Officer, Pharmacy at International Medical Corps

JOB SUMMARY:  

• The main responsibility of the pharmacy officer is to ensure that all pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities are made available to the appropriate IMC-supported facilities within given area of responsibility by coordinating with the different IMC departments – logistics, programs and finance. This responsibility will entail knowledge in supply chain management, familiarity with the country’s pharmaceutical policies and regulations including importation regulations and IMC’s logistics policies and procedures. The pharmacy officer is expected to contribute to the program by ensuring that appropriate medical commodities are provided at the highest quality in appropriate quantity needed for the implementation of IMC’s programs.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the pharmaceutical chain management at the assigned field office in consultation with the technical supervisor, health program manager, logistics manager and/or designates. 

Representation: 

• Represents the pharmacy department in all pertinent field site meetings internally within IMC 
• Supports the health program manager and/or designate during discussions on medical commodities with field level counterparts in relevant meetings such as sub-national health cluster meetings.

Proposal Development:

• Contributes to field inputs on medical commodities pertinent to the project design 
• Draft and submit bill of quantities of medical commodities in accordance with host country and donor approved formularies within approved project scope and budget limitations 
• Contribute to the identification of outsourcing of additional medical commodities to augment donor procured items to ensure comprehensive support according to project design

Quality Control:

• Leads the field site health unit in ensuring that all pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities which includes medical and laboratory equipment and supplies are at par with globally accepted standards 
• Upon the confirmation of the chief pharmacy officer, participates as the technical expert during vendor pre-qualification and vendor verification processes at field site level
• Promotes the highest standards of supply chain management through the adherence of WHO standards in the acquisition, storage, delivery, distribution and disposal of medical commodities

Reporting:

• Ensures that pending stock outs, damaged medication or any other irregularities observed with regard to the use of pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities are reported in a timely manner to pertinent staff including the technical supervisor, health program manager and field site coordinator
• Counter check any submitted monthly consolidated consumption and stock reports 

Documentation:

• Draft donation letters and prepare goods issue orders according to requests received from pharmacists at supported health facilities as verified through consumption records and inventory stock reports 
• Maintain hard and soft copy files for all documents relating to procured, received gifts in kind, and donated medical commodities including records of pharmaceutical disposal of expired or unusable items as per host-country and donor guidelines

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Coordinates with the MEAL department to ensure that regular monitoring of pharmacies and storage within supported health facilities are conducted 
• Ensures that all sites maintain updated stock inventories, record usage through consumption reports and provide feedback on near expiring medications, impending stock outs as well as slow moving medical commodities 

Warehouse and Storage:

• In collaboration with the medical commodities officer, ensures that medical commodities in the IMC warehouse are received, stored and transported in accordance with internationally accepted standard practices including tracking expiration dates, First Expire - First Out policy, bin cards, stock cards, tracking registers, re-order thresholds, cleanliness, temperature monitoring and other tasks pertinent for the maintenance for the viability and storage of pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities
• Follow up on pharmaceutical and other medical commodities stocks and communicate the need to request for replenishment
• Ensure tracking of over-utilized and under-utilized items and advise program manager and senior medical officer

Other responsibilities:

• Adhere to administrative directives with regards to work schedules, record keeping, patient communications, re-stocking of essential pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities
• Adhere to IMC Code of Conduct and internationally accepted humanitarian principles
• Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Typically, a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Typically, 3+ years in medical commodities and pharmaceutical chain management.
• Must present training certificate or previous experience in pharmacy management or equivalent 
• Familiar with the Basic Package of Health Services according to MOH
• Knowledge and previous experience working with stock management. 
• Experience with pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities preferred. 
• Ability to work under pressure and willing to be on call when the need arises
• English writing and reading skills essential
• Willing to work with a team
• Verbal and written English skills desirable