Life Sciences Strategy Associate Consultant

ZS; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel opportunities

Job summary

ZS is seeking an Associate Consultant in Strategy Insights & Planning to tackle high‑level strategic questions for a specialty biopharmaceutical client. You’ll work with experienced consultants across corporate and brand strategy, translating research into actionable recommendations.

Role involves collaboration across US teams and an offshore group in India, with hybrid client‑facing work and ongoing professional development opportunities at ZS.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's with a bachelor's degree in a quantitative or analytical field.
• 2–5 years of relevant post‑study professional experience will be considered in lieu of a PhD.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience conducting market research, secondary research, and/or opportunity assessments.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and translate findings into clear recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data and research for decision‑making.
• Strong oral and written communication skills and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Apply strategic thinking to complex client business challenges.
• Support corporate and brand strategy projects, evaluating opportunities.
• Conduct market and secondary research to identify insights and opportunities.
• Perform opportunity assessments to guide investments and priorities.
• Synthesize information from multiple sources into actionable recommendations.
• Structure analyses and workstreams with Consultants and Managers.
• Develop clear storylines and communicate findings through presentations.
• Collaborate with client stakeholders to understand business questions.
• Work with offshore and onshore teams to deliver high‑quality outputs.
• Support project planning, status updates, and issue tracking.
• Mentor Associates on project teams as appropriate.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Market research

Opportunity assessments

Synthesis of information

Analytical skills

Oral and written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership / mentorship

Attention to detail

Planning and prioritization

Empathy and interpersonal skills

Client-first mentality

Fluency in English

Education

PhD or Master’s with a bachelor’s degree in a quantitative or analytical field

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.

Strategy Insights & Planning Associate Consultant

ZS’s Strategy Insights & Planning teams partner with clients to design and deliver solutions that help them tackle a broad range of business challenges. Our teams work on multiple projects simultaneously, leveraging market research, data‑driven insights, and structured and unstructured problem solving to inform strategic decision‑making.

For this opportunity, you’ll work closely with a specialty biopharmaceutical client with a portfolio across neuroscience and oncology, supporting corporate and brand‑level strategy initiatives. You’ll help assess opportunities, evaluate strategic investments and priorities, and translate research and secondary data into actionable recommendations.

What you’ll do

• Apply strong strategic thinking and unstructured problem‑solving skills to complex client business challenges
• Support corporate and brand strategy projects, helping clients evaluate opportunities and make strategic decisions
• Conduct market research and secondary research to identify insights, market dynamics, and potential opportunities
• Perform opportunity assessments to help clients think through different investments, strategic priorities, and potential areas of focus for their brands
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative information from multiple sources to develop clear, actionable recommendations
• Structure analyses and workstreams in partnership with Consultants and Managers
• Develop clear storylines and communicate findings and recommendations through written and verbal presentations
• Work directly with client stakeholders to understand business questions and support strategic decision‑making
• Collaborate with team members in the U.S. and an offshore team in India to execute project work and deliver high‑quality outputs
• Support project planning, status updates, and issue identification to help keep workstreams moving toward key milestones
• Mentor and support Associates on project teams as appropriate

What you’ll bring

• PhD or Master’s with a bachelor’s degree in a field with quantitative or analytical coursework such as business, economics, marketing, psychology, life sciences, or social sciences. In lieu of a PhD, 2–5 years of relevant post‑study professional experience will be considered
• Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills, including comfort working through ambiguous or unstructured business questions
• Experience conducting market research, secondary research, and/or opportunity assessments
• Ability to synthesize complex information and translate findings into clear recommendations
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage data and research to support strategic decision‑making
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Comfort working collaboratively across teams and geographies
• High motivation, strong work ethic, maturity, and personal initiative
• Strong attention to detail and a quality‑focused mindset
• Ability to independently plan, organize, and prioritize tasks
• Aptitude for and enjoyment of team leadership and mentorship
• Empathy, adaptability, and strong interpersonal skills
• Client‑first mentality and collaborative approach
• Fluency in English

Why this opportunity

This role offers the opportunity to work on high‑level strategic questions for a specialty biopharmaceutical client, with exposure to both corporate and brand strategy. You’ll work with experienced Consultants and Managers while building your ability to take broad, sometimes ambiguous business questions, assess the market and available evidence, and turn those insights into recommendations that can influence client decisions.

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.

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.

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.

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.