Assistant CRA

ThermoFisher Scientific; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 360,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking an Assistant Clinical Research Associate to support site preparedness, remote monitoring, and study management across global trials. You will work with the CRA and Clinical Lead to facilitate pre-study activities, training, and vendor qualification, while ensuring regulatory compliance and timely data collection.

The role involves coordinating with site staff, assisting with EMR/EHR reviews, and supporting documentation updates throughout the study lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences or nursing certification, plus relevant formal qualification.
• 0–2 years of experience in a similar role or transferable relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform site preparedness and monitoring support for assigned projects.
• Assist with site management and remote monitoring per SOPs and regulatory guidelines.
• Coordinate with Clinical Lead and CRA for pre-study activities and vendor qualification processes.
• Support site staff with system access, training, and documentation updates.
• Assist with data collection, eDiaries, ECGs, lab sample tracking and vendor data.
• Contribute to patient materials review and translations as directed.

Skills

Medical terminology

ICH GCP

MS Office

English proficiency

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences

Registered Nursing certification or equivalent

Tools

CTMS

EDC systems

Job description

Work Schedule

Standard Office Hours (40/wk)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

Join Us as an Assistant Clinical Research Associate – Make an Impact at the Forefront of Innovation

We have successfully supported the top 50 pharmaceutical companies and more than 750 biotechs, spanning 2,700 clinical trials across 100+ countries in the last 5 years.

As part of our global team, you’ll have the opportunity to perform remote activities on assigned projects in liaison with the CRA and study Clinical Lead. As an Assistant Clinical Research Associate, you'll provide support with site preparedness, logistical support to the monitoring process, and assist with assigned tasks for site management and remote monitoring in accordance with SOPs and regulatory guidelines. You may be assigned limited site contact activities during study start-up, site management, recruitment, and close-out phases.

What You’ll Do:

• Completes study and site management activities as defined in task matrix, and as applicable and directed for study assigned.
• Completes and documents study-specific training.
• Orients and trains on any study‑specific systems.
• Provides in‑house support during pre‑study assessments and with pre‑study assessment waivers, as agreed for project.
• Supports to customize Site ICF with site contact details, as needed.
• Performs remote review of EMR/EHR checklist and supports collection, as applicable assessments.
• Verifies document collection and RCR submission status; updates site EDL and verifies site information.
• Reviews patient facing materials and review translations, as directed.
• Supports site staff with the vendor related qualification process, where applicable.
• Provides support by ensuring system access is requested/granted and revoked for relevant site staff during pre‑activation and subsequent course of the study.
• Provides support to follow‑up on site staff training, as applicable.
• Coordinates and supports logistics for IM attendance, as directed.
• Supports maintenance of vendor trackers, as directed.
• Coordinates study/site supply management during pre‑activation and subsequent course of the study.
• Supports Essential Document collection, review and updating in systems, as applicable.
• Follows up and supports on missing study vendor data like ECGs, lab samples, and e‑diaries, as directed.
• Supports ongoing remote review of centralized monitoring tools, as directed.
• Supports Site payments processes by coordinating with various functional departments within organization and site. Supports system updates and reconciliations, as directed and follows‑up on‑site invoices throughout the study period.
• Performs reconciliation tasks on assigned trials including but not limited to CRF and query status, deviations, SAEs and safety reports, as applicable.
• Verifies document collection status in company systems and drives action for missing/incomplete/expired documents and open document findings, as directed.
• May perform other assigned site management tasks, as directed by CRA and as per Task Matrix.
• May perform a specific role profile for FSP opportunities according to Client requests.
• Maintains & completes administrative tasks such as expense reports and timesheets in a timely manner.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a life science discipline or related field or a Registered Nursing certification or equivalent and relevant formal academic / vocational qualification.
• Previous experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 0 to 2 years).

In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the requirements of the role.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Basic medical/therapeutic area knowledge and understanding of medical terminology
• Ability to attain and maintain a working knowledge of ICH GCP, applicable regulations and company procedural documents
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Good organizational and time management skills and strong attention to detail, with proven ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently and effectively
• Proven flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work in a team or independently, as required
• Well‑developed critical thinking skills, including but not limited to critical mindset, in-depth investigation for appropriate root cause analysis and problem solving
• Proficient computer skills with good knowledge of MS Office ability to learn and use appropriate software. Leverage modern technology when applicable
• Ability to extract pertinent information from all study documents, electronic study data systems, CTMS and dashboards
• Excellent English language and grammar skills

Working Conditions and Environment:

• Work is performed most of the time in an office or home office environment.; occasional travel toclinics/hospitals may be required.
• Exposure to electrical office equipment.
• The Assistant CRA role does not involve regular travel, however, any direct, promotional opportunities in the CRA career track will require frequent travel (60-80%).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work in an upright and /or stationary position for 6-8 hours per day.
• Repetitive hand movement of both hands with the ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements
• of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Occasional mobility required.
• Occasional crouching, stooping, with frequent bending and twisting of upper body and neck.
• Occasional light lifting and/or carrying of objects with a maximum lift of 5-15 lbs. (2-6 kgs.)
• Ability to access and use a variety of computer software developed both in-house and off‑the‑shelf.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand; with the ability to listen to
• and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Frequently interacts with others to obtain or relate information to diverse groups.
• Performs a wide range of variable tasks as dictated by variable demands and changing conditions
• with little predictability as to the occurrence. Ability to perform under stress. Ability to multi-task.
• Regular and consistent attendance.

Percent Billable: 80% - 100%

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.