ZS is hiring for the position of Decision Analytics Associate (CMC) in Gurgaon and Pune. This opportunity is particularly relevant for pharmaceutical professionals who want to combine CMC drug development expertise, data analytics, AI/ML and quantitative process modeling with management consulting.
The Decision Analytics Associate will join ZS’s Supply Chain and Manufacturing practice, focusing on pharmaceutical Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC). The position involves using first-principles modeling and AI/ML techniques to help global pharmaceutical clients improve process development, manufacturing, scale-up and technology-transfer decisions.
Candidates with backgrounds in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Engineering, Chemistry, Biotechnology or similar disciplines and relevant pharmaceutical CMC experience can consider applying.
Key Responsibilities
Selected candidates for the ZS Decision Analytics Associate CMC role will be expected to:
- Apply quantitative analytical techniques to answer client business, analytics and reporting questions.
- Work directly with clients to understand specific business and information requirements.
- Identify and analyze appropriate datasets to solve pharmaceutical CMC business problems.
- Translate analytical findings into clear and actionable recommendations for clients.
- Build or use first-principles models such as CFD and DEM for pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
- Model unit operations including blending, granulation, coating, drying and tableting.
- Develop and apply AI/ML models for predictive analytics, process optimization and quality prediction.
- Work on applications such as Critical Quality Attribute (CQA) prediction, Critical Process Parameter (CPP) sensitivity analysis and batch outcome forecasting.
- Translate model outputs into insights supporting process development, scale-up and technology transfer.
- Support model verification, validation and documentation.
- Apply Quality by Design (QbD) concepts and understand relevant expectations under ICH Q8, Q9 and Q10.
- Collaborate with formulation, process engineering, quality and regulatory teams.
- Identify potential modeling and analytics opportunities across drug substance and drug product development.
- Develop familiarity with clients’ internal CMC processes and analytics environments.
- Communicate technical findings to senior stakeholders in an understandable business-oriented format.
- Manage multiple workstreams and contribute to timely project delivery.
- Support and mentor Associates working within project teams.
Qualification & Eligibility
ZS is looking for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree, and often a graduate degree, in one of the following or a similar discipline:
- Chemical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Material Engineering
- Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Related engineering or scientific disciplines
Candidates should also have at least 1 year of experience working within a pharmaceutical CMC organization. According to the role description, professionals with approximately 2–3 years of hands-on pharmaceutical experience are particularly relevant for this opportunity.
Technical Skills Required
Applicants should ideally possess hands-on knowledge of pharmaceutical process development combined with quantitative modeling.
Important skills include:
- Pharmaceutical CMC
- Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls
- CFD – Computational Fluid Dynamics
- DEM – Discrete Element Method
- AI and Machine Learning
- Predictive analytics
- Process optimization
- Pharmaceutical unit operations
- Process development
- Quality by Design (QbD)
- Critical Quality Attributes (CQA)
- Critical Process Parameters (CPP)
- Process validation
- Technology transfer
- Model validation and verification
- Drug substance development
- Drug product development
- Production-grade model/code development
- Model lifecycle management
Candidates should have hands-on experience building or using first-principles and AI/ML models for pharmaceutical process development for at least one modality.
CMC & Regulatory Knowledge
The role requires an understanding of important concepts across pharmaceutical development, including:
Unit Operations: Understanding of processes such as blending, granulation, coating, drying and tableting.
Quality by Design: Familiarity with QbD principles and the relationship between process parameters and product quality.
Technology Transfer: Understanding how manufacturing processes are transferred between development, scale-up and commercial manufacturing environments.
Process Validation: Knowledge of pharmaceutical process validation and associated quality requirements.
Regulatory Frameworks: Familiarity with ICH Q8, ICH Q9 and ICH Q10 is relevant to the position.
Knowledge of CMC-related regulatory submission requirements is listed as an optional advantage.
Data Systems Knowledge
Candidates should understand pharmaceutical data and information systems such as:
- ELN – Electronic Laboratory Notebook
- LIMS – Laboratory Information Management System
- ERP systems
- LCM systems
- PLM – Product Lifecycle Management systems
This combination of pharmaceutical domain expertise and digital technology makes the ZS Decision Analytics Associate role especially relevant for professionals interested in pharma CMC analytics and digital transformation.
Additional Skills
ZS is also looking for candidates who can:
- Present findings to senior leaders and CMC stakeholders.
- Lead and coordinate multiple workstreams.
- Manage projects and priorities effectively.
- Simplify technically complex concepts into clear frameworks and presentations.
- Work effectively within virtual and globally distributed teams.
- Collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
- Communicate fluently in English.
- Demonstrate a client-first approach and strong problem-solving skills.
- Travel when required for client and internal project collaboration.
Why Join ZS?
The Decision Analytics Associate CMC position offers an opportunity to move beyond traditional pharmaceutical CMC work into a combination of analytics, modeling, technology and consulting.
ZS highlights several professional-development opportunities, including:
- Cross-functional skill development
- Customized learning pathways
- Milestone-based training programs
- Career progression opportunities
- Internal mobility
- Role expansion opportunities
- Exposure to global pharmaceutical clients
- Experience working on CMC digital transformation initiatives
- Collaborative global working environment
The company also provides a broader total rewards package covering employee well-being, financial benefits, time away and professional development.
Hybrid Working & Travel
ZS follows a hybrid working model. Employees generally combine working from home with on-site collaboration at ZS or client offices during the week.
Because Decision Analytics is a client-facing function, candidates should also be prepared to travel depending on project and client requirements.
Who Should Apply?
This opening may be particularly suitable for professionals who already have pharmaceutical CMC experience and want to transition toward CMC consulting, pharmaceutical data analytics, AI/ML, process modeling or digital manufacturing transformation.
Candidates with practical experience in CFD, DEM, AI/ML modeling, pharmaceutical unit operations, QbD, process development, technology transfer or process validation should closely review the eligibility requirements.
This is not positioned as a general fresher analytics vacancy. The official requirements specify 1+ year of pharmaceutical CMC experience along with relevant modeling expertise.
How to Apply
