader firm.

What You'll Do:

• Lead data and technology advisory engagements for pharma and biotech discovery organizations, covering data strategy, architecture visioning, governance design, and transformation roadmapping
• Stay involved through design and implementation. You will structure workplans, manage project risks, oversee analyses and workshops, and ensure high-quality deliverables as programs shift from strategy into execution
• Partner with senior client stakeholders across research, discovery informatics, computational sciences, data, and IT to understand their challenges and translate scientific and operational pain points into actionable programs
• Lead multidisciplinary teams that span strategy, technology, analytics, and scientific domains. You will coordinate with offshore delivery teams on implementation workstreams
• Contribute to business development: identify growth opportunities within accounts, shape proposals and scopes of work, and bring informed perspectives on where discovery organizations are headed
• Help build ZSD’s Drug Discovery practice by developing offerings, IP, case examples, and market-facing thought leadership
• Factor AI and data-readiness into your recommendations. You will not build AI models, but you will need to translate emerging AI and data trends into practical client action

What You’ll Bring:

• Advanced degree preferred in life sciences, chemistry, biology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, data science, or a related field. An MBA or equivalent is also valued. Not required if domain depth is evident from experience
• Roughly 8-10+ years of relevant experience in consulting, pharma/biotech R&D, research IT, discovery informatics, or a combination
• Direct experience working in or with drug discovery and/or preclinical research organizations
• Familiarity with scientific data domains relevant to discovery, such as assay data, omics, chemistry, biology, imaging, DMPK, or translational data
• Experience with platforms and ecosystems used in research organizations, such as ELN/LIMS, scientific workflow tools, cloud data platforms, knowledge graphs, AI/ML workflows, or bioinformatics environments
• Experience leading transformation programs in research settings (not just administering platforms). Ability to manage stakeholder alignment between IT and research functions, adoption challenges, workflow design
• Experience contributing to or leading sales/business development activities: shaping proposals, scoping extensions, or identifying new opportunities within existing accounts
• Understanding of data architecture, platform selection, integration patterns, and data governance well enough to evaluate technical trade-offs and guide delivery teams. Ability to connect discovery workflows with data and platform decisions
• Demonstrated ability to bridge the language of scientists, informaticians, and business leaders. Comfortability presenting to heads of discovery, research informatics, computational sciences, and digital/data leadership
• 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

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.

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