Health Pharmacy Officer at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Full Time

Job Title: Health Pharmacy Officer

Location: Zamfara
Requisition ID: req41441
Sector: Health
Employment Category: Regular
Employment Type: Full-Time

Project Overview

• The BHA (Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance) project, “Integrated Emergency Response to the Displaced Population in Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina States, Northwest Nigeria” depending on fund availability will be carried out by a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in collaboration with the Alliance for International Medical Action (Alima), Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI), and Life Helpers Initiative (LHI), aims to leverage each partner’s expertise to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to internally displaced people populations through area-based approach.
• The Consortium partners will provide an integrated multisectoral intervention in Health, Nutrition, WASH, Protection, and Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) activities in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states in collaboration with state governments, UN organizations and other key actors in Northwest Nigeria.
• The project will be implemented by a dedicated support, quality assurance, and coordination team, who will work closely with all partners through a management unit of well-structured consortium governance for the activity.

Job Overview / Summary

• The Pharmacist officer is responsible for overseeing pharmaceutical distribution and monitoring for the population in the catchment area of IRC-supported health facilities in the Northwest. Responsibilities will include day-to-day distribution of pharmaceuticals, monitoring of activities, capacity development of health staff, report making, using PIT, coordination with other sectors and government authorities as well as close collaboration with health facility staff and managers.
• The position is based in Sokoto with regular trips to IRC’s health programs sites and consortium partners throughout the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria as needed.
• Reports to the Pharmacy Manager, while working very closely with the dispensers at the facilities and Clinical officers

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:
Health program management:

• Monitors the availability of medical products to avoid stock-outs and financial losses generated by expired items; Collaborates with the pharmacy Manager/s and deputy team lead to define stock security levels in IRC’s directly implemented facilities.
• In close collaboration with the Warehouse officer(s) and HMIS, develops stock levels alert (based on an average monthly consumption AMC and morbidity data); gathers stock indicators, analyze them and discuss with the Health Coordinator / Supply Chain coordinator so as to avoid stock-outs and the financial losses generated by expired items.
• In collaboration with the other health program staff in Nigeria, oversee the implementation of pharmaceutical aspects of health projects implemented by IRC Nigeria in Gusau and Anka.
• In collaboration with the pharmacy Manager, ensure that health programs utilize standardized protocols, policies, and guidelines, as outlined by the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and WHO. Ensure that all Health activities are consistent with established best practices.
• Ensuring medicines are stored appropriately and securely.
• Liaising with Health facility clinicians to ensure appropriate prescription and rational drug use.
• Provide supervision to drug dispensers, checking dosage and ensuring that medicines are correctly and safely supplied and labelled, to avoid dispensing errors.
• Participate in Joint supportive supervisory visit by IRC and SPHCDA supervisor to all Health facilities and IRC mobile clinic and ensure that appropriate feedback and mentorship takes place.

Program Development / Grant Management:

• Ensure that all necessary drug information is correctly and fully recorded on the stock cards: IRC code, batch number, and expiry date, date of receipt or delivery, stock balance (incoming/outgoing), receipt and delivery document reference numbers.
• Complete all the tables for monitoring stock movements and consumption on the PIT.
• Prepares the monthly stock report.
• In conjunction with the senior Pharma Manager/Log Manager, perform physical stock counts in accordance with the frequency defined in the SOP.
• Inform the Senior Pharma Manager when the stock of goods is nearing the minimum or maximum threshold, and regularly provide the Senior Pharma Manager and Health Coordinator with a list of the items with expiry dates within the next six months.
• Monitor the temperature of the warehouse and ensure that products requiring cold chain (vaccines) are always stored at a suitable temperature (between +2°C and +8°C) – manually record T twice daily – Reports any deviation, using the cold chain breech report.
• Prepare the cold chain boxes as per Cold chain SOP.
• Ensure the availability of enough icepacks, clean cold chain containers for the outreach activities including vaccine campaigns.
• Ensure cleaning, defrosting and maintenance of fridges.
• Medical waste management: Prepare the list of expired drugs and items and inform the Senior Pharma Manager/SCC and Health Coordinator. Ensure safe storage of expired drugs/items.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• Required for all positions with supervisory responsibility, if special considerations are needed (e.g., remote management), make this additive to the base language here.
• Identifying pharmaceutical gap and training needs of clinicians in supported MOH Health Facilities, IRC mobile clinic and pharmacy technician, conduct formal training and on-the job coaching as appropriate.
• Routinely monitor Drug dispensers and pharmacy technicians ensuring performance according to their job description and provide written feedback in a timely manner.
• Review personnel issues and concerns of Drug dispensers and Health facility Pharmacy technicians and assist in determining and implementing solutions.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures and communicate through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
• Research, Learning and Analysis

Monitoring health program implementation:

• Prepare a weekly/monthly report of movements of drugs and medica supplies (incoming/outgoing) in the Drug warehouse and submit a report to the Senior Pharmacy Manager, SC Manager, and Health Manager
•  Immediately inform the Senior Pharma Manager of any problems arising in the course of the work, particularly regarding damage, loss, attempted break-ins, or theft in the warehouse, supported health facilities and Mobile clinic drug dispensary.
•  Conduct routine inventory inspection and submit a report to the Senior Pharma Manager/Logistics manager in a timely
• Monitor and promote integrated programming in a way that increases overall impact of health program at the community level.

Coordination & Representation:

• Attend all relevant meetings in relation to the health program as may be required and feed in the IRC priorities during meetings.
• Facilitate field visits for internal and external stakeholders, when required.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Health manager
• Indirect/Technical Reporting: Snr Health officer, Senior Health Manager, Health Coordinator.
• Position directly Supervises: Health facility and Mobile clinic Pharmacy Technician, drug dispenser.

Key Internal Contacts:

• Country Program:  SPC, Deputy Director Program, Finance Manager, Supply chain Manager, Senior Area Manager, DDFM

Key External Contacts:

• INGO Partner in Gusau and Anka

Qualifications
Education:

• B.Pharm Degree
• Must possess the practicing license or qualifying certificate.
• Master’s degree or postgraduate diploma or certificate in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Pharmacy Management, Business Administration or related field is an added advantage.

Work Experience:

• 2-3 years of work experience or professional experience, of which 1 – 2 years in health system Support, strengthening, and the development sector.
• Experience in field missions as a pharmacist in the humanitarian setting is highly recommended.
• Must be registered with relevant licensing bodies and allowed to practice in Nigeria.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of drugs and medical supplies regulations of Nigeria.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• NGO work experience is an advantage.
• Ability to work with displaced communities with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Experience in working in a team and able to lead a team.
• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Language Skills:  English, working knowledge of Hausa and Fulani preferred.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.