Consultant, Social and Behavioral Sciences Advisor (Diagnostics)
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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 health challenges.
PATH seeks a Consultant - Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Advisor with expertise in global health, diagnostics, and implementation research to provide technical support for the planning, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of social and behavioral science activities integrated within diagnostic validation studies. The consultant will support studies evaluating diagnostics for Ebola virus disease in diverse settings.
The consultant will work closely with study investigators, community-based organizations, ministries of health, and local stakeholders to ensure that community perspectives, user needs, behavioral considerations, and implementation realities are incorporated throughout study design, execution, interpretation, and dissemination. Findings generated through SBS activities will help identify barriers and facilitators to diagnostic uptake and appropriate use, inform product development and introduction strategies, optimize implementation approaches, and support evidence-based recommendations for outbreak preparedness and response.
Responsibilities:
Support the design and implementation of SBS activities integrated within diagnostic validation studies and product introduction efforts.
Define SBS related research questions and methodologies, informed by existing evidence, literature, and relevant contextual knowledge.
Contribute to development of SBS research plans, protocols, discussion guides, survey instruments, informed consent materials, and other study tools.
Advise study teams on appropriate qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to address key behavioral and implementation research questions.
Design and manage usability and user-experience assessments of candidate diagnostic tests among healthcare workers and other intended users.
Assess patient, caregiver, healthcare worker, and community perceptions of diagnostic approaches, specimen collection methods, testing pathways, and result communication.
Identify social, cultural, behavioral, and operational factors that may influence participation in diagnostic studies and uptake of diagnostic technologies.
Provide guidance on informed consent processes, participant communications, and community engagement approaches that promote comprehension, trust, and meaningful participation.
Support study teams in addressing concerns related to specimen collection, sample storage, future use of samples, privacy, confidentiality, and data sharing.
Identify behavioral risks associated with diagnostic testing, including consequences of false-negative results, delayed care-seeking, stigma, discrimination, or mistrust associated with positive test results.
Assess operational barriers and facilitators to diagnostic implementation, including workforce considerations, workflow integration, training needs, biosafety practices, supply chains, waste management, and health system readiness.
Provide recommendations to optimize study procedures and data collection processes to align with local contexts and minimize burden on healthcare workers and study staff.
Collaborate with community-based organizations and local stakeholders to ensure community perspectives are reflected throughout study implementation.
Support analysis and interpretation of SBS findings and integration of results with clinical, laboratory, and operational study outcomes, drawing on relevant evidence, literature, and prior research in the study area.
Contribute to development of study reports, donor deliverables, policy briefs, scientific publications, presentations, and dissemination materials. Document lessons learned, inform monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities, and support dissemination of study methods and findings through publications and other knowledge sharing outputs.
Support communication of study findings and recommendations to participants, families, communities, health authorities, and other stakeholders in a manner that promotes trust, transparency, and informed decision-making.
Provide strategic input on diagnostic product value propositions, introduction strategies, implementation considerations, and adoption pathways for outbreak preparedness and response programs.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
Advanced degree in social and behavioral sciences, medical anthropology, sociology, psychology, public health, implementation science, health communication, behavioral economics, or a related discipline.
Minimum 5 years of experience designing and implementing social and behavioral science, qualitative research, implementation research, human-centered design, or community engagement activities in global health settings.
Professional working proficiency in both French and English is required.
Demonstrated experience working in outbreak response, emergency preparedness, infectious diseases, public health surveillance, or pandemic preparedness programs preferably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Preferable experience with Ebola virus disease or viral hemorrhagic fever outbreak response.
Demonstrated experience designing and conducting qualitative and mixed-methods research, including interviews, focus group discussions, surveys, and thematic data analysis.
Experience integrating behavioral and user-centered insights into product development, clinical research, product introduction, or other related public health initiatives.
Knowledge of research ethics, informed consent processes, and human subjects protections.
Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation, and communication skills.
Experience developing reports, presentations, manuscripts, and technical communication materials for diverse audiences.
Ability to work independently, develop and drive activities, multi-task and thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure situations while collaborating with a global project team.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
This position is remote, but preference will be given to qualified candidates based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Candidates based in other African countries or Europe will also be considered.