ZS Discovery partners with pharmaceutical and biotech clients to accelerate the discovery of safer, more effective therapeutics. The team brings hands-on scientific expertise, advanced analytics, AI, and strategic consulting to help research organizations become more productive, more data-driven, and more confident in their decisions. As a venture within ZS building toward practice status, Discovery combines agility and innovation with the resources and knowledge of the broader firm.
Patient-Centered Prediction Lead
ZSD delivers successful projects in biomarker selection, patient segmentation, translational hypothesis validation, and multi-modal data integration, and demand for this work is growing. You'll bring deep expertise to that work, own an account, and contribute to how ZSD delivers patient-centered prediction, drawing on the firm's strengths in AI, bioinformatics, and data excellence.
What you'll do:
- Define and validate ZSD's patient-centered prediction (PCP) offering, building a client-ready proposition covering forward translation, reverse translation, and patient stratification
- Engage senior R&D leaders at pharma and biotech organizations to prove market demand, originate engagements, and build a pipeline of opportunities in the PCP space
- Move PCP from point solutions to a repeatable practice with reusable frameworks, accelerators, and methodologies the broader team can deliver
- Hire and develop the PCP team, starting with the first support hires and building toward a multi-person practice
- Establish ZSD's external credibility in patient-centered prediction through thought leadership, conference presence, and published perspectives
- Connect PCP to ZSD's existing strengths in AI, bioinformatics, and data excellence
- Serve as a domain-credible thought partner for senior R&D stakeholders, translating complex translational science challenges into actionable ZSD solutions
What you'll bring:
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline: translational science, biomarker research, computational biology, statistical genetics, or related
- 10+ years of experience in pharma R&D, a life sciences platform company, or a translational science function, with a focus on patient-centered prediction, biomarkers, or translational medicine
- Experience spanning the discovery-development boundary; understanding the full research lifecycle from target identification through clinical entry
- Deep familiarity with the data types used across the research lifecycle: trial biospecimens, on-study PD/ctDNA/MRD reads, real-world evidence, population cohorts, and multi-modal omics (bulk and single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, methylation, imaging)
- Credible as a thought partner with senior R&D leaders on patient-centered prediction topics; able to engage across both scientific and business dimensions
- Experience defining and shaping a new offering, practice area, or capability
- Strong analytical and computational orientation; familiarity with precision medicine tools, model-informed drug development, and AI applications in translational sciences
- Experience in a consulting firm, life sciences platform company, pharma services organization, or pharma/biotech R&D environment preferred
- 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.
ZS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities without regard to any class protected by applicable law.
To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.
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Find Out More At:
www.zs.com
Skills Required
- Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) in translational science, computational biology, statistical genetics, or related discipline
- 10+ years experience in pharma R&D, life sciences platform company, or translational science function focused on patient-centered prediction, biomarkers, or translational medicine
- Experience spanning the discovery-development boundary (target identification through clinical entry)
- Deep familiarity with trial biospecimens, on-study PD/ctDNA/MRD reads, real-world evidence, population cohorts, and multi-modal omics (bulk and single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, methylation, imaging)
- Credible as a thought partner for senior R&D stakeholders across scientific and business dimensions
- Experience defining and shaping a new offering, practice area, or capability
- Strong analytical and computational orientation; familiarity with precision medicine tools, model-informed drug development, and AI applications in translational sciences
- Experience hiring and developing teams and building toward a multi-person practice
- Fluency in English
- Client-first mentality, intense work ethic, collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach
- Experience in a consulting firm, life sciences platform company, pharma services organization, or pharma/biotech R&D environment
- Demonstrated external credibility via thought leadership, conference presence, or published perspectives
ZS Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive across medical, dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness support. Feedback suggests the health insurance is a standout perk in practice.
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Parental & Family Support — Family‑forming and parental supports are extensive, including up to $95,000 toward fertility and family planning, adoption support, backup care, and milk‑shipping for traveling parents. A U.S. Family Leave Program provides 10 weeks paid leave that can combine with 6 additional paid maternity weeks for birthing parents.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Inclusive coverage explicitly extends to LGBTQIA+ needs with transgender‑inclusive healthcare and dedicated guidance. Feedback suggests these offerings are positioned as industry‑leading alongside robust family‑forming benefits.
ZS Insights
What We Do
ZS is a management consulting and technology firm that partners with companies to improve life and how we live it. We transform ideas into impact by bringing together data, science, technology and human ingenuity to deliver better outcomes for all. Founded in 1983, ZS has more than 15,000+ employees in over 40 offices worldwide.
Why Work With Us
ZS is home to passionate people who embrace innovative thinking, collaboration and a client-first mindset. Welcome to a company where new ideas are celebrated, curiosity is welcomed, learning opportunities are abundant and colleagues become lifelong connections.
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Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
The Flexible & Connected model is our ZS standard. ZSers decide where it makes the most sense for them to work each day given client or teamwork.













































































