Strategy Insights & Planning Associate Consultant- Market Access

ZS
ZS

South San Francisco, CA, USA

Posted on Aug 11, 2026

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.

***Offering Relocation Assistance to the San Franciso area***

ZS's B2B Acces & Value Realization team partners with leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare organizations to solve some of their most critical commercial and access challenges. Our teams help clients navigate market access, pricing, reimbursement, customer engagement, product launch, and growth strategy decisions through a combination of strategic thinking, advanced analytics, primary research, and deep industry expertise.

As a Strategiy Insights and Planning Associate Consultant, you'll work at the intersection of healthcare strategy and market access, helping clients understand evolving payer dynamics, stakeholder needs, access barriers, and commercialization opportunities that ultimately improve patient access to innovative therapies.

What you’ll do

  • Partner with clients to address complex business challenges related to market access, payer strategy, reimbursement, pricing, commercialization, and growth.
  • Conduct primary and secondary research to understand payer, provider, patient, and customer perspectives and identify key market trends.
  • Support access and commercialization strategy projects by analyzing market dynamics, stakeholder behavior, competitive landscapes, and access barriers.
  • Perform quantitative and qualitative analyses to generate actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
  • Develop executive-ready presentations and communicate findings to client stakeholders and senior leadership teams.
  • Contribute to projects focused on areas such as:
    • Market Access Strategy
    • Payer Research and Insights
    • Customer and Stakeholder Engagement
    • Pricing and Value Strategy
    • Product Launch and Commercial Readiness
    • Competitive Intelligence
    • Growth and Portfolio Strategy
  • Manage project workstreams, monitor timelines, and proactively identify risks to ensure successful delivery.
  • Build trusted client relationships and become a key contributor across multiple engagements.
  • Mentor junior team members while developing leadership and consulting skills.

What you’ll bring

  • Master's or PhD degree in life sciences, public health, health economics, business, economics, psychology, marketing, social sciences, or another quantitative discipline. Candidates with 2-5 years of relevant industry or consulting experience will also be considered.
  • Experience or interest in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, market access, commercialization, pricing, payer strategy, customer insights, or healthcare consulting.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguous business questions.
  • Experience conducting research and synthesizing findings into strategic recommendations.
  • Excellent communication and storytelling skills with the ability to influence decision-making through data and insights.
  • Curiosity about healthcare systems, stakeholder decision-making, market dynamics, and patient access challenges.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
  • Strong relationship-building skills
  • 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. 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