Central African Republic: Pharmacist

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION :

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 27 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

OBJECTIVES OF THE POSITION

This person will work for IRC regarding all the objectives described in this job description and in addition, he/she will be the focal person with the authorities regarding pharmaceutical issues.

The pharmacist will ensure the quality of the drugs purchased by IRC to the CAR country program, as well as the quality of the management of all drugs used on IRC health and nutrition programmes. He will be in charge of drugs orders and eventually international buffer stock. He will support IRC teams in term of staff training related to prescriptions and drugs management.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in the definition of strategies for supply, management, distribution and use of medical products in the mission, in line with the medical department's recommendations and policies

• Develops familiarity with the Ministry of Health's regulations on importation and management of drugs in force in the country and shares his/her knowledge with the Supply Coordinator and Health Coordinator. Is the linked with external actors concerning pharmaceutical issues

• Ensures respect for Good Distribution Practices for Pharmaceutical Products (GDPs) at coordination/project stock level, whether centralised or decentralised

• Ensures respect for Good Distribution Practices for Pharmaceutical Products and good dispensing practices in end user units

• Reports directly to the Health Coordinator (line manager)

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Technical support to health staff on the mission:

• As the referent on management and dispensing, is mandated by the Health Coordinator to intervene at all stages of the mission's medicine chain in accordance with his/her responsibilities and any other tasks involving his/her collaboration and participation

• Technical support to IRC staff on good storage/distribution practices

• Supervises the stock/pharmacy management of end user units in project through the Project Pharmacist

• Maintains a global overview of medical stocks in the mission

• Gathers stock indicators, analyse them and pass them on to the Health Coordinator / discusses with the Health Coordinator the decisions/interventions required (stock levels, stock-outs, pre-stock-outs, over-stocking, donations, expired products, disposal)

• Analyses the drugs real consumption in relation to protocols in force and the project's medical activities/fields

• Provides input for international orders: draws up the first draft of orders / with the Medical Coordinator, reviews the parameters involved in replenishing stock, reviews the projects' standard list, finalises orders based on consumption and future needs arising from the developments in medical activities

• Towards the supply team, acts as the main reference point (working relationships) for all issues relating to medical stock management at coordination and project level

• Conduct staff training when necessary

• Ensures respect for GDPs:

• Defines the pre-requisites and qualifications required for people working in a medical stock

• Ensures that all persons in the supply team are aware of the specificities of the medical items they handle by raising their awareness/coaching/training them on quality, sensitivity, specificity and the various products' storage conditions

• Defines the preparation techniques to be put into place (stock management rules)

• Conducts regular audits on respect for GDPs: the layout of the warehouse, storage, product arrangement, reception, distribution and transport. Checks with the Supply Coordinator/Supply Manager that recommendations are applied

• Gives specific directives and/or participates in stock reception and physical stock counts according to needs and necessities

• Is the focal person representing IRC towards the authorities on pharmaceuticals issues, and ensure a coherent and consistent communication system with authorities:

• To participate to all meetings related to pharmacy regulations organized by CAR authorities (DPM) and other agencies (if invited) and negotiate drug importation on behalf of all IRC missions, and inform IRC coordination through a written meeting report.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

Pharmacist with degree/diploma in pharmacy

Experience:

• 3 years professional experiences, including some experience in developing countries with IRC or another humanitarian organisation
• Knowledge of IRC European Procurement Centres highly recommended
• Experience with quality assurance and procurement is an asset

Particularities:

• Fluency in French mandatory (English would be added advantages)
• Mature with strong interpersonal and organisational skills
• Ability to work and report independently
• Able to represent IRC and capacity to negotiate positively and diplomatically with MoH officials and IRC national and expatriate staff
• Excellent communication and diplomatic skills
• Sensitivity and knowledge of CAR cultural context important
• Good organization and management skills
• Professionalism, transparency and flexibility a must
• Ability to work in a team
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
• Skilled in coaching, training and supervising pharmaceutical/drug dispensing staff
• Knowledge of Pharmacy tools is a plus

This is an unaccompanied position.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability

IRC leading the way from harm to home.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=a2F0cmluYW1pbGxlci45MTk1My4zODMwQGlyYy5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20