Senior Scientific Business Systems Analyst

Locations: 
Boston, MA
North Chicago, IL
San Diego, CA

**This role will require regular on-site presence (3 - 4 days / week) at client site(s)**

**This role is not eligible for relocation assistance**

About Zifo: 

Zifo is a leading global scientific informatics and digital solutions provider focused on transforming research and development for life sciences organizations. We partner with pharmaceutical, biotech, and agritech companies to drive R&D efficiency, ensure data integrity, and enable scientific innovation through process excellence and technology enablement. 

Position Overview: 

Zifo North America is seeking a Senior Scientific Business Systems Analyst (Senior BSA) to support strategic R&D initiatives for pharmaceutical, biotech, and related life sciences customers. This role is responsible for independently leading low-to-medium-complexity business analysis engagements while collaborating closely with customer stakeholders and Zifo’s global delivery teams. 

The Senior BSA plays a critical role in driving project success by translating scientific and business needs into actionable requirements, guiding informatics and data-driven solutions, and ensuring high-quality delivery across complex R&D environments. This position requires strong scientific domain expertise, consulting acumen, and hands-on experience delivering informatics and data projects in regulated and non-regulated research settings. 

Key Responsibilities 

Consulting & Business Analysis 

• Lead and execute business analysis activities across R&D-focused projects with minimal supervision. 

• Review and analyze existing business processes, systems, and data flows to identify gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities. 

• Conduct voice-of-the-customer sessions, stakeholder interviews, and workshops to elicit and prioritize requirements. 

• Perform gap analysis and define future-state process workflows, data models, and system interactions. 

• Develop and review core deliverables including User Requirements Specifications (URS), Functional Requirements Specifications (FRS), workflows, implementation roadmaps, gap analysis reports, and training materials. 

• Evaluate industry trends and leading practices in scientific informatics to recommend optimized future-state solutions. 

• Support vendor evaluations and contribute to implementation strategies for small to mid-size life sciences organizations. 

• Contribute to regulatory and data integrity assessments (including GxP where applicable) and support remediation of compliance gaps. 

Project Execution & Delivery 

• Manage one or more small projects or modules within larger programs, ensuring delivery on scope, schedule, and quality. 

• Perform project management activities including effort estimation, task planning, scheduling, and risk assessment. 

• Identify, track, and mitigate project risks; proactively address issues and escalate concerns when appropriate. 

• Monitor project progress and communicate clear, timely status updates to internal teams and customers. 

• Support and mentor junior Business Analysts by guiding deliverable development, planning, and execution. 

• Collaborate effectively with global team members (India, EU and LatAm) to deliver on project goals. 

Customer Engagement & Collaboration 

• Serve as a key point of contact with customers for delivery on assigned engagements, managing expectations related to process, quality, timelines, and outcomes. 

• Build strong working relationships with customer stakeholders, including manager-level contacts. 

• Proactively sense and address customer concerns before they escalate; collaborate with Solution and Delivery Managers on corrective actions. 

• Participate in and support project and client meetings as appropriate 

Operational Excellence & Business Support 

• Plan, track, and report billable effort accurately and on time. 

• Identify opportunities for Zifo to add value within customer organizations and surface potential follow-on engagements. 

• Support proposal development and contribute content for presentations, white papers, and thought leadership initiatives. 

Learning, Mentorship & Continuous Improvement 

• Demonstrate continuous learning in scientific domains, informatics platforms, and consulting methodologies. 

• Assist with internal training development and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 

• Mentor other analysts within global team, fostering collaboration and high performance. 

• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including CAPA activities, defect analysis, and delivery process enhancements. 

Requirements

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline such as biology, chemistry, chem/bioinformatics among others 

• 3-5 years of experience as a Business Analyst or similar role within an R&D organization. 

• Experience with informatics solution projects (e.g., ELN, LIMS implementations) 

• Familiarity with scientific workflows (e.g., bioanalysis, compound management, medicinal chemistry)and key data concepts within the life sciences industry and relevance to operational activities and enabling decision-making. 

• Experience with key data concepts within the life sciences industry and relevance to operational activities and enabling decision-making. 

Travel Requirements:

• Some travel (up to 25%) will be required for this role

Benefits

CURIOSITY DRIVEN, SCIENCE FOCUSED, EMPLOYEE BUILT. Our culture is unlike any other, one where we debate, challenge ourselves, and interact with all alike. We are a curious bunch, characterized by our passion to learn and spirit of teamwork. Zifo is a global R&D solutions provider focused on the industries of Pharma, Biotech, Manufacturing QC, Medical Devices, specialty chemicals and other research-based organizations. Our team’s knowledge of science and expertise in technology help Zifo better serve our customers around the globe, including 18 of the Top 20 Biopharma companies. 

We look for Science – Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Microbiology etc. We possess scientific and technical knowledge and bear professional and personal goals.  While we have a “no doors” policy to promote free access within, we do have a tough door to walk in. We search with a two-point agenda – technical competency and cultural adaptability. 

We offer a competitive compensation package including accrued vacation, medical, dental, vision, 401k with company matching, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts.  

If you share these sentiments and are prepared for the atypical, then Zifo is your calling! 

Zifo is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.