Senior Pharmaceutical Officer – Woldiya

Organizational Overview:

FHI 360 is a nonprofit human development organization dedicated to improving lives in lasting ways by advancing integrated, locally driven solutions. Our staff includes experts in health, education, nutrition, environment, economic development, civil society, gender equality, youth, research, technology, communication, and social marketing — creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development and humanitarian challenge in more than 70 countries. FHI 360’s Crisis Response team is responding to the humanitarian emergency in Tigray, Amhara and Afar region, focusing on emergency health, nutrition and WASH activities to support the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the leadership of the Health and Nutrition Coordinator and in close coordination with the Logistics and Supply Chain Team and the Technical Advisors, the main role for the Senior Pharmaceutical is to define, coordinate and monitor all medical supplies related activities in FHI 360 health projects, including management of staff. The key responsibility of this position is to ensure the proper management and supply of medical supplies including medications, medical consumables, laboratory consumables and medical equipment and devices according to FHI 360 protocols, standards, procedures and guidelines. Also, to implement an adequate medical supplies’ management system, and train staff as needed.   

Primary Responsibilities: 

Medical Supplies Management and Organization 

  • To ensure that proper medical supplies’ management procedures are followed with the purpose of feeding into corrective actions to ensure alignment with FHI 360’s medical supplies’ management guidelines. This includes but not limited to storage, dispensing, rational use, and consumption of medical supplies.  
  • Review and strengthen the medical supplies’ structure of FHI 360’s mission, both at warehouse, procurement and technical staff levels. 
  • Implement essential medical supplies’ management tools, and design new ones if necessary. 
  • Supervise closely the warehouse medical supplies stocks ensuring an adequate management according to WHO and FHI 360 quality standards and guidelines. 
  • To perform routine quality checks to avoid stock outs. 
  • Monitor the medical supplies’ management at projects’ sites (stock movement, inventories, analysis of stocks, etc.).  
  • Guarantee the proper management of the cold chain throughout the cycle. 
  • Ensure the correct handling of expired and/or damaged pharmaceutical products. 
  • Ensure appropriate preparation and distribution of medical supplies requests to health facilities according to projects’ needs, also check the rationality of those requests. 

Medical Supplies Procurement:

  • Work with the medical team in the elaboration of FHI 360 standard list of medical supplies. 
  • Ensure the proper elaboration and reception of medical supplies orders. 
  • Provide technical support to the Procurement Team for medical supplies orders, also in the quotation processes. 
  • Ensure that all procedures for the supply cycle are made in time according to the mission supply chronogram. 
  • In close coordination with medical and Procurement/Logistics Teams, to review procurement procedures to ensure compliance with FHI 360’s and donors required quality standards related to the quality of medical supplies and vendors. 
  • Follow up the update of the consumption tools for the projects and follow-up on the consumption data regularly. 

Technical Support and Capacity Building:

  • Supervising, coaching and evaluating staff involved in medical supplies management to ensure respecting FHI 360 procedures and protocols.  
  • Participate in the recruitment process of new staff. 
  • Ensure technical capacity building and training of FHI 360 staff involved in handling medical supplies’, including but not limited to drug prescription and dispensing, rational drug use, medical supplies’ management, and safe disposal of medical supplies’. 
  • Visit field health facilities to provide technical support to the field teams and identify their trainings needs and provide such training.  
  • Define a plan to monitor consumption, stocks, and needs in FHI 360 supported health facilities. 

Communication and Reporting:

  • Prepare a monthly report of medical supplies management and share it with line manager. 
  • Participate in medical supplies’ and medical coordination meetings at the WHO and Clusters’ level. 
  • Participate actively in the definition and update of the annual planning and budgets of the medical supplies’ activities in FHI 360’s projects. 

Other Duties:  

  • Perform written and verbal interpretation and translation as necessary for the line manager and/or other FHI 360 staff or guests in relation to health projects. 
  • Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to FHI 360 management and liaising with other internal parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager. 

Skills and Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, or any other related field. 
  • At least 4 years of experience working in medical supplies and/or medical warehouse. Experience in designing and setting up a medical supplies system will be an asset. 
  • Experience in importation and clearance procedures of Ethiopia.
  • Familiar with the procedures and SOPs of EFDA – Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration and EPSS- Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service
  • Experience in working in a humanitarian context especially within Ethiopia.
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, set priorities, and meet deadlines. 
  • Ability to synthesize complex information and communicate it effectively to diverse audiences. 
  • Fluency in English; written and oral communication skills. 
  • Strong attention to detail, organizational. and time management skills. 
  • Willingness and ability to travel independently domestically. 
  • Computer proficiency in Windows environment (Microsoft Word, Excel); proficiency in an inventory management software will be an asset. 

Standards for Professional Conduct:  

The FHI360 and FHI 360 workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the standards for professional Conduct. In accordance with these values, the FHI 360 operates and enforces policies on Beneficiaries Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti‐Retaliation.  

Whilst all applications will be assessed strictly on their individual merit, qualified women are especially encouraged to apply.  

This job posting summarizes the main duties of the job. It neither prescribes nor restricts the exact tasks that may be assigned to carry out these duties. This document should not be construed in any way to represent a contract of employment. Management reserves the right to review and revise this document at any time.

FHI 360 is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.

Our values and commitments to safeguarding:FHI 360 is committed to preventing any type of abuse, exploitation and harassment in our work environments and programs, including sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment. FHI 360 takes steps to safeguard the welfare of everyone who engages with our organization and programs and requires that all personnel, including staff members and volunteers, share this commitment and sign our code of conduct. All offers of employment will be subject to appropriate screening checks, including reference, criminal record and terrorism finance checks. FHI 360 also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), facilitated by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response. In line with the MDS, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any substantiated findings of sexual abuse, exploitation and/or harassment during the applicant’s tenure with previous employers. By applying, job applicants confirm their understanding of these recruitment procedures and consent to these screening checks.

FHI 360 will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws.

FHI 360 fosters the strength and health of its workforce through a competitive benefits package, professional development and policies and programs that support a healthy work/life balance. Join our global workforce to make a positive difference for others — and yourself.

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