Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant - Commercial & Portfolio StrategyZS's Insights & Analytics group partners with clients to design and deliver solutions that help tackle complex business challenges. Our teams combine strategic problem solving, data-driven insights, and deep industry expertise to help clients make high-impact decisions.
Strategy Insights & Planning ConsultantWe are seeking a Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant with experience in
commercial strategy, portfolio strategy, marketing strategy, brand strategy, or product commercialization. This role will support strategic work within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, with a particular focus on helping clients make decisions across their product portfolios, brands, and broader commercial organizations.
The ideal candidate is a strong, structured problem solver who can take an ambiguous business question, develop an analytical approach, synthesize complex information, and translate findings into a clear strategic story for senior stakeholders.
This is a
fast-paced, client-facing role that requires strong executive communication skills, commercial acumen, and the ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities.
What You'll Do- Partner with project leadership and clients to define complex commercial and portfolio strategy questions and develop structured approaches to solving them.
- Support projects related to portfolio strategy, commercialization, launch strategy, marketing strategy, brand strategy, and broader organizational strategy.
- Structure ambiguous business problems, develop hypotheses, and identify the analyses and information needed to reach actionable recommendations.
- Conduct qualitative and quantitative analyses to evaluate commercial opportunities, product and brand performance, market dynamics, and strategic alternatives.
- Translate data and complex analyses into clear business implications and strategic recommendations.
- Develop compelling, executive-ready presentations that tell a clear story and lead clients from insight to recommendation.
- Communicate confidently with client stakeholders and contribute to senior-level client discussions.
- Lead project workstreams, coordinate team activities, and ensure high-quality deliverables in a fast-paced environment.
- Provide thought leadership and contribute new perspectives to client engagements and internal practice areas.
- Coach and mentor junior team members and contribute to broader firm initiatives and business development activities.
What You'll Bring- MBA with a bachelor's degree in business, economics, marketing, life sciences, engineering, applied mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Candidates with significant relevant professional experience may also be considered.
- Relevant professional experience in commercial strategy, portfolio strategy, marketing or brand strategy, commercialization, product strategy, or strategic planning.
- A meaningful understanding of the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry and its commercial environment. Experience does not need to be medically or clinically focused.
- Prior consulting experience is strongly preferred but not required for candidates with highly relevant strategic industry experience.
- Demonstrated ability to solve unstructured and ambiguous business problems using a hypothesis-driven, structured approach.
- Experience working across both strategy and data, with the ability to interpret analysis and translate it into business recommendations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to structure thoughts clearly, communicate concisely, and build a compelling strategic narrative.
- Strong executive presence and comfort working directly with clients and senior stakeholders.
- Experience developing and presenting executive-level PowerPoint presentations.
- Strong understanding of products and brands from a commercial perspective, rather than exclusively product development or technical product management.
- Ability to operate effectively in a highly collaborative, fast-paced consulting environment while balancing multiple priorities.
- Strong leadership
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.
