Pharmaceutical Commercial Strategy & Market Access Associate Consultant

ZS; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

ZS in South San Francisco, CA, is seeking a Pharmaceutical Commercial Strategy & Market Access Associate Consultant to join our Strategy Insights and Planning team. You’ll solve healthcare and life sciences challenges with rigorous research, analytics and strategic thinking, partnering with clients to translate insights into actionable strategies.

You’ll work closely with project teams, mentor Associates, and leverage AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency and research.

Qualifications

• PhD or master’s degree with a bachelor’s in a relevant field; professional-equivalent experience considered.
• 2–5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; English fluency.
• Experience with PowerPoint and Excel; client-facing project work.
• Interest in AI technologies.

Responsibilities

• Support commercial strategy, marketing, market access, and value & access engagements for healthcare and life sciences clients.
• Apply structured problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to client challenges.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, market analysis, and secondary research.
• Manage day-to-day client project execution, including workplans and deliverables.
• Serve as a key point of contact for clients and build relationships through regular interaction.
• Synthesize findings into clear recommendations and communicate via PowerPoint and client discussions.
• Partner with project teams to keep workstreams on track and deadlines met.
• Participate in client meetings and working sessions to move discussions toward actionable outcomes.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency and problem solving.
• Mentor Associates and contribute to capability development.

Skills

PowerPoint

Excel

Client-facing

Communication

English

Problem-solving

Initiative

Teamwork

Education

PhD or MSc

Tools

Microsoft Office

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.

Pharmaceutical Commercial Strategy & Market Access Associate Consultant

ZS's Strategy Insights and Planning teams partner with clients to solve complex business challenges through rigorous research, analytics, strategic thinking, and deep industry expertise. This team works closely with healthcare and life sciences clients across commercial strategy, marketing, market access, and value & access, helping clients translate insights into actionable strategies and business decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Support commercial strategy, marketing, market access, and value & access engagements for healthcare and life sciences clients.
• Apply structured problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to complex and often ambiguous client business challenges.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research, market analysis, and secondary research to develop actionable insights and recommendations.
• Support and manage day-to-day client project execution, including workplans, timelines, status updates, risks, issues, and deliverables.
• Serve as a key point of contact for clients and build strong working relationships through regular client interaction.
• Synthesize complex findings into clear, compelling recommendations and communicate them through PowerPoint presentations and client discussions.
• Partner with project teams to ensure workstreams remain on track and project objectives and deadlines are met.
• Participate in client meetings and working sessions, asking thoughtful questions and helping move discussions toward actionable outcomes.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, research, analysis, and problem solving.
• Mentor and support Associates while contributing to the broader development of ZS capabilities and teams.

What You’ll Bring

• PhD or master’s degree with a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as business, economics, marketing, psychology, life sciences, social sciences, or another analytically focused discipline. In lieu of an advanced degree, relevant professional experience will be considered.
• 2-5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally within consulting, healthcare, life sciences, commercial strategy, marketing, market access, value & access, or a related area.
• Strong critical-thinking and structured problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Experience managing projects, workstreams, timelines, and multiple competing priorities.
• Strong client-facing communication skills and comfort working directly with stakeholders.
• Ability to synthesize research and analysis into clear business insights and recommendations.
• Strong PowerPoint and Excel skills and proficiency with core Microsoft applications.
• Interest in AI technologies and curiosity around how AI can improve day-to-day work, analysis, and client problem solving.
• High level of initiative and a hungry, eager-to-learn mindset.
• Strong work ethic, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Collaborative approach with an interest in coaching and developing others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred

• Previous healthcare, pharmaceutical, or life sciences experience.
• Experience within commercial strategy, pharmaceutical marketing, market access, or value & access.
• Previous consulting or other client-facing project experience.
• Experience presenting findings or recommendations directly to clients and senior stakeholders.

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