Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant – Commercial & Portfolio Strategy

ZS is a place where passion changes lives. As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving 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. Here you’ll work side-by-side with a powerful collective of thinkers and experts shaping life-changing solutions for patients, caregivers and consumers, worldwide. ZSers drive impact by bringing a client-first mentality to each and every engagement. We partner collaboratively with our clients to develop custom solutions and technology products that create value and deliver company results across critical areas of their business. Bring your curiosity for learning, bold ideas, courage and passion to drive life-changing impact to ZS.

Strategy Insights & Planning Consultant – Commercial & Portfolio Strategy

ZS’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 Consultant

We 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.

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.

Work Authorization:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must have authorization to work in the United States that does not now or in the future require employer sponsorship.

To complete your application:
An on-line application, including a full set of transcripts (official or unofficial), is required to be considered.

NO AGENCY CALLS, PLEASE.

Find Out More At:
www.zs.com