Roving Pharmacy Officer at the International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee 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, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Roving Pharmacy Officer

Requisition ID: req37470
Location: Yola, Adamawa
Sector: Health
Employment Type: Full-Time
Employment Category: Regular
Open to Expatriates: No

Contextual Background

• The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations.
• IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State.
• Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods

Job Overview / Summary
HeRON Project Overview in Adamawa:

• Since 2020, the Health Resilience of the Northeast (HeRON) project has been working alongside states and local government authorities in Borno and Yobe, strengthening their capacity to effectively deliver quality integrated primary healthcare, reproductive, maternal, and newborn and child health and nutrition services.
• In late 2022, HeRON conducted a health needs assessment in Adamawa state to ascertain the readiness of the health system to provide quality primary healthcare services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host community members.
• In 2023, HeRON will expand to Adamawa state to support the State Government in implementing a resettlement plan for IDPs across selected LGAs from dependency on emergency humanitarian aid to independent and self-sufficient residents of Adamawa state, and support the IDPs, IDP returnees, and vulnerable host community members have improved access to quality primary health care and Nutrition services.

Scope of Work

• The Pharmacy Officer will report to the HeRON Manager and will be based in Yola, Adamawa State.
• S/he will be work closely with the IRC Adamawa HeRON team members in providing Pharmacy system Strengthening initiatives and durable solutions to the health system. By building the capacity of the health facility staff, community structures and LGAs to ensure implementation of HeRoN health system strengthening approaches and initiatives while ensuring accountability by the Health Facilities.
• S/he will support in aligned with the State’s Supply chain strategy of health products and the Health Sector priorities of IDPs and IDP returnee’s resettlement plan.
• The position holder must maintain collaborative working relationships established among key government structures and officials.
• The position requires experience with government health care system, good inventory management skills, understanding of the DRF system and experience of working in partnership with or directly with the Ministry of Health.
• S/he must have the ability to plan and collaborate with States & LGAs LMCU, LGHA, and the Ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders through coordination and consultation.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:

• Provide TA and capacity building LGHA by strengthen state systems for procurement and supply chain management of health commodities.
• Provide Logistics support to State and LGA LMCUs focusing on reporting, data reconciliations, distribution, shipping, storage and warehousing of commodities.
• Ensure that all required health inventory checks are conducted, and all variances reconciled
• To provide technical coordination in product selection, quality assurance, receipt of commodities and efficient storage and distribution systems at the Health Facilities.
• Work with the Essential medicines program and the DRF of the state to direct outgoing or incoming health commodities distribution activities of health facilities and ensure health commodities or supplies are shipped, distributed, or received in an efficient manner and ensure that all required inventory checks are conducted, and all variances reconciled.
• Work with the PHCDA and other state team in developing, maintaining and improving a logistics management information system and an electronic inventory control system of stocking and tracking commodities.
• Support the state government team in the development of warehousing and distribution budgets Conduct periodic visits to facility warehouses to follow up on all warehouse-related matters such as the environment, sterilization, refrigeration etc. and generate reports to management and other stakeholders.
• Monitor safety standards in accordance with regulations; ensure safety code and quality compliance are met daily and report any issues arising to the Senior Pharmacy Manager (SPM).
• Work with the SPM and the state teams in designing coordinated systems for the transportation of health commodities report and forecast delivery times, transport costs and performance in order to reduce stock-outs, eliminate waste and lower costs.
• Ensure that all distribution documentation for health commodities in supported Health Facilities procured through state funds & funding from agencies, that is with suppliers, and regulatory bodies is complete and compliant.
• Work with the state team to institute data entries into the district health information system.

Effective Stock Management, Medical Supplies and Analysis:

• In close collaboration with the Drug Dispensers at the supported health Facilities, develops stock levels alert (based on an average monthly consumption (AMC) and morbidity data); Gathers stock indicators, analyze them, observe consumption trend to discuss and with the Health Manager/ Pharmacy Manager to avoid stock-outs at the health facility and the financial losses generated by expired items.
• Ensure quality assurance by conducting supervisory visits to HeRON supported government health facilities: S/he will serve as focal point for good distribution and dispensing practices in Health facilities.
• Monitor the identification and enrolment of IDPs, IDP returnees and vulnerable host community members on the state’s contributory health management schemes following the agreed guidelines in collaboration with the State.
• Support the dispenser for each team/facility to maintain and monitor good record of receiving, storing, dispatching of medical items in line with IRC guidelines or/and procedures.
• Regularly monitor the quality of product in storage at the health facilities and report any concern to the Senior Health Manager, Senior Pharmacy manager.
• Ensure that all pharmacy files (including sites' ones) monthly including monthly physical inventory file are Update and manage properly.
• Support the Area office and facility’s pharmacy to maintain permanently good housekeeping of the IRC pharma supplies (checking of temperature and hygiene).
• Applies Good Distribution Practices (GDPs) for pharmaceutical products at storage level, and Good Dispensing Practices in end user units and ensure adherence to same by HeRON supported health facilities.
• Manages medical stock data and indicators, analyzes and interprets performance to support the necessary programmatic decisions or course corrections in collaboration with Health and Supply Chain staff (consumption, stock levels, stock-outs, pre-stock-outs, over-stocking, donations, expired products, disposal, etc.)
• Regularly visits the warehouse to conduct audits and follow up on recommendations on GDPs: the layout of the warehouse, storage, product arrangement, reception, distribution and transport and conduct monthly and bi-monthly stock count and participate in the end of year counts.
• Be involve in monthly inventory checks and unscheduled inventory checks at the implementing sites/Facilities.
• Supervise the store release, distribution, and transfer of all stock to the required field site locations; and report the weekly movement of drugs and other commodities
• S/he shall monitor and report on monthly basis the Health Facilities consumption
• Perform any other related tasks as may be assigned by the line manager

Coordination & Representation:

• Participate in technical Coordination meetings at the LGHA, LGA LMCU and the State levels, as required.
• Facilitate the planning processes at LGA levels, to ensure an inclusive approach that engages stakeholders and communities to reflect health needs in the local context
• Jointly planning with stakeholders and organizing community-level and facility-level meetings
• Participate at program coordination meetings with the Adamawa HeRON team
• Coordinate with other partners and stakeholders in the supply chain of health products of the states to ensure harmonization and implementation the states strategic plans for the supply chain of health products.
• Works in close collaboration with the supply chain leads at the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, SMoH and LMCUs at both State and LGA levels.

Key Working Relationships

• Line Manager: HeRON Manager Yola
• Position directly Supervises: N/A
• Technical reporting: Senior Pharmacy Manager
• Key Internal Contacts: HeRON Capacity Building Officers, HeRON M&E Officer, HeRON M&E Manager, HeRON Consortium Senior Managers, HeRoN Governance manager, HeRON Deputy Team Leader, IRC’s sector leads (Health, Nutrition, Wash), Pharmacy Officer, Supply Chain, Consortium Finance.

Key External Contacts:

• Ministry of Health, Health Facility staffs, Community Leaders, and Members

Qualifications

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor or Doctor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm or D. Pharm) with Supply Chain Management and Public Health / System strengthening background.
• Post-graduate training in Supply Chain Management, public health, added advantage

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience, of which 1 - 2 years in health system strengthening and the development sector.
• Experience in deep field mission as a pharmacist in 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.
• Should be able to use Microsoft Office especially MS-Word, Excel, outlook …
• Able to communicate in English language (written and spoken); Knowledge of local languages is a plus    
• Additional qualities: team worker, be flexible, and adaptability to transitions.
• Have experience in general management (including financial and budget management, logistics management, etc.)
• Familiarity/ knowledge of operational contexts Adamawa State

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Background in Logistics and Supply chain management, situation analysis, Health System strengthening, Pharmacy sms strengthening, DRF scheme, health assessments M&E and program implementation.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

• Flexible, diplomatic and have ability and willingness live and work under pressure of workloads
• A mature person of high professional discipline and moral integrity, proactive and able to work under stress as the situation may dictate.
• Languages:  English. Knowledge of local languages is an added advantage

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to Travel: 30 % of time

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online