Consultant

Africa-Based Consultant – Biosafety, Biosecurity & Laboratory Systems SME
SciLore, LLC | Independent Consultant | Africa
SciLore, LLC is seeking experienced Africa-based Biosafety, Biosecurity (BSS), and Laboratory Systems Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for potential consulting assignments supporting global health security programs across Africa.
The primary focus of these assignments will be biosafety, biosecurity, and biorisk management, complemented by practical laboratory expertise. We are particularly interested in professionals with experience supporting molecular and decentralized diagnostics, including PCR, GeneXpert, and other molecular diagnostic platforms, as well as preparedness and response for Ebola virus disease, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and other high-consequence or priority pathogens.
Assignments may include short-term technical assistance, assessments, training, mentoring, technical writing, and support to national and subnational laboratories, ministries of health, national public health institutes, and laboratory networks.
Areas of Technical Support
Consultants may support activities including:
Conducting biosafety, biosecurity, and biorisk management assessments, laboratory walkthroughs, risk assessments, and gap analyses.
Evaluating laboratory practices, facilities, equipment, workflows, specimen handling, storage, transport, decontamination, waste management, occupational health and safety, and emergency/incident response practices.
Assessing biosecurity systems, including access control, secure storage, biological material inventory and accountability, transport, and incident management.
Translating assessment findings into clear, prioritized recommendations, corrective actions, laboratory improvement plans, and high-quality assessment reports.
Developing and reviewing BSS policies, plans, SOPs, risk assessments, technical guidance, tools, and other technical documents.
Designing and delivering BSS training, training-of-trainers (ToT), mentoring, and competency-based capacity strengthening.
Supporting implementation and follow-up of corrective actions and laboratory improvement plans.
Assessing biosafety considerations associated with PCR and molecular diagnostic workflows, including specimen receipt, processing, extraction/inactivation, amplification, contamination control, decontamination, and waste management.
Supporting safe implementation and operation of GeneXpert and other decentralized or near-point-of-care molecular diagnostic platforms.
Evaluating specimen collection, packaging, transport, referral, testing, storage, decontamination, and waste-management practices across centralized and decentralized diagnostic networks.
Supporting diagnostic preparedness and response for Ebola virus disease, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and other high-consequence or priority pathogens.
Supporting laboratory systems strengthening, diagnostic networks, and national global health security (GHS)objectives and priorities.
Providing technical assistance and mentoring to national and subnational institutions to strengthen sustainable BSS capacity.
Desired Qualifications
Strong candidates will have substantial professional experience in biosafety, biosecurity, biorisk management, and/or laboratory systems, ideally combined with practical experience supporting molecular diagnostics and public health laboratory networks.
Relevant experience may include:
Conducting laboratory biosafety and biosecurity assessments and risk assessments.
Developing actionable assessment reports, corrective action plans, and prioritized laboratory improvement plans.
Applying risk-based biorisk management principles and internationally recognized standards and guidance, including:
ISO 35001 – Biorisk Management for Laboratories and Other Related Organisations
WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th Edition, including its risk-based approach and supporting monographs
CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)
IATA requirements for the classification, packaging, documentation, and transport of infectious substances, as applicable to assignment responsibilities
Developing and implementing BSS policies, SOPs, risk assessments, technical guidance, and practical tools.
Designing and delivering BSS training, ToT, mentorship, and workforce-development activities.
Applying biosafety principles to PCR and molecular diagnostic workflows.
Working with GeneXpert or comparable decentralized molecular diagnostic platforms.
Supporting Ebola, viral hemorrhagic fever, or other high-consequence pathogen preparedness, diagnostics, and/or response.
Supporting laboratory systems strengthening and decentralized diagnostic networks.
Working within global health security programs and national health-security priorities.
Working directly with ministries of health, national public health institutes, national/reference laboratories, subnational laboratories, or other government institutions.
Additional Qualifications
Relevant advanced degree or equivalent combination of education and substantial professional experience in microbiology, molecular biology, laboratory sciences, biosafety/biosecurity, public health, veterinary sciences, or a related field.
Approximately 7–10+ years of relevant professional experience preferred.
Demonstrated professional experience within African public health and/or laboratory systems.
Strong technical writing skills, including demonstrated ability to prepare clear, concise assessment reports, risk assessments, recommendations, technical guidance, and other client-facing deliverables.
Strong training, facilitation, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with national counterparts, technical teams, and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
Professional proficiency in English and/or French; additional regional language capabilities are an asset.
Ability and willingness to travel within Africa for short-term technical assignments.
Who We Are Looking For
SciLore values practical field experience and sound technical judgment.
Strong consultants should be able to enter a laboratory or decentralized testing environment, understand how work is actually being performed, identify and prioritize meaningful biosafety and biosecurity risks, and develop recommendations that are technically sound, proportionate, feasible, and appropriate for the local context.
We are particularly interested in experts who understand how to apply international standards and technical guidance within diverse operating environments and who take a risk-based approach rather than relying solely on checklist-based compliance.
Consultants should also be comfortable working collaboratively with national counterparts, communicating findings constructively, and supporting sustainable improvements that can be maintained after an assignment ends.
Geographic & Language Experience
SciLore is building a network of qualified technical experts across West, Central, East, Southern, and North Africa and welcomes applications from professionals throughout the continent.
We are particularly interested in expanding our network of national and regional experts who are based in Africa and able to support both in-country and regional assignments.
Professional proficiency in English and/or French is highly desirable. Bilingual English/French capability and additional regional language skills are an asset.
Assignment Information
Engagement: Independent Consultant
Location: Africa-based
Assignments: In-country, regional, and/or remote technical support
Travel: Regional and international travel may be required
Level of Effort: Assignment-based, ranging from short-term technical assistance to recurring support
Availability: Based on program needs and consultant availability
About SciLore
SciLore, LLC is a woman-owned small business providing specialized technical and implementation support in global health security. With experience supporting activities across more than 35 countries, SciLore brings together specialized technical experts to deliver practical and sustainable solutions to complex health security challenges.

Work arrangement
Yes