Real World Data Strategy - Associate Consultant

ZS
ZS

London, UK

Posted on Aug 20, 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.

Real World Data Strategy - Associate Consultant

Our Data Strategy & Partnerships team helps pharmaceutical and biotech companies maximize the value of their data assets. We advise clients on data strategy, governance, data sourcing, operating models, analytics enablement, and the application of Real-World Data (RWD) and Real-World Evidence (RWE) to support critical business and scientific decisions.

As an Associate Consultant, you will work alongside industry experts and client stakeholders to solve complex data and evidence challenges across the life sciences ecosystem.

What You’ll Do:

  • Support the development and delivery of data strategy engagements for global pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
  • Help clients define and optimize data operating models, governance frameworks, data partnerships, and data acquisition strategies.
  • Lead analyses of healthcare datasets including claims, electronic medical records (EMR/EHR), registries, clinical datasets, patient-level data, and other real-world data assets.
  • Assess the suitability of data sources for RWE studies, market access initiatives, commercial strategy, clinical development, and medical affairs use cases.
  • Conduct data landscaping, feasibility assessments, and data partner evaluations across global healthcare markets.
  • Translate complex healthcare data challenges into actionable recommendations for client stakeholders.
  • Support the design of RWD and RWE strategies that inform clinical development, regulatory decisions, market access planning, and commercialization efforts.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including epidemiologists, data scientists, biostatisticians, technologists, and strategy consultants.
  • Contribute to proposal development, thought leadership, and the creation of scalable data strategy frameworks and assets.

What You’ll Bring:

  • Bachelor's, Master's, PharmD, PhD or equivalent degree in Life Sciences, Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Economics, Biostatistics, Data Science, or a related field.
  • 2-5 years of experience in consulting, life sciences, healthcare analytics, healthcare data providers, or evidence generation organizations.
  • Strong understanding of healthcare data ecosystems and pharmaceutical decision-making.
  • Experience working with Real-World Data (RWD) and/or Real-World Evidence (RWE).
  • Hands-on experience with RWE studies or evidence generation programs.
  • Experience with claims data, EMR/EHR data, registries, hospital data, specialty datasets, or linked patient-level datasets.
  • Understanding of evidence generation, epidemiology, HEOR, market access, clinical development, or medical affairs.
  • Familiarity with healthcare data vendors such as Optum, Flatiron, TriNetX, Clarivate, or similar data providers.
  • Experience evaluating data sources for patient identification, feasibility, clinical trial design, market access, or commercial strategy initiatives.
  • Working knowledge of SQL, Python, R, Tableau, Power BI or similar analytical tools.
  • Ability to structure and solve ambiguous business problems using data-driven approaches.
  • Strong client communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Experience developing presentations and communicating insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Additional Skills:

  • Ability to translate unstructured problems into actionable processes and approaches.
  • Can think strategically, support definition and management of data standards and protocols;
  • Self-starter, with high motivation, maturity and personal initiative;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Fluency in English, other European languages would be a plus;
  • Able to empathize with client frustrations and problem-solve effective solutions;
  • Self-discipline for planning and organizing tasks, and delivering in an unstructured environment;
  • Ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities.

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 Kingdom, visit ZS UK 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.

To complete your application:
Candidates must possess or be able to obtain work authorization for their intended country of employment. 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