Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant

ZS's Insights & Analytics group partners with clients to design and deliver solutions to help them tackle a broad range of business challenges. Our teams work on multiple projects simultaneously, leveraging advanced data analytics and problem-solving techniques. Our recommendations and solutions are based on rigorous research and analysis underpinned by deep expertise and thought leadership.

Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant

Strategy Insights & Planning Consultants deliver high-quality solutions for our clients. Consultants possess unstructured problem-solving skills as well as strong analytic, synthesis and communication skills. Consultants may work on multiple projects simultaneously. As Consultants advance in their career, they specialize in a particular industry, practice area and/or client relationship.

What You'll Do

• Work with project leadership to define project scope and develop approach.

• Lead project task execution by ensuring progress, organizing project data and coordinating team meetings.

• Conduct issue analysis and develop hypotheses on the key client issues.

• Design and execute qualitative and/or quantitative analyses to test and analyze hypotheses.

• Synthesize findings, develop recommendations, and communicate results to clients and internal teams.

• Provide thought leadership and innovation within projects and practice areas.

• Participate in business development.

• Contribute to internal firm activities.
• Coach and mentor junior team members.
• Design and facilitate stakeholder workshops to align cross-functional teams, drive decision-making, and translate complex concepts into actionable business outcomes.
• Partner with clients and project leadership to develop strategic recommendations by combining industry expertise, analytics, technology capabilities, and business insights.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across client stakeholders, ZS leadership, and delivery teams to ensure integrated project execution and successful implementation.
• Translate complex strategic, analytical, technical, and data-driven findings into clear recommendations tailored to executive and business audiences.
• Drive strategic roadmaps and delivery planning, ensuring key milestones, risks, and dependencies are effectively managed.
• Guide clients through complex business challenges by developing practical, innovative solutions that deliver measurable impact.
• Contribute to practice development by sharing thought leadership, advancing methodologies, and supporting knowledge-building initiatives across ZS.
• Support business development efforts through proposal development, client presentations, opportunity identification, and account growth activities.

What You'll Bring

• MBA with bachelor's (and often graduate) degrees with a strong academic record in business, economics, marketing, psychology, physical or life sciences, engineering, applied math, statistics, or related fields. Alternately, candidates may possess a PhD in marketing, economics, decision sciences or related field with a business application. In lieu of an MBA or PhD, 5-8 years of relevant work experience may substitute.

• Up to 3 years of post-MBA relevant work experience, and 3-5 years of pre-MBA work experience.

• High motivation, good work ethic, maturity and personal initiative.

• Aptitude for, and enjoyment of, leading and managing teams.

• Effective oral and written communication skills that enable personal impact with senior-level decision makers.

• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach.
• Experience facilitating executive-level workshops, strategic planning sessions, and stakeholder alignment activities.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, unstructured problem-solving engagements and develop practical business solutions.
• Strong project management skills with experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Ability to synthesize strategic, analytical, technical, and operational information into compelling recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Experience driving organizational change, transformation initiatives, or strategic business planning efforts.
• Demonstrated success influencing stakeholders and building relationships across client organizations and internal teams.
• Proven ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution to achieve business objectives.
• Experience working across analytics, digital, technology, product, commercial, or transformation-focused initiatives is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, with a quality-focused mindset.
• Analytic problem-solving skills, with a creative and innovative outlook;
• Client service orientation.
• Fluency in English.
• Client-first mentality.
• Intense work ethic.

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.