Biomarker Specialist, Demographic and Health Surveys Program

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing heath challenges.

PATH seeks to hire a Biomarker Specialist for its USAID-funded Demographic and Health Surveys Program (DHS), implemented by PATH’s partner, ICF in Rockville, Maryland.

The DHS program assists developing countries to implement household-based surveys in the areas of maternal and child health, family planning, HIV / AIDS, malaria, and nutrition and health facility assessment (Service Provision Assessment SPA ) surveys, which are facility-based surveys designed to collect information on the preparedness of health facilities to provide quality services to clients.

Please review The DHS Program website at www.dhsprogram.com to learn more about The DHS Program and the measurement of biomarkers in surveys.

The biomarker specialist will be responsible for providing technical guidance to The DHS Program on the measurement of biomarkers in household-based surveys ( core activities) and for the management of biomarker measurement in surveys in individual countries together with DHS team members ( field activities).

This full-time position will be based in ICF’s Rockville, MD office in the Washington, DC metro area. Other locations will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Specific field duties and responsibilities of the Biomarker Specialist include but are not limited to :

Training consultants, in-country trainers, and field staff on the following : Data collection tools, blood and other specimen collection procedures, cold chain logistics, and monitoring field work.

The use and application of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and point-of-care devices for the measurement of anemia, HIV, malaria, hepatitis B, diabetes markers, blood pressure, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

Anthropometry including planning standardization exercises and serving as the gold-standard measurer during such exercises.

• Preparing manuals and other training documents and materials for use in specific surveys.
• Conducting assessments of host-country laboratories to determine the labs’ capacity to carry out biomarker testing.
• Training and supervision of in-country laboratories to conduct assays or procedures that cannot be conducted in the field.

Testing will include but is not limited to HIV, hepatitis B, malaria microscopy, and micronutrients.

• Contributing to the development, review, and piloting of new training materials, manuals, mixed media training approaches, virtual instructor led trainings.
• Creatively contributing on ways to expand the DHS Program’s biomarker portfolio including through literature reviews, partner engagement, and outreach to academic researchers.
• Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to new biomarker tests and / or that enhance data quality of existing biomarkers.
• Participating in other DHS Program activities, e.g., assisting in developing questionnaires and modules, preparing / revising core manuals and training materials, preparing / reviewing select sections of DHS reports, making presentations to USAID and other stakeholders, working with management on client deliverables as needed.

The Biomarker Specialist position requires up to 35% travel to countries in Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa.

A successful biomarker specialist will be able to train in person or remotely and demonstrate a high level of flexibility in performing all other responsibilities of the position.

Required Qualifications :

• A master’s degree or PhD in a biomedical science or related degree
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience

Required Skills :

• Familiarity with field-friendly specimen collection techniques.
• Working knowledge and / or practical experience performing enzyme immunoassays.
• Experience working with low- and middle-income country institutions.
• Experience performing QC and QA measures in all phases of biomedical testing.
• Excellent technical writing skills including the ability to write clear and concise reports for internal and external audiences.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team or independently.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and deliverables.
• Comfortable working in the full suite of Microsoft 365 products.
• Experience with virtual platforms and mixed media presentations.
• Fluency in English and French.

Preferred Skills :

• Fluency in Portuguese or Spanish.
• Experience teaching or training adults.
• Certification in phlebotomy.
• Familiarity with molecular tests and molecular biology techniques.
30+ days ago