Biomarker Specialist

Biomarker Specialist

ICF is seeking a Biomarker Specialist to support the design, implementation, and quality assurance of biomarker and laboratory components of large-scale household surveys in low- and middle-income countries. The specialist will provide technical leadership, training, and oversight to ensure high-quality field and laboratory data collection.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for biomarker and laboratory activities throughout survey planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination.
• Develop protocols, standard operating procedures, training materials, and quality assurance procedures.
• Train and mentor field staff, biomarker technicians, laboratory personnel, and in-country trainers.
• Support anthropometry, specimen collection (capillary and venous blood), rapid diagnostic testing, blood pressure measurement, and other biomarker activities.
• Oversee specimen handling, transport, laboratory testing, quality control, and data review.
• Support dried blood spot collection, molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, and drug-resistance monitoring, as applicable.
• Coordinate biomarker supplies, laboratory consumables, and equipment.
• Conducting assessments of host-country laboratories to determine the labs' capacity to carry out biomarker testing.
• Collaborate with government agencies, laboratories, donors, and partners to strengthen local capacity and support successful implementation.

The Biomarker Specialist position requires up to 40 % travel to countries in Asia, Latin America & the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa. However, some country-specific activities may be conducted virtually. 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

• Master's degree, PhD, or medical degree in biomedical sciences, laboratory sciences, public health, epidemiology, molecular biology, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in biomarker, laboratory, public health, or survey research.
• Experience supporting field-based specimen collection or laboratory testing programs.
• Experience working with international organizations, government agencies, or research institutions.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of specimen collection, biosafety, specimen handling, and laboratory quality assurance and quality control.
• Familiarity with rapid diagnostic tests, immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, and related laboratory methods.
• Strong training, facilitation, technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Experience providing in-person and virtual technical assistance.
• Fluency in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or another international language.
• Experience with large-scale household surveys or public health surveillance programs.
• Experience with dried blood spots, molecular diagnostics, genomic surveillance, or drug-resistance monitoring.
• Phlebotomy and biological specimen collection skills.
• Knowledge of malaria microscopy and blood film preparation.
• Experience with anthropometry standardization and field quality assurance.

The Ideal Candidate

A collaborative and adaptable technical leader who is committed to scientific rigor, data quality, capacity strengthening, and effective work in diverse international settings.