Life Sciences Strategy Associate Consultant

About the Role

ZS is a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it. The Strategy Insights & Planning Associate Consultant role partners with clients to design and deliver solutions that help them tackle a broad range of business challenges. This specific opportunity involves working closely with a specialty biopharmaceutical client with a portfolio across neuroscience and oncology, supporting corporate and brand-level strategy initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• 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

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

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.

Application Requirements

• An online application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.