EN→DE Life Sciences Translator - Remote Europe — Columbus
Traveler-Friendly Insight
This is a freelance/contractor role with no fixed office requirement, making it well-suited for digital nomads who are fluent in German and have a life sciences translation background. The work is project-based, meaning you can take on assignments as they come — but be aware of one key constraint: strict, non-extendable turnaround times. This means you'll need reliable, high-speed internet and the discipline to meet deadlines regardless of your timezone or travel itinerary.
Timezone considerations: Although the role is Europe-based (hinted), the nature of translation work is largely async — you receive a file, translate it, and deliver it. However, tight deadlines on pharmacovigilance safety documents may require you to be reachable during Central European business hours. Nomads operating in UTC+0 to UTC+3 (e.g., Lisbon, Tbilisi) are likely best positioned.
- Lisbon, Portugal: Low cost of living (~€1,500/mo), great nomad infrastructure, digital nomad visa available — excellent fit.
- Warsaw, Poland: Affordable (~€1,200/mo), EU timezone alignment, strong internet — practical choice.
- Tallinn, Estonia: EU e-Residency available, tech-forward, manageable cost — good for EU-based freelancers.
No travel-specific perks (coworking, stipends) are mentioned. The CAT tool license (XTM/Phrase) is provided, reducing your software overhead as a freelancer.
About Welo Life Sciences
Welo Life Sciences, a Welo Global brand, is a specialized language and technology partner serving pharmaceutical, CRO, and medical device organizations operating in regulated global markets. We deliver regulator-ready translation, linguistic validation, and localization solutions that support clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs, labeling, and global commercialization.
Our approach combines subject matter expertise with ISO-certified quality processes and technology-enabled workflows designed to integrate seamlessly into life sciences operations. With extensive experience supporting global product development and post-market requirements, Welo Life Sciences helps organizations accelerate timelines, protect data integrity, and maintain compliance across languages and regions. All solutions are delivered within a secure, audit-ready framework supported by seven ISO certifications. Visit welolifesciences.com to learn more.
About the Role
We are looking for experienced English into German linguists specializing in Clinical Trial, Pharmacovigilance, and Regulatory document translation.
Key Responsibilities
- Translate clinical research, regulatory, and pharmacovigilance documents from English to German.
- Perform Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE) on machine-translated safety content.
- Perform Copy Edit (translation review) of translated/post-edited content for accuracy, tone, and consistency.
- Meet strict, non-extendable turnaround times on time-sensitive content.
- Work within the client's CAT tool environment (XTM/Phrase) and use Track Changes in Microsoft Word following project-specific setup instructions.
Field of Expertise
- Clinical Research Documents: Protocols and synopses, IB, ICF, Patient Sheets, Patient Diaries
- Regulatory Documents: SmPC, PIL, Labels, CTD Modules
- Pharmacovigilance Documents: PSUR, DSUR, RMP, SAE and AE
Must-Have Criteria
Applicant must meet at least one of the following educational criteria:
- A degree in Translation, Linguistics, or Language Studies (or equivalent), or
- A recognized graduate qualification in any other field, plus a minimum of two years of full-time professional translation experience, or
- A minimum of five years of full-time professional experience in translation
Relevant Translation Experience
- At least two years of practical translation experience specifically in life sciences (clinical trials and pharmacovigilance) and medical documents
Technical Skills
- Familiarity with CAT tools (XTM/Phrase) — license will be provided
- Familiarity with Track Changes in Microsoft Word
Nice-to-Have
- Degree in Medicine, Biology, Biochemistry, Clinical Research, Translation, Linguistics, Philology, or similar
- In-house industry experience at a CRO or pharmaceutical company
Before Applying
Please note there will be an assessment as part of our onboarding and quality procedure. Please only apply if you're willing to complete our assessment.
Please ensure your latest English CV accurately reflects your Life Sciences and Medical translation experience, including: years of experience specifically in Life Sciences, document types translated, CAT tools used, relevant details, and your contact information (email AND phone number).
Beware of recruitment scams. Welo Global and all of its brands never recruit through direct messages on social media or WhatsApp, and never ask candidates to pay money for a job. Official emails come only from @welocalize.com, @welodata.ai, or @hire.lever.co, and all applications go through jobs.lever.co/weloglobal. Be wary of unexpected offers, generic email addresses (such as Gmail or Yahoo), and requests for fees or sensitive information. Learn more: Recognizing Scams and Confirming Legitimate Welo Global Communications
We look forward to receiving your application!
Job Reference: #LI-JC1
Frequently Asked Questions
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