Discovery Research Domain Expert, IT Business Analyst

Role Summary

Discovery Research Domain Expert, IT Business Analyst – The role accelerates innovation in early drug discovery through data, shaping scalable AI-powered data solutions across Drug Discovery domains including Molecular Invention, Early Biology, and Preclinical Research. This hands-on role acts as a bridge between scientific teams and IT, translating complex scientific needs into actionable IT requirements.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Research stakeholders to understand data workflows and define business requirements.
• Translate scientific needs into technical specifications, user stories, and actionable requirements for IT and engineering teams.
• Shape and prioritize demand by mapping end-to-end processes, identifying root causes of friction, and focusing on business value creation.
• Serve as the voice of the scientist, ensuring solutions reflect real-world context and evolving needs.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers to collect, test, validate, and enhance data products for usability and quality.
• Develop and maintain field-level metadata, business glossaries, and contribute to FAIR-aligned practices.
• Support scientific alignment of identifiers, terminology, and definitions across MI data sources to enhance downstream integration and analytics.
• Lead stakeholder assessments to anticipate friction, clarify expectations, and build trust in data product capabilities.
• Bring an external perspective by monitoring industry trends and promoting novel approaches to data challenges.
• Communicate clearly across scientific, technical, and strategic audiences.
• Exhibit a growth mindset, owning ongoing development in Business Analysis, AI/ML, and Pharmaceutical R&D.

Qualifications

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences, informatics, or technical discipline.
• Direct experience in early life sciences domains with subject matter expertise in Molecular Invention research (e.g., Biologics, Sequencing, Protein Engineering, Antibody Discovery, Chemistry).
• Familiarity with Research workflows in pharmaceutical or biotech settings.
• 5+ years of experience in IT, informatics, or data-focused roles within a scientific context.
• Proven ability to collaborate across scientific and technical teams.
• Strong analytical and systems thinking skills with the ability to manage ambiguity.
• Ability to learn new tools and adapt in a dynamic environment.
• IIBA Certification or similar Business Analysis Certification is a strong plus.

Desired Skills

• Strong commitment to a career in technology with a passion for healthcare.
• Analytical thinker with strong communication and collaboration skills; able to convey complex ideas clearly.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with a track record of influencing without authority.
• Creative problem-solver who challenges norms and explores innovative solutions.
• Familiarity with data product development, data modeling, data mesh, data governance, or analytics.