8 Research Support jobs in Saudi Arabia

Work Location

UN Resident Coordinator's Office, Riyadh

Expected duration

3 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background: The UN Secretary-General's Development System reform, effective 1 January 2019 pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/243, has repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. General Assembly resolution 72/279 established a strengthened role for the UN Resident Coordinators and their offices as the central platform for coordination and integrated policy support at the country level. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) supports the UN Country Team (UNCT) in aligning the UN's collective engagement with the national development priorities of Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). This includes analytical and policy support, facilitation of partnerships, and monitoring of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To support these objectives, the RCO is seeking an unpaid intern to contribute to policy research, analytical work, and operational tasks that underpin the UN's engagement in KSA. The internship will provide hands-on experience in applied policy analysis, exposure to UN inter-agency coordination processes, and capacity-building in analytical tools, including large language models (LLMs). Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the RCO Economist and coordination with the Head of Office, the Intern will: 1. Policy and Research Support o Conduct desk reviews of UN frameworks, socioeconomic reports, and national strategies relevant to Vision 2030 and the SDGs. o Support drafting of analytical papers and policy briefs on the KSA economy, development trends, and thematic UN priorities. o Assist in integrating cross-sectoral analysis including LNOB, gender equality, and inclusivity. 2. Operational and Coordination Support o Take and draft meeting minutes for internal UNCT meetings, consultations with government counterparts, and partner engagements. o Support background note preparation and data collection for senior leadership. o Assist in ad hoc analytical tasks requested by the RCO. 3. Analytical Tools and Innovation o Contribute to exploratory work on the application of large language models (LLMs) for research, knowledge management, and analysis. o Support the design of templates, matrices, and structured analytical tools for RCO policy work. Learning Objectives: By the end of the internship, the Intern is expected to:
• Gain practical experience in applied policy research and inter-agency coordination in a UN country office setting.
• Strengthen skills in socioeconomic analysis with specific application to the KSA context.
• Acquire experience in drafting policy papers, minutes, and analytical notes aligned with UN standards.
• Develop familiarity with innovative analytical methods, including the use of LLMs in development work.
• Enhance knowledge of UN operations, Vision 2030, and the UN's role in national development processes. The duration of a United Nations internship is for a minimum of two months on a full-time basis - this may be exceptionally extended for a maximum period of six months.

Qualifications/special skills

1. Applicants must: (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent); or (c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above); 2. Applicants must: (a) be computer literate in standard software applications. (b) have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter; and (c) have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. No previous work experience is required for this job opening. Familiarity with socioeconomic data, SDGs, and Vision 2030 is desirable. Knowledge in artificial intelligence and LLM applications is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: "Fluency" equals a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and "Knowledge of" equals a rating of 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

A completed online application must include, beside the mandatory Personal History Profile, a Cover Note mentioning the following:
• Degree Programme (what are you currently studying?).
• Graduation Date (when will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?).
• List of the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.
• List of your top three areas of interest.
• Explanation of why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.
• Explanation of your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme. In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during an internship. Therefore, upon awarding an internship, candidates will be required to sign a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of the conditions of service. Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage to cover the full period of the internship at the duty station and provide a medical certificate of good health prior to the commencement of the internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship. This position allows for flexible working arrangements, contingent upon written agreement by the receiving entity. Interns under these arrangements must commit to an equivalent of at least two months full-time work and complete their internship within six months.

Intern Specific text

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.

Work Location

UN Resident Coordinator's Office, Riyadh

Expected duration

Duties and Responsibilities

Qualifications/special Skills
Languages

Additional Information

Intern Specific text

No Fee

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Job Description

• Collect, clean, and transform structured and unstructured datasets from multiple sources (databases, APIs, data warehouses, and flat files) for analysis.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize SQL queries, stored procedures, and ETL pipelines to ensure reliable data flows.
• Perform statistical analysis, hypothesis testing, and predictive modeling to extract actionable insights and support decision-making.
• Create advanced dashboards and reports using tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker, ensuring KPIs are tracked and visualized effectively.
• Collaborate with data engineers and business stakeholders to define data requirements and ensure alignment between technical outputs and business needs.
• Apply data mining, clustering, and regression techniques to detect patterns, trends, and anomalies across large datasets.
• Document methodologies, maintain reproducibility of analysis, and adhere to best practices for version control and code management (e.g., Git).

Job Requirements

• A degree in computer science, data science or any other relevant field. A master's is a plus
• 4 years of experience in relevant fields
• Data Engineering & Querying: Strong proficiency in SQL
• Visualization & Reporting: Advanced skills in BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker, or equivalent) and ability to design performance-optimized dashboards.
• Data Wrangling: Ability to handle raw, messy data—cleaning, normalizing, feature engineering, and managing large datasets with performance considerations.
• Cloud & Analytics Tools: Familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP BigQuery, AWS Redshift, Azure Synapse) and distributed data systems (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus as well as hands-on experience on Dataiku is a plus.

Chemist

Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role for a Research Assistant, located in Dammam. The Research Assistant will be responsible for conducting research, performing data analysis, maintaining laboratory equipment, and assisting in the development and execution of projects. The role includes gathering and analyzing data, preparing reports, and ensuring accurate documentation of all findings and processes. Additionally, the Research Assistant will collaborate closely with team members to support ongoing projects and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Strong Research and Laboratory Skills
• Proficiency in Data Analysis
• Excellent Analytical Skills
• Effective Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience in the energy sector is a plus
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Engineering, Science, or related discipline)
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment

Job Title: Research Assistant (Saudi Arabia, Arabic-Speaking)

We are an independent investigative journalism team dedicated to producing hard-hitting, impactful news stories. We are seeking a
research assistant based in Saudi Arabia
who is fluent in Arabic and comfortable working in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct background research in Arabic and English on assigned topics.
• Monitor local news sources, public records, and online platforms to gather leads and verify information.
• Assist in fact-checking, translation, and summarizing complex materials.
• Support senior journalists in investigations by identifying relevant sources, documents, and contacts.
• Follow proper legal and ethical standards throughout the research process.

Important Note on Legal Compliance:

Our investigations may at times uncover activities that violate Saudi law. In line with local legal requirements,
all team members are obligated to report such findings to the appropriate authorities
. Candidates must be willing to uphold this responsibility as part of their role.

Qualifications:

• Native or fluent Arabic speaker with strong English proficiency.
• Any experience working as a virtual assistant is a plus.
• Excellent research, writing, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.
• Familiarity with Saudi Arabia's legal, cultural, and media environment is a plus.
• Prior experience in journalism, research, or related fields is desirable but not required.

Why Join Us:

• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful investigative journalism with global impact.
• Gain hands-on experience in research and reporting within an international team.
• 100% work from home.

Department College of Science

DivisionAll College Disciplines

Job FamilyFaculty- Academic

Reports toDirector of the Department

LocationAlfaisal University - Riyadh

The Research Assistant provides technical, operational, and administrative support for laboratories and research activities across the university. The role involves assisting with research projects, maintaining lab equipment and supplies, supporting faculty and student research, implementing lab safety procedures, and contributing to the development and documentation of research outputs. The position is designed to ensure efficient and compliant lab operations that facilitate high-quality research and learning environments. The research Assistant also implements lab safety policies and procedures and handles all administrative aspects of the labs.

• Supports research projects by preparing materials, assisting in experiments, and collecting and organizing data as directed by research faculty or lab heads to ensure smooth research progress.
• Supervises and assists students and junior staff during laboratory sessions, ensuring adherence to lab protocols and safety standards to maintain a safe learning environment
• Performs routine laboratory duties including maintaining equipment, managing supplies and inventory, and handling basic troubleshooting and maintenance to ensure lab readiness.
• Implements and ensures compliance with lab safety policies and procedures; conducts regular self-inspections to maintain a safe research environment and control hazards.
• Maintains accurate records of lab activities, equipment maintenance, and research documentation to support traceability and accountability.
• Provides technical guidance and training to staff and students on proper laboratory techniques and safety protocols to enhance competence and safety.
• Participates in professional development activities to stay current with advancements in laboratory procedures and research methodologies, ensuring up-to-date practices.
• Assists with administrative aspects of lab operations, including scheduling, procurement, and documentation for audits or accreditations to support operational efficiency.
• Contributes to the preparation of research-related documentation such as reports, articles, and grant support materials to facilitate knowledge sharing and funding.
• Maintains regular availability for consultation and support to faculty, students, and collaborators involved in research or lab-based coursework to foster collaboration and problem-solving.
• Performs all duties in a professional, effective, and confidential manner.
• Performs all other related duties as required or assigned by the manager.

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific or health-related field (e.g., Science, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering or related field from accredited institute.

• Minimum of three (03) years of experience in research, laboratory environment institution or related fields.

We're Hiring: Part-Time Market Research Assistant (Saudi Arabia)

Proctor Global Design is seeking a part-time Market Research Assistant to support our efforts in gathering market intelligence on construction and mining equipment across Saudi Arabia.

Job Details:

• Position: Market Research Assistant

• Target Market: Saudi Arabia

• Contract: 1-2 Months

• Engagement: Part-time (Remote)

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct market research focused on large equipment such as generators and compressors

• Identify and engage with relevant businesses and stakeholders within the region

• Communicate effectively via phone and email to collect and verify data

Requirements:

• Prior experience with industrial equipment, especially generators and compressors

• Strong networking and outreach skills within the Saudi market

• Fluent in Arabic and English (spoken and written)

• Currently based in Saudi Arabia and available to start immediately

How to Apply:

If you're motivated, resourceful, and ready to contribute to high-impact research, we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at with a brief overview of your background and your enthusiasm for meeting research targets.