As a R&D Domain Specialist - Research Technology & Innovation Associate Consultant in Discovery, you will apply your pharma R&D domain knowledge, consulting skills, and research technology experience to help clients improve and streamline drug discovery workflows at leading biotech and biopharma organizations.

ZS's Discovery Venture partners with clients to develop and deploy in silico approaches that accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective therapeutics. We work closely with other ZS practices, bringing hands-on scientific expertise to enhance both technology and strategy initiatives. As a Venture within ZS, we continuously develop, test, and refine new approaches to maximize impact for our clients and the patients they serve. This unique position enables us to combine agility and innovation with the resources and knowledge of ZS's 13,000+ global team. ZS is expanding the Discovery Venture and seeking driven, curious, and creative experts to help shape the practice area, collaborate across ZS's R&D teams, and deliver excellent outcomes for clients.

What you'll do:

• Lead structured discovery interviews and workshops with scientists, business stakeholders, and IT teams to understand current challenges, workflows, and technology needs.

• Own current- and future-state workflow documentation, including process maps, requirements documentation, and structured outputs that inform solution design.

• Translate scientific and business needs into actionable requirements, structured problem statements, and roadmap inputs.

• Apply hands-on experience with research technology systems and advanced analytics to improve and streamline drug discovery processes.

• Support clients across R&D workflows, with a focus on research technology platforms, data enablement, and scientific process improvement.

• Develop strategy-level outputs independently, including findings, recommendations, workflow assessments, and roadmap materials.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including scientists, business partners, IT stakeholders, data scientists, and project managers, to integrate research technology and analytics into broader project objectives.

• Support client readouts with evidence-based presentations and clearly communicate analysis findings, recommendations, and next steps.

• Lead modules and workstreams within projects while contributing to hands-on implementation and solution development.

• Contribute to the assessment of emerging datasets, technologies, and platforms that impact drug discovery.

• Serve as a subject matter expert in research technology, analytics, or a relevant discovery domain to drive innovation, mentor colleagues, and share knowledge across teams.

What you'll bring:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree strongly preferred, ideally in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Health Informatics, Business Analytics, Computer Science, MIS, or a related field; PhD in a pharma-relevant domain is a plus.

• At least 2.5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in consulting, CRO, pharma, biotech, or research technology environments in lieu of PhD

• Demonstrated pharma domain knowledge, including familiarity with R&D workflows and drug discovery processes.

• Experience with large molecule or antibody discovery and in vitro and in vivo preclinical development is strongly preferred. Familiarity with more novel hybrid modalities is a plus.

• Experience gathering, documenting, and translating business, scientific, and technical requirements using tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and Visio.

• Experience developing process maps and current- and future-state workflows.

• Ability to translate scientific needs into structured problem statements, actionable requirements, and roadmap inputs.

• Strong cross-functional stakeholder engagement experience, including collaboration with scientific teams, business partners, and senior IT stakeholders.

• Data analysis fundamentals, including experience with tools such as SQL, Excel, and/or SAS.

• Familiarity with research and enterprise platforms such as ERP, LIMS, or ELN systems.

• Light project management experience, including the ability to manage workstreams, track deliverables, and coordinate across stakeholders.

• Proficiency in at least one programming language, agile product development, and/or project management techniques is preferred.

• Evidence of a strong commitment to quality and client satisfaction.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and team leadership skills, with an eagerness for feedback and continuous improvement.
• Passion, curiosity, and a growth mindset, coupled with a deep commitment to an open and collaborative working environment.
• 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.

Considering applying?

At ZS, we honor the visible and invisible elements of our identities, personal experiences, and belief systems-the ones that comprise us as individuals, shape who we are, and make us unique. We believe your personal interests, identities, and desire to learn are integral to your success here. We are committed to building a team that reflects a broad variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Learn more about our inclusion and belonging efforts and the networks ZS supports to assist our ZSers in cultivating community spaces and obtaining the resources they need to thrive.

If you're eager to grow, contribute, and bring your unique self to our work, we encourage you to apply.