Translational Science Lead

Medullan; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Travel opportunities

Total rewards and professional growth

Job summary

ZS is a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, delivering impact by combining data, science, technology and human ingenuity. The Translational Science Lead will own a translational science account, guide offerings, and partner with senior R&D leaders to build a robust pipeline across biomarker discovery, patient stratification and predictive models.

You will lead a global translational science team, advance capability development into repeatable

Qualifications

• Must have advanced degree and 10+ years in pharma R&D or translational science
• Experience engaging senior R&D leaders to shape opportunities and demand
• Strong analytical and computational orientation in translational sciences

Responsibilities

• Refine translational science offerings across forward/reverse translation and patient stratification
• Engage senior R&D leaders at pharma/biotech to prove market demand and build pipeline
• Scale translational science capabilities into repeatable frameworks and accelerators
• Develop and expand the global translational science team
• Establish external credibility through thought leadership and conference presence
• Collaborate across AI, bioinformatics, and data excellence to translate complex challenges into solutions
• Serve as a domain-credible partner for senior stakeholders in translational science

Skills

English fluency

Client-facing mindset

Collaborative problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Education

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent)

Tools

AI/bioinformatics familiarity

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.

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.

Translational Science Lead

ZSD delivers successful projects in biomarker selection, patient segmentation, translational hypothesis validation, and multi‑modal data integration and exploratory analytics, and demand for this work is growing. You’ll bring deep expertise to that work, own an account, and contribute to how ZSD delivers translational science offerings, drawing on the firm’s strengths in AI, bioinformatics, and data excellence.

What you’ll do:

• Refine and extend ZSD’s translational science and patient‑centered prediction offerings, hardening and innovating high impact capabilities spanning forward translation, reverse translation, and patient stratification
• Engage senior R&D leaders at pharma and biotech organizations to prove market demand, originate engagements, and build a pipeline of opportunities in the translational science space
• Move translational science capabilities from point solutions to a repeatable practice with reusable frameworks, accelerators, and methodologies the broader team can deliver
• Develop and expand the global translational science team
• Establish ZSD’s external credibility in translational sciences and patient‑centered prediction through thought leadership, conference presence, and published perspectives
• Leverage and innovate ZSD’s existing strengths in AI, bioinformatics, and data excellence
• Serve as a domain‑credible thought partner for senior R&D stakeholders, translating complex translational science challenges into actionable ZSD solutions

What you’ll bring:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline: translational science, biomarker research, computational biology, statistical genetics, or related
• 10+ years of experience in pharma R&D, a life sciences platform company, or a translational science function, with a focus on patient‑centered prediction, biomarkers, or translational medicine
• Experience spanning the discovery‑development boundary; understanding the full research lifecycle from target identification through clinical entry
• Deep familiarity with the data types used across the research lifecycle: trial biospecimens, on‑study PD/ctDNA/MRD reads, real‑world evidence (e.g., Tempus, Flatiron), population cohorts (e.g., UK Biobank, FinnGen, All of Us), and multi‑modal omics (bulk and single‑cell, spatial transcriptomics, methylation, imaging)
• Credible as a thought partner with senior R&D leaders on patient‑centered prediction topics; able to engage across both scientific and business dimensions
• Experience defining and shaping a new offering, practice area, or capability
• Strong analytical and computational orientation; familiarity with precision medicine tools, model‑informed drug development, and AI applications in translational sciences
• Experience in a consulting firm, life sciences platform company, pharma services organization, or pharma/biotech R&D environment preferred
• 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.

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.