Decision Analytics Associate 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.

ZS is seeking a Decision Analytics Associate Consultant to join the Supply Chain and Manufacturing practice, with a focus on pharmaceutical CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) drug development. This role is designed for professionals with 23 years of hands-on pharmaceutical experience who are ready to apply their domain expertise and quantitative modeling skills to digitalize and analytically transform CMC operations for global pharma clients. You will support project delivery, contribute to CMC data and analytics solution development, and grow your consulting skillset within a collaborative, high-impact team.

What Youll Do

• Leverage quantitative skills to derive answers to clients' ongoing business analytics and reporting questions
• Work collaboratively with clients to ascertain the client's specific business information needs
• Upskill on concepts relevant to solve client problems across modalities
• Execute a specific plan for analyzing the data necessary to secure solutions to clients' particular business information need(s)
• Discuss and determine with clients which specific data may be best utilized in order to perform the necessary analysis
• Evaluate, assess and analyze the data necessary to provide solutions to the client's particular business information needs
• Communicate the data results to the client, with an emphasis on answering the business question as opposed to the analytical and reporting processes used
• Gain immediate familiarity with client's internal processes
• Develop expertise within a client analytics area
• Be available for clients during regular working hours
• Build/use first-principles models (e.g., CFD, DEM) to simulate and optimize pharmaceutical manufacturing unit operations such as blending, granulation, coating, drying, and tableting
• Develop/use AI/ML models for predictive analytics, process optimization, and quality prediction across CMC workflows including CQA prediction, CPP sensitivity analysis, and batch outcome forecasting
• Translate model outputs into actionable client insights to support process development, scale-up, and tech transfer decisions
• Support model validation, verification, and documentation aligned with Quality by Design (QbD) principles and regulatory expectations (e.g., ICH Q8/Q9/Q10)
• Collaborate with cross-functional client teams (Formulation, Process Engineering, Quality, Regulatory) to identify and prioritize modeling opportunities across drug substance and drug product development
• Advance problem-solving skills and improve ZSs capabilities;
• Guide and mentor Associates on teams.

What Youll Bring

• Bachelor's (and often graduate) degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Engineering, Chemistry, Biotechnology or similar degree
• 2-3 years of experience working in a pharmaceutical CMC organization
• Hands-on experience building/using first-principles (e.g., CFD, DEM) and AI/ML models for pharma process development for at least one modality
• Experience developing and managing production-grade codes for models, including models' lifecycle management
• Knowledge of key concepts including unit operations, processes, Quality by Design (QbD), tech transfer, process validation, quality attributes, and regulatory milestones across pharma development
• Ability to translate the knowledge of concepts in one modality to other modalities, if needed
• Understanding of the different data and information systems such as ELN, LIMS, ERP systems, and LCM or PLM systems
• Optional: Understanding of the CMC related regulatory submission requirements
• Experience presenting to senior leaders, executives, and audiences with CMC backgrounds
• Ability to lead multiple workstreams and demonstrate effective time and project management skills
• Capability to simplify complex concepts into easily understandable frameworks and presentations
• Proficiency in working within a virtual global team environment, contributing to the timely delivery of multiple projects
• Travel to other offices as required to collaborate with clients and internal project teams
• Fluency in English.
• Client-first mentality.
• Intense work ethic.
• Collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach.