[Hiring] Biomarker Specialist @ICF

Role Description

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.
• Conduct 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.

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Pay Range

The pay range for this position based on full-time employment is: $74,090.00 - $125,954.00 (Maryland Remote Office MD99).