Discovery Research Domain Expert, IT Business Analyst

Role Summary

The Discovery Research Domain Expert, IT Business Analyst acts as a vital link between scientific teams and IT/data solutions to accelerate early drug discovery through data. This hands-on role translates complex scientific needs into actionable IT requirements and works with cross-functional teams to deliver data capabilities that enable predictive, AI-powered research across drug discovery domains.

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 continually 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.
• Monitor industry trends and promote novel approaches to data challenges.
• Communicate clearly across scientific, technical, and strategic audiences.
• Demonstrate a growth mindset and ownership for 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, etc.).
• 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 effectively 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.

Skills

• Strong commitment to a career in technology with a passion for healthcare.
• Analytical thinker with excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement with ability to influence without authority.
• Creative problem-solver who explores innovative solutions.
• Familiarity with data product development, data modeling, data mesh architecture, data governance, or analytics.