Patient-Centered Prediction Lead

Patient-Centered Prediction Lead

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.

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.

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.