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Functional Client Partner - Life Science

00069998201

Leading at Cognizant

This is a Leadership role at Cognizant. We believe how you lead is as important as what you deliver. Cognizant leaders at every level:

  • Drive our business strategy and inspire teams around our future.
  • Live the leadership behaviors, leading themselves, others and the business.
  • Uphold our values, role modeling them in every action and decision.
  • Nurture our people and culture, creating a workplace where all can thrive.

This includes leading with strategic ability, architecting client value, driving AI-led innovation, executing with discipline, building a collaborative ecosystem, and amplifying human potential.
At Cognizant, leadership transcends titles and is embodied in actions and behaviors. We empower our leaders at every level to drive business strategy, inspire teams, uphold our values, and foster an inclusive culture.

About the role

As a Functional Client Partner – Life Sciences, you will make an impact by driving profitable growth and owning senior client relationships across our Life Sciences accounts in Switzerland, expanding our global portfolio of Consulting, Technology and Outsourcing services for large pharmaceutical clients. You will be a valued member of the Life Sciences Sales Leadership team and work collaboratively with our SBU Head, senior management, delivery, operations and finance teams, and clients.

In this role, you will

  • Own the end-to-end Account & Portfolio relationship, including overall portfolio P&L, backlog growth, and the health and prospects of your assigned accounts, driving profitable growth by identifying and leading the closure of new, renewal, and expansion opportunities in the Life Sciences market.
  • Develop client engagement strategies, formulate and implement account business plans, and lead accountability against measurable revenue and profit growth within set timelines.
  • Build and nurture trusted relationships with client decision makers and influencers up to the CxO level, serving as the day-to-day point of contact and ensuring execution and customer satisfaction across all revenue portfolios.
  • Collaborate across service lines, innovation teams and business teams, and forge and leverage alliance partnerships to grow your portfolio and increase Cognizant's visibility in the account.
  • Shape the thought leadership and innovation agenda for the portfolio, tracking Life Sciences industry trends and bringing forward proactive ideas and solutions drawn from Cognizant business cases, our Industry Solution Group and Consulting expertise.
  • Consistently demonstrate the Cognizant Way to Lead through strategic agility, client value creation, AI-led innovation, disciplined execution, collaborative ecosystem building and amplifying human potential through a culture of growth, inclusion and effective human-AI collaboration.

Work model

At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. This is a hybrid position requiring regular visits of clients based in Basel & Zurich. The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you must have to be considered

  • 15+ years of experience in a client-facing role from IT professional services or offshore outsourcing, with 8+ years dedicated to the Life Sciences market and a current network in Switzerland
  • Proven experience managing client P&L of 50 / 100 + m€, including reporting and metric assessment for the account.
  • Excellent ability to influence and communicate with business stakeholders up to the C-Suite, and to interface at all levels of an organization.
  • A proactive, hunter mindset that connects with the ecosystem of vendors, service providers and software companies to create global, multi-tower solutions and act as a game changer.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead with strategic vision, client-centric thinking, innovation, disciplined execution, collaboration and a commitment to developing people in line with the Cognizant Way to Lead.
  • Proven track record of building trust, demonstrating ownership, exercising sound judgment and fostering an inclusive culture that supports growth and associate success.

These will help you succeed

  • An MS or MBA degree.
  • A proven track record of contributing to new business development and leading multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.
  • Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage all facets of complex assignments.
  • Demonstrable problem-solving abilities, identifying strategic solutions to business problems with enterprise-wide implications.
  • Experience thriving in complex, fast-evolving environments by translating strategy into action, fostering cross-functional collaboration and championing continuous learning and curiosity.

We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.

About Cognizant: 
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.

Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Benefits that help you thrive and grow

Our benefits program is built with you in mind—so you can enjoy a fulfilling, balanced and healthy life.

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Financial wellbeing

We regularly review market data to ensure compensation reflects the value you bring. Your benefits extend beyond pay and may include retirement plans, financial education, etc.

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Physical and mental health

We empower you to prioritize your wellbeing through paid time off, flexible working where possible, healthcare plans, counselling, our Mental Health Allyship program and more. 

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Your career, your way

With 350,000+ roles at Cognizant, you’ll have opportunities explore new technologies, industries and locations—and build the skills you need to grow your career.

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Real-world impact

Think about the biggest brands you rely on. Chances are, they rely on us to help strengthen their business. Here, you’ll turn bold ideas into solutions that improve lives everywhere.

Your path to Cognizant

Here’s what you can expect from our hiring process. Please keep in mind that it may vary by role and location. Explore our FAQs to learn more.

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Step 1: Apply to the right opportunity

Find an open role that matches your skills and career goals and show us why you’re the person for the job. Don’t see the right opportunity? Consider joining our Talent Community.

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Step 2: Connect with your recruiter

If one of our recruiters sees a fit, they’ll set up a short intro call to learn more about you and how your experiences and skills match the role.

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Step 3: Show off your skills

If you and our team would like to continue the process, you’ll interview with our hiring team. Some roles may also require technical assessments and/or client interviews.

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Step 4: Decision time

Our team will then review each candidates’ potential to succeed in the role. This step may take some time because we want to find the right fit for both you and us—but you can count on us to keep you updated.

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What I value most about working at Cognizant is the opportunity to innovate while delivering real business impact. My role allows me to combine strategy, technology, and collaboration across global teams, which makes every project meaningful. The support for continuous learning and innovation has been instrumental in my growth.
Beata Ogorzala Senior Event Manager
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Cognizant has one of the best learning ecosystems you can ask for. From sponsored certifications to training platforms to mentorship, we have all that we need to grow.
Debashish Mishra SAP MM Developer
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Cognizant offers me more than a job; it offers a community. We support each other, collaborate across borders and celebrate wins together. If you’re looking for a culture that values flexibility, diversity and growth, this is the place to be.
Laura Reynaud Lead Counsel
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When I first joined, I was quiet and hesitant to share my thoughts. The leadership programs and the mentoring I’ve received have helped me find my voice and grow as a leader.
Sujatha Gopalakrishnan Portfolio Delivery Lead
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I’ve had the chance to work on impactful projects and shadow colleagues, all while getting involved in internal initiatives. The world is your oyster at Cognizant—you just need to take advantage of it!
Lucas Hoffman Consultant

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