Strategy Insights & Planning Associate ConsultantZS'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 opportunityThis 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.
