Assistant Clinical Research Associate

About the role

PPD, which is part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, is recruiting experienced Assistant Clinical Research Associates to support projects across the United Kingdom. This position offers the chance to contribute to clinical research that helps improve health outcomes on a global scale.

Thermo Fisher Scientific focuses on enabling customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. The organization supports professional growth and meaningful work by providing resources that help team members progress in their careers while contributing to research, development, and delivery of therapies that can change lives. Its clinical research work spans laboratory, digital, and decentralized clinical trial services, with studies conducted in more than 100 countries.

Role overview

The Assistant Clinical Research Associate supports clinical trial activities remotely and works in coordination with the Remote CRA, On-Site CRA, and study Clinical Trial Manager. The role includes site preparedness support, monitoring-related logistics, and assigned site management tasks in line with SOPs and regulatory requirements. Some limited site contact may be required during start-up, recruitment, ongoing management, and close-out phases.

Work schedule and environment

This role follows a standard Monday to Friday schedule and is based in an office environment. It is a remote full-time opportunity available across the UK.

Key duties

• Carry out study and site management activities according to the task matrix and study direction.
• Complete and record study-specific training.
• Learn and support CRG or study-specific systems.
• Assist with pre-study assessments and related waiver documentation when required.
• Help tailor site informed consent forms with site contact details.
• Review EMR/EHR checklists remotely and support related collection activities where needed.
• Confirm document collection and RCR submission progress, and update site records.
• Review participant-facing documents and translations as instructed.
• Support site staff through vendor qualification steps where applicable.
• Arrange system access for relevant site staff and ensure access is updated or removed at the correct time.
• Follow up on site staff training requirements as needed.
• Help coordinate logistics for investigator meeting attendance.
• Maintain vendor trackers and support supply management during pre-activation and beyond.
• Support essential document collection, review, and system updates.
• Track outstanding vendor data such as ECGs, lab samples, and e-diaries.
• Assist with centralized monitoring activities.
• Support site payment processing by coordinating with internal teams and the site, including invoice follow-up and reconciliation.
• Perform trial reconciliation tasks such as CRF and query status, deviations, SAEs, and safety reports.
• Check document status in company systems and help drive follow-up for missing, incomplete, expired, or unresolved documents.

Experience and education

• A bachelor’s degree or above in life sciences is required.
• Prior experience equivalent to 0 to 1 year in a relevant setting is expected.
• A valid UK driving licence is mandatory.

Skills and knowledge

The role calls for a solid foundation in therapeutic or medical areas, familiarity with medical terminology, and the ability to build knowledge of ICH GCP, relevant regulations, and internal procedural documents. Strong communication, service orientation, organization, time management, adaptability, attention to detail, teamwork, independent working, critical thinking, and problem-solving are all important. Applicants should also be comfortable using MS Office, learning new software, working with study data systems and dashboards, and extracting relevant information from study documents. Excellent English grammar and written communication are essential.

About the employer

Thermo Fisher Scientific and PPD value integrity, intensity, innovation, and involvement. The organization brings together a large global workforce to support scientific progress, clinical research, and patient outcomes. Diversity of experience, background, and perspective is encouraged and respected.

Equal opportunity statement

The employer is an equal opportunity and affirmative action organization. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

Additional information

Work schedule: Standard Monday to Friday.

Environmental conditions: Office.

Location: United Kingdom, with opportunities across multiple UK locations.