Pharma Commercialization Strategy Consultant

ZS; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel opportunities

Job summary

ZS Associates is seeking a Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant in a hybrid US role, focusing on healthcare and life sciences. You will lead strategy engagements, drive client workshops, and translate complex challenges into actionable recommendations while mentoring junior staff.

The position requires senior-level consulting experience, strong problem-solving, and proficiency with PowerPoint and Excel. Travel to client sites is expected.

Qualifications

• MBA or PhD in business-related field with strong academic record.
• 5–8+ years in management consulting or related roles.
• Ability to manage complex client projects and senior stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, synthesis, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial strategy, market access, and value & access engagements in healthcare and life sciences.
• Serve as day-to-day client contact, manage project execution and stakeholder communication.
• Facilitate client workshops, drive productive discussions and actionable outcomes.
• Translate complex challenges into structured analyses and recommendations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams on insights for commercialization and growth.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to improve analyses and efficiency.
• Define project scope with leadership and manage task execution.

Skills

Client management

Strategic thinking

Analytical problem solving

Communication skills

Leadership

English fluency

Education

MBA with bachelor's degree

PhD in marketing or related field

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

CRM tools

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 Consultant

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.

Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant

Strategy Insights & Planning Consultants deliver high-quality solutions for our clients. Consultants possess unstructured problem-solving skills as well as strong analytic, synthesis and communication skills. Consultants may work on multiple projects simultaneously. As Consultants advance in their career, they specialize in a particular industry, practice area and/or client relationship.

What You’ll Do

• Lead commercial strategy, market access, value & access, and marketing-focused client engagements within the healthcare and life sciences industry.
• Serve as a day-to-day client contact, managing project execution, stakeholder communication, and ensuring successful delivery of project objectives.
• Facilitate client workshops and working sessions, driving productive discussions, alignment, and actionable outcomes.
• Translate complex business challenges into structured analyses and strategic recommendations for clients.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop insights that inform commercialization, pricing, access, and growth strategies.
• Leverage emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to improve efficiency, enhance analyses, and support client problem solving.
• Work with project leadership to define project scope and develop approach.
• Lead project task execution by ensuring progress, organizing project data and coordinating team meetings.
• Conduct issue analysis and develop hypotheses on the key client issues.
• Design and execute qualitative and/or quantitative analyses to test and analyze hypotheses.
• Synthesize findings, develop recommendations, and communicate results to clients and internal teams.
• Provide thought leadership and innovation within projects and practice areas.
• Participate in business development.
• Contribute to internal firm activities.
• Coach and mentor junior team members.

What You’ll Bring

• MBA with bachelor's (and often graduate) degrees with a strong academic record in business, economics, marketing, psychology, physical or life sciences, engineering, applied math, statistics, or related fields. Alternately, candidates may possess a PhD in marketing, economics, decision sciences or related field with a business application. In lieu of an MBA or PhD, 5-8 years of relevant work experience may substitute.
• 5-8+ years of experience in management consulting, strategy, commercial operations, market access, value & access, marketing, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex client projects and build relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Strong critical thinking and structured problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and develop actionable recommendations.
• Experience leading client workshops, presentations, and collaborative working sessions.
• High degree of initiative, intellectual curiosity, and a strong desire to learn and grow in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, and other core business applications.
• Interest in and familiarity with AI technologies and their applications in business and consulting environments.
• Prior healthcare, pharmaceutical, market access, or life sciences experience is a plus but not required.
• Previous consulting experience is preferred but not required.
• Up to 3 years of post-MBA relevant work experience, and 3-5 years of pre-MBA work experience.
• High motivation, good work ethic, maturity and personal initiative.
• Aptitude for, and enjoyment of, leading and managing teams.
• Effective oral and written communication skills that enable personal impact with senior-level decision makers.
• Strong attention to detail, with a quality-focused mindset.
• Analytic problem-solving skills, with a creative and innovative outlook;
• Client service orientation.
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

Preferred Attributes

• Hungry, self-motivated professional who thrives in a client-facing environment.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions and asking thoughtful, probing questions.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new topics and industries.
• Interest in how AI is transforming business processes and decision-making.

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.

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.