Data Excellence Delivery & BD Lead - ZS Discovery

What You’ll Do:

• Lead data and technology advisory engagements for pharma and biotech discovery organizations, covering data strategy, architecture visioning, governance design, and transformation road mapping
• Stay involved through design and implementation. You will structure workplans, manage project risks, oversee analyses and workshops, and ensure high-quality deliverables as programs shift from strategy into execution
• Partner with senior client stakeholders across research, discovery informatics, computational sciences, data, and IT to understand their challenges and translate scientific and operational pain points into actionable programs
• Lead multidisciplinary teams that span strategy, technology, analytics, and scientific domains. You will coordinate with offshore delivery teams on implementation work streams
• Contribute to business development: identify growth opportunities within accounts, shape proposals and scopes of work, and bring informed perspectives on where discovery organizations are headed. At the AP level, you will lead or materially influence sales, account development, and senior executive relationships
• Help build ZSD’s Drug Discovery practice by developing offerings, IP, case examples, and market-facing thought leadership. You will also coach and mentor team members in both consulting skills and domain expertise
• Factor AI and data-readiness into your recommendations. You will not build AI models, but you will need to translate emerging AI and data trends into practical client action

• Advanced degree preferred in life sciences, chemistry, biology, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, data science, or a related field. An MBA or equivalent is also valued. Not required if domain depth is evident from experience
• Roughly 8-10+ years of relevant experience in consulting, pharma/biotech R&D, research IT, discovery informatics, or a combination
• Direct experience working in or with drug discovery and/or preclinical research organizations
• Familiarity with scientific data domains relevant to discovery, such as assay data, omics, chemistry, biology, imaging, DMPK, or translational data
• Experience with platforms and ecosystems used in research organizations, such as ELN/LIMS, scientific workflow tools, cloud data platforms, knowledge graphs, AI/ML workflows, or bioinformatics environments
• Experience leading transformation programs in research settings (not just administering platforms). Ability to manage stakeholder alignment between IT and research functions, adoption challenges, workflow design
• Experience contributing to or leading sales/business development activities: shaping proposals, scoping extensions, or identifying new opportunities within existing accounts
• Understanding of data architecture, platform selection, integration patterns, and data governance well enough to evaluate technical trade-offs and guide delivery teams. Ability to connect discovery workflows with data and platform decisions
• Demonstrated ability to bridge the language of scientists, informaticians, and business leaders. Comfortability presenting to heads of discovery, research informatics, computational sciences, and digital/data leadership
• Fluency in English
• Client-first mentality
• Intense work ethic
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach

• 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

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…