R&D Domain Specialist – Research Technology & Innovation Associate Consultant (Discovery)

About the role

ZS is expanding the Discovery Venture and seeks a R&D Domain Specialist – Research Technology & Innovation Associate Consultant in Discovery. This role involves applying domain knowledge, consulting skills, and research technology experience to help clients improve and streamline drug discovery workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead structured discovery interviews and workshops with scientists, business stakeholders, and IT teams to understand current challenges, workflows, and technology needs.
• Own current- and future-state workflow documentation, including process maps, requirements documentation, and structured outputs that inform solution design.
• Translate scientific and business needs into actionable requirements, structured problem statements, and roadmap inputs.
• Apply hands-on experience with research technology systems and advanced analytics to improve and streamline drug discovery processes.
• Support clients across R&D workflows, with a focus on research technology platforms, data enablement, and scientific process improvement.
• Develop strategy-level outputs independently, including findings, recommendations, workflow assessments, and roadmap materials.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including scientists, business partners, IT stakeholders, data scientists, and project managers, to integrate research technology and analytics into broader project objectives.
• Support client readouts with evidence-based presentations and clearly communicate analysis findings, recommendations, and next steps.
• Lead modules and workstreams within projects while contributing to hands-on implementation and solution development.
• Contribute to the assessment of emerging datasets, technologies, and platforms that impact drug discovery.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in research technology, analytics, or a relevant discovery domain to drive innovation, mentor colleagues, and share knowledge across teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree strongly preferred, ideally in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Health Informatics, Business Analytics, Computer Science, MIS, or a related field; PhD in a pharma-relevant domain is a plus.
• At least 2.5 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in consulting, CRO, pharma, biotech, or research technology environments in lieu of PhD.
• Demonstrated pharma domain knowledge, including familiarity with R&D workflows and drug discovery processes.
• Experience with large molecule or antibody discovery and in vitro and in vivo preclinical development is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with more novel hybrid modalities is a plus.
• Experience gathering, documenting, and translating business, scientific, and technical requirements using tools such as JIRA, Confluence, and Visio.
• Experience developing process maps and current- and future-state workflows.
• Ability to translate scientific needs into structured problem statements, actionable requirements, and roadmap inputs.
• Strong cross-functional stakeholder engagement experience, including collaboration with scientific teams, business partners, and senior IT stakeholders.
• Data analysis fundamentals, including experience with tools such as SQL, Excel, and/or SAS.
• Familiarity with research and enterprise platforms such as ERP, LIMS, or ELN systems.
• Light project management experience, including the ability to manage workstreams, track deliverables, and coordinate across stakeholders.
• Proficiency in at least one programming language, agile product development, and/or project management techniques is preferred.
• Evidence of a strong commitment to quality and client satisfaction.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and team leadership skills, with an eagerness for feedback and continuous improvement.
• Passion, curiosity, and a growth mindset, coupled with a deep commitment to an open and collaborative working environment.

Qualifications

• Fluency in English.
• A client-first mentality.
• An intense work ethic.
• A collaborative spirit and problem-solving approach.