Clinical Research Associate II - Saudi Arabia

Role overview

Thermo Fisher Scientific is hiring a Clinical Research Associate II based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This position focuses on coordinating clinical monitoring and site management activities across remote and on-site settings. The role supports study execution with strong attention to protocol adherence, regulatory compliance, subject protection, and data quality.

The company has supported leading pharmaceutical organizations and hundreds of biotech firms across thousands of clinical trials in more than 100 countries over the past five years. In this role, you will act as a site process specialist, helping ensure trials are run in line with approved protocols, ICH-GCP standards, applicable regulations, and internal procedures. You will also help maintain audit readiness and build productive working relationships with investigative sites.

Work schedule and environment

The role follows a standard Monday to Friday schedule. Work is carried out in an office environment, with some responsibilities performed remotely or on-site as required.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee investigational sites using a risk-based monitoring approach, including root cause analysis, problem solving, and corrective/preventive action follow-up to reduce risk and improve compliance.
• Review source data and case report forms, verify records, and assess investigational product inventory through physical checks and documentation review.
• Prepare monitoring visit reports and written correspondence promptly using approved business writing standards.
• Escalate site issues and deficiencies quickly and track them through to closure in coordination with clinical management and project team members.
• Keep regular contact with sites between visits when needed to confirm protocol compliance, issue resolution, and timely data entry.
• Carry out monitoring activities according to the approved monitoring plan and support investigator payment processing.
• Assist with investigator meetings, site identification, site initiation, trial close-out, and retrieval of trial materials.
• Confirm that essential study documents are complete, filed correctly, and compliant with ICH-GCP and relevant regulations; perform on-site file reviews where required.
• Provide study progress updates and status tracking to the Clinical Team Manager and keep study systems current, including CTMS or similar platforms.
• Support clear communication among investigative sites, the client, and the project team through written, verbal, and electronic communication.
• Respond to audit, inspection, client, and regulatory requirements as needed.
• Complete administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets on time.
• Contribute to project publications, tools, process improvements, and broader team initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a life-sciences field, or Registered Nursing certification, or an equivalent relevant academic/vocational qualification.
• About 1 year of experience as a clinical research monitor, or completion of the PPD Drug Development Fellowship, or an accepted equivalent mix of education, training, and direct experience.
• A valid driver's license, where applicable.
• Strong clinical monitoring capability and working knowledge of medical terminology and therapeutic areas.
• Ability to understand and apply ICH-GCP, applicable regulations, and procedural documents.
• Well-developed critical thinking, investigation, root cause analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work with risk-based monitoring concepts and processes.
• Good oral and written communication skills, including confidence when dealing with medical personnel.
• Strong customer focus, listening skills, attention to detail, and ability to understand underlying site concerns.
• Solid organization, time management, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• High attention to detail and the ability to stay flexible and adaptable in changing situations.
• Capability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new software quickly.
• Fluency in Arabic and strong English grammar and language skills.

Additional working conditions

The job may involve frequent travel, typically 60% to 80%, and in some cases more. Travel may include frequent driving to site locations and occasional overnight stays. The role may also involve exposure to biological fluids and possible infectious organisms, with use of personal protective equipment such as eyewear, gloves, and protective garments. Rare exposure to extreme or fluctuating temperatures may occur.

Other information

Detailed duties are assigned through the role-specific task matrix. The role may require support across different sponsor and monitoring environments, including FSO, FSP, and government settings.

This position emphasizes subject safety, data reliability, audit readiness, and collaborative site management across remote and on-site monitoring activities.