Associate Counsel Contracts

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

DESCRIPTION:
Join Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Legal & Contracts team, where you will play a key role in enabling efficient and compliant contracting for our clinical research business. This role is based in China and serves as a primary point of contact for client agreements, supporting contract drafting, review, and coordination across China-based commercial and operational teams.

You will collaborate closely with regional and global Legal, Business, and functional stakeholders, ensuring alignment with global standards while addressing local market and regulatory requirements. The role requires frequent cross-border coordination, including interaction with stakeholders across different time zones (e.g., APAC, Europe, and US), and flexibility to support global business needs when required. You will help drive timely contract execution, support process improvements, and maintain compliance with PRC regulations and company policies. This position offers strong exposure to clinical research contracting, global ways of working, and process optimization within a fast-growing market.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Review & Support – China Business

• Review, draft, and revise commercial contracts using approved templates
• Serve as a point of contact for routine client contracting matters
• Identify and escalate non-standard terms and risks to Legal as appropriate

Process Coordination & Improvement

• Support updates to contract templates, playbooks, and guidance materials in alignment with global standards
• Assist in implementing standardized contracting processes and tools (e.g., contract management systems such as Melbeck)
• Track contract status and maintain accurate, organized contract documentation

General Legal Support

• Conduct basic legal and regulatory research relating to PRC laws and requirements
• Support internal training initiatives, including preparation and revision of materials

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, or a related field
• Typically 3–5 years of relevant experience in contract review, drafting, or legal support (law firm or in-house preferred)
• Familiarity with commercial contracts and basic contract law principles
• Experience in clinical research, life sciences, or healthcare contracting is an advantage
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple contracts and deadlines
• Detail-oriented with sound judgment on issue escalation
• Effective communication and stakeholder coordination skills, with experience working across regional and global teams
• Ability to operate effectively in a cross-cultural, multi-time-zone environment
• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English required
• Experience with contract management systems/tools is a plus