Global Senior Data Processing Specialist

ICF; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

ICF is seeking an experienced Senior Data Processing Specialist to provide technical leadership for data processing, digital data collection, and data-related innovation within DHS Program surveys and other large-scale studies.

The role leads CAPI system design, testing, deployment, and support across multiple country surveys, resolving complex technical and data-quality issues while mentoring staff and country counterparts. International travel is required 20–30% of the time.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in survey data processing and data collection.
• 5+ years designing, developing, testing, deploying and supporting CAPI applications, including advanced CSPro proficiency.
• 5+ years programming with Python, Java, C#, or JavaScript.
• 1+ year of experience with survey data validation, QA, and preparing analysis-ready datasets.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, programming, testing, deployment, and maintenance of complex CAPI applications using CSPro and related tech.
• Translate questionnaires, skip patterns, validation rules, and sample-management requirements into reliable data-collection apps.
• Provide technical readiness reviews and support pretests, training, launches, and initial fieldwork.
• Diagnose and resolve complex application, device, synchronization, and data-quality problems.
• Provide oversight for survey data processing, automated quality checks, and standardized tabulations.
• Develop reusable code, templates, and technical guidance to improve quality and efficiency.

Skills

CSPro

Python

Java

C#

JavaScript

CAPI

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CSPro

Survey Solutions

ODK

KoboToolbox

Job description

Description

ICF is seeking an experienced Senior Data Processing Specialist to provide technical leadership for data processing, digital data collection, and data-related innovation under The DHS Program and other large-scale surveys in low- and middle-income countries.

ICF is seeking an experienced Senior Data Processing Specialist to provide technical leadership for data processing, digital data collection, and data-related innovation under The DHS Program and other large-scale surveys in low- and middle-income countries.

This Senior Data Processing Specialist will lead the design, testing, deployment, and support of complex computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) systems and associated data-processing activities across multiple country surveys. This is a senior, hands-on role: the successful candidate will resolve complex technical and data-quality problems, strengthen the skills of Data Processing Specialists, consultants, and country counterparts, and promote consistent technical practices across the survey portfolio.

This Senior Data Processing Specialist will also help shape how AI and automation are used in DHS data processing, contributing to a team that includes AI engineers and other specialists. This includes helping pilot, evaluate, and improve tools such as AI-assisted anomaly detection and identifying processing tasks that can be safely automated.

This position will require travel internationally approximately 20 to 30 percent of the time, including trips that may extend for several weeks.

Key Responsibilities

CAPI and field systems

• Lead the design, programming, testing, deployment, and maintenance of complex CAPI applications for population and facility surveys using CSPro and other appropriate technologies.
• Translate questionnaires, skip patterns, validation rules, sample-management requirements, biomarker protocols, and other survey specifications into reliable and user-friendly data-collection applications.
• Lead technical readiness reviews and support pretests, training, survey launches, and initial fieldwork.
• Diagnose and resolve complex application, device, synchronization, communications, and data-quality problems.

Data processing and quality

• Provide technical oversight for survey data processing, including automated quality checks, standardized tabulations, dataset preparation, metadata, anonymization, and disclosure protection.
• Ensure consistency among questionnaires, CAPI applications, datasets, tabulation specifications, and final survey outputs.
• Develop reusable code, testing procedures, documentation, templates, and technical guidance that improve quality and efficiency across surveys.

Technical leadership and capacity strengthening

• Provide senior technical guidance and mentoring to Data Processing Specialists, consultants, and country counterparts, and advise Survey Managers and Survey Portfolio Managers on technical issues.
• Lead training and capacity strengthening for in-country data-processing staff, IT personnel, trainers, supervisors, and other technical counterparts, including the appropriate use of new tools.
• Collaborate with survey managers, statisticians, survey methodologists, biomarker specialists, GIS specialists, analysts, and other technical experts.

Innovation, automation, and AI

• Work with AI engineers and other teammates to pilot, evaluate, and improve AI-assisted data processing tools, such as anomaly detection for data quality, before they are scaled.
• Identify data processing tasks that could be safely automated, and help develop reusable scripts or pipelines to automate them.
• Contribute to standards for testing, documentation, expert review, and confidentiality when automated and AI-assisted tools are used with survey data.
• Capture lessons learned and help translate successful innovations into sustainable tools, standards, and operating procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, mathematics, statistics, demography, public health, data science, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in survey data processing, digital data collection, software development, data management, or related technical work with substantial experience supporting large-scale population, health, facility, or similarly complex surveys.
• 5+ years of experience designing, developing, testing, deploying, and supporting CAPI applications, including

advanced proficiency with CSPro.

• 5+ years of experience programming and problem-solving experience using Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, or another general-purpose programming language.
• 1+ year of experience with survey data validation, quality assurance, processing, and preparation of analysis-ready datasets, and with diagnosing and resolving complex software, systems, and data-quality problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant technical, statistical, demographic, or public health discipline.
• Experience with the DHS Program or a comparable international survey program such as MICS, LSMS, PHIA, or national census operations.
• Expert-level CSPro programming and application development experience.
• Experience with Survey Solutions, ODK, SurveyCTO, KoboToolbox, or another digital data collection platform.
• Experience with Stata, R, SPSS, SAS, or another statistical and data-analysis package.
• Experience with software development practices such as source control, code review, automated testing, and AI-assisted development tools, and with building reusable components or data-processing pipelines
• Experience applying machine learning, AI, or statistical methods to data validation or anomaly detection.
• Experience with statistical disclosure control or data privacy practices for microdata.
• Experience working with national statistical offices, ministries of health, or other government implementing agencies in low- and middle-income countries.
• Professional working proficiency in French, Portuguese, Spanish, or another language relevant to the DHS Program country portfolio.

Core Competencies

• Experience training, mentoring, or providing technical leadership to staff, consultants, or country counterparts.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and support multiple surveys at different stages of implementation.
• Advanced technical expertise, problem solving, and sound technical judgment
• Strong commitment to data quality, security, and reproducibility
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration
• Adaptability in complex international environments
• Responsible application of new technologies

Working at ICF

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world's toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read ourEEO policy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Work Authorization and Sponsorship

All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for new H-1B visa sponsorship by ICF. Candidates who currently hold valid work authorization may be considered for a change of employer petition, subject to company policy and applicable immigration requirements.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an accommodation, please [e-mail] we will be happy to assist. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodations.

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