Practice Area Leader, Data, AI & Analytics Strategy

About the role

The Practice Leader, Data, AI & Analytics Strategy is responsible for setting the vision, direction, and commercial success of the firm’s Data & Analytics consulting capability. This leader oversees a portfolio of client engagements and a multi-level team, ensuring data, analytics, and AI are used to solve real, near-term pharma client problems.

Core Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Data, AI & Analytics consulting strategy aligned to client demand and enterprise priorities
• Establish a clear point of view on:
• - How data and analytics should be used to address pharma client questions
• - Where analytics creates value now
• Ensure the practice remains client-led, insight-driven, and commercially grounded
• Serve as a senior trusted advisor to pharma and biotech clients
• Guide clients in:
• Framing business problems solvable through data and analytics
• Understanding what data is available and how best to use it
• Interpreting complex, imperfect datasets to drive decisions
• Maintain close proximity to client teams—credible in their language, pressures, and timelines
• Balance strategic perspective with practical, actionable recommendations
• Own practice level growth, pipeline contribution, and sales targets
• Lead and support opportunity shaping, proposal development, and analytical storytelling in client pitches
• Support a quick and repeatable selling cycle, focused on:
• Immediate client needs
• Tangible analytics use cases
• Pragmatic solutions with clear ROI
• Partner closely with Consulting and Commercial leadership to expand accounts and build durable analytics-led revenue streams
• Ensure delivery teams leverage analytics effectively to:
• Answer client questions
• Generate insight, not just outputs
• Inform recommendations and decisions
• Guide complex analytics efforts focused on:
• Data synthesis
• Interpretation across sources
• Insight development—not technology platform construction
• Ensure consistently high-quality, defensible, and decision-ready client deliverables
• Lead, develop, and retain a multi-layered analytics and consulting team, including Directors, MDs, Managers, and individual contributors
• Build a scalable, high-impact practice team across architecture, data science, and consulting embedded in real client work
• Foster collaboration across Consulting, Technology, Commercial, and Clinical partners
• Build a strong culture of ownership, pragmatism, and teamwork

Ideal Background & Experience

• An MBA or a graduate degree in a life sciences field
• A known authority in the market in a particular industry function or domain; able to leverage external network to improve profitable revenues and market positioning
• A strong history of successfully selling, delivering, and growing revenues
• Demonstrated new business experience, from organic growth to RFI/RFP planning, development, and execution
• Demonstrated competency in building high-performing, customer-focused teams
• Financial acumen in business planning and forecasting
• 12–15+ years of experience in life sciences consulting, strategy, and/or analytics
• Experience leveraging AI in support of data strategy, advanced analytics, and decision-driven problem solving
• Proven track record of:
• Leading consulting practices or large capability areas
• Driving commercial growth through client-led analytics work
• Managing and developing senior consulting leaders
• A deep understanding of the pharma and life science industry
• A strong ability to connect data strategy to client decision-making
• A proven track record of operating in mid-size consulting environments where leaders must balance strategy, sales, and delivery

What Success Looks Like

• A well-defined, respected Data & Analytics consulting practice with clear market relevance
• Strong, sustained analytics-led revenue growth
• Clients view the firm as a go-to partner for applied, decision-driven analytics
• Data strategy is seen as a core enabler of Consulting impact, not a parallel technical function

Pay & Benefits

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $X to $Y. The base salary range represents the anticipated low and high of the Syneos Health range for this position. Actual salary will vary based on various factors such as the candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role. In addition, some positions may include eligibility to earn commissions/bonus based on company and/or individual performance.

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn't align perfectly, we encourage you to apply anyway. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles. We also encourage you to join our Talent Network to stay connected to additional career opportunities.

Why Syneos Health? Here, you're a part of the big picture. You will collaborate with colleagues across clinical and commercial disciplines to guide premarket development through post-market commercial strategy. Every project is a chance to solve a new challenge, learn from your colleagues, and advance your career. The diversification and breadth of our new and existing partnerships create a multitude of career paths and employment opportunities. Join our game-changing, global company dedicated to creating better, smarter, faster ways to get biopharmaceutical therapies to patients. Experience the thrill of knowing that your everyday efforts are contributing to improving patients' lives around the world.

Work Here Matters Everywhere | How are you inspired to change lives?

Syneos Health companies are affirmative action/equal opportunity employers (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)

At Syneos Health, we believe in providing an environment and culture in which Our People can thrive, develop, and advance. We reward and recognize our people by providing valuable benefits and a quality-of-life balance. The benefits for this position will include a competitive compensation package, Health benefits to include Medical, Dental, and Vision, Company match 401k, flexible paid time off (PTO), and sick time. Because certain states and municipalities have regulated paid sick time requirements, eligibility for paid sick time may vary depending on where you work. Syneos Health complies with all applicable federal, state, and municipal paid sick time requirements.

Discover what our more than 25,000 employees already know: work here matters everywhere. We work hard, and smart, all in the name of getting much-needed therapies to those who need them most. A career with Syneos Health means your everyday work improves patients' lives around the world. Selecting us as an employer secures a career in which you're guaranteed to:

• Be recognized for your contributions
• Grow professionally and personally
• Collaborate with talented colleagues
• Make a difference in the lives of patients

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