Pharmacy Manager at INTERSOS

JOB PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Country Pharmacist, the Pharmacy Manager takes responsibility for defining, coordinating and monitoring all pharmacy related activities in the Mission, according to INTERSOS standards and values, with consideration of national and donor’s regulations, in order to ensure the quality and proper organisation of medical supply process, procedures and protocols, the proper management of the medical stock in the projects and, in collaboration with the medical team, the correct use of medicines and medical material.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Main Task:

• he individual will know, promote, implement, and follow up on rational drug use, universal hygiene standards/precautions, bio‑hazard prevention and infection control, security rules, and other protocols and procedures within the medical premises, ensuring high standards of hygiene in their working environment.
• Respect medical confidentiality and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Support the Head of Mission (HoM) and the Medical Coordinator (MedCo) in representing and defending INTERSOS’s interests before the Ministry of Health and other local authorities or local suppliers on any issue concerning pharmaceutical supply. This is to ensure stock procurement in the projects while complying with national laws and regulations and following national protocols. Ensure close follow‑up of the National Drug Supply, particularly in projects where INTERSOS works in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (MoH).
• Collaborate in budgeting and preparing orders for drugs and other medical materials together with the Medical and Logistics Coordinators.
• Supervise the management of pharmacies across the mission, ensuring proper implementation of national safety standards, including pharmacovigilance follow‑up and waste management protocols, and adherence to national and international legislation. This ensures the quality of services provided to the population and the accurate handling of drugs and products, including their proper disposal in terms of hygiene and security. Where medical stock is integrated under the supply chain, this includes close involvement in the medical warehouse regarding procedures, operations, and stock management, though not direct supervision of the warehouse. Support the Medical Coordinator in the follow‑up of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPREP) planning and maintenance of medical emergency kits.
• Support and participate in all drug and medical material supply processes, ensuring their overall efficiency and effectiveness. This involves regular technical visits to project sites to ensure appropriate follow‑up of activities and management of field pharmacies; collecting and analysing stock indicators based on physical records and logistics across different projects; and, together with the Medical Coordinator, taking corrective decisions when necessary. Provide technical pharmacy support regarding pharmaceutical information, medication use (protocols and rational drug use), management of side effects, adherence issues, etc.
• Ensure the collection of data for monitoring and surveillance of optimal quantity and quality of medicine use. Support activities at service level for effective drug distribution and control, quality prescribing (rational drug use), medicines reconciliation, antibiotic stewardship interventions such as restricted‑use antibiotic reviews, follow‑up of pharmaceutical care plans, patient counselling, good dispensing practices, and safe medication practices.
• Monitor the procurement process and take corrective measures when needed, ensuring regular communication with Medical, Logistics, HR and Finance departments regarding medical supply and pharmacy management. Support the Medical Coordinator in ensuring that local medical purchases are made from approved sources, subject to the approval of the Section Pharmacist.
• Be responsible for the good maintenance of all drugs and equipment in the pharmacies, and for the appropriate storage and management of narcotic and psychotropic medication supplies in line with national legislation, permitting traceability for these specific products.
• Facilitate correct stock management and transport/storage procedures to ensure stock availability in all projects and to avoid expiries, overstocks, and stock‑outs. Ensure that all inventories of drugs and medical devices exist and are kept up to date. In close collaboration with the Logistics Department, supervise storage conditions (e.g., humidity, temperature, light exposure, cleanliness, pest and rodent control, stock security, maintenance of the cold chain, etc.), classification, organisation, and inventory. This guarantees the quality of medicines and other medical materials and prevents damage, financial losses from expired items, deterioration, and theft. Be responsible for the follow‑up of loans/donations and management of expired medications according to INTERSOS procedures (and national legislation in the case of expired drugs).
• Plan and supervise, in close coordination with the HR department, the associated processes (recruitment, training/induction, evaluation, potential detection, development and communication) of staff under your responsibility, ensuring both appropriate staffing levels and the required competencies. Where medical stock is integrated under the supply chain, provide support to the Supply Logistics Officer in this capacity to ensure medical stock and pharmacy management according to recommended guidelines/procedures.
• Participate in reporting according to national guidelines (Situation Reports, medical statistical reports, etc.) and report on drug consumption and medical devices dispensed according to protocols, informing on unusual patterns.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education & Professional experience

• Essential: Pharmacy degree (B.sc)
• Possession of a valid practicing License
• At least 4 years post-qualifying experience in a similar environment/Humanitarian context
• Essential computer literacy (word, excel, and internet)- Advanced level
• Leadership, people management, and development, teamwork, and cooperation
• Service Orientation.
• Understanding of humanitarian operations principles, standards, and best practices
• Manages effectively his/her own time as well as flexible and available to work overtime when needed.
• Mission working language, English and Hausa essential.
• Behavioural Flexibility
• Results and Quality Orientation
• Teamwork and Cooperation

Honesty and integrity and able to cope with stressful situations.