Pharmacy Assistant at FHI 360

FHI 360

Position: Pharmacy Assistant

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Filtu - Ethiopia

Posted date: 2 days ago

Deadline: October, 15/2024 (26 days left)

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, youth, research, and technology– creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today’s interrelated development challenges. FHI 360 serves more than 70 countries, all 50 U.S. states, and all U.S. territories. FHI 360’s Crisis Response team has been responding to the humanitarian emergency in Northern Ethiopia through an integrated health, nutrition, WASH, and Protection project to meet the critical needs of the conflict-affected population. FHI 360 is also operating in the Somali Region in Eastern Ethiopia to meet the immediate needs of the drought-affected population and is implementing integrated humanitarian programming with the Ethiopia-based national organization, Pastoralist Concern (PC).

Summary of the position:

Under the supervision of a senior pharmaceutical officer, the pharmacy assistant will support health and nutrition programming in the Filtu of the Somali region. The pharmacy assistant will manage the pharmaceutical warehouse and carry out daily activities in pharmaceutical/ medical warehouses. He/she will receive pharmaceuticals, store them according to guidelines, issue them to health facilities, and follow their proper utilization. He/she will maintain a good record of receiving, storing, and dispatching medical items at the warehouses in line with FHI 360 protocols. He/she will work closely with the logistics team to ensure good dispensing and distribution protocols of pharmaceuticals are being followed. He/she will travel to health facilities to conduct supportive supervision, assess the needs of facilities, and collect data related to pharmaceutical availability and consumption. Works closely with the RHB pharmacy professionals to ensure that consumption is being tracked and for the improvement of pharmaceutical supply chain management in health facilities.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage pharmaceutical warehouse.
• Maintain good condition of the medical warehouse temperature control, organization of pharmacy layout, and hygiene.
• Receive pharmaceuticals, store them according to guidelines, and issue them to health facilities.
• Guarantee the proper management of the cold chain throughout the cycle.
• Ensure the correct handling of expired and/or damaged pharmaceutical products.
• Maintains a good record of receiving, storing, and dispatching medical items at the warehouses in line with FHI 360 protocols (Keeping both paper and computer records).
• Keep records of serious untoward incidents e.g. drug errors, poor quality, and expired drugs as requested by the line manager.
• Ensure appropriate preparation and distribution of medical supplies requests to health facilities according to projects’ needs; also check the rationality of those requests.
• Maintain records for drug consumption and stocks.
• Provide regular updates on the inventory of medical products for the health and nutrition team.
• Develop stock-level alerts based on the average monthly consumption and health facility data and discuss with the line manager to avoid any stockouts and overstock.
• Update all pharmacy files timely prepare a monthly report on medical supplies management and share it with the line manager.
• Travel to health facilities to conduct supportive supervision, assess the pharmaceutical and training needs of health facilities, and collect data related to pharmaceutical availability and consumption. Expected to participate in data collection towards indicators.
• Liaises with the Logistics department regarding drugs and medical supplies orders, buffer stocks, and distribution to the field sites/clinics promptly.
• Follows established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives, continuous quality improvement objectives, and safety, and environmental standards.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of all FHI 360 resources to keep costs low and ensure safety in the workplace.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned, by the Health and nutrition team or logistics team if these activities do not interfere with routine work tasks.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Proficiency with database management software and online search tools is required.
• Has sensitivity to cultural diversity and understanding of the political, contextual, and ethical issues in assigned areas.
• Articulate, professional, and able to communicate in a clear, positive manner with clients and staff.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency with using Microsoft Office Suite required.
• Ability to analyze and interpret data, identify errors, and prepare reports.
• Ability to solve problems and implement corrective action as needed.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak fluent English.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of moderate scope that require analysis or interpretation of various factors.
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action.
• Builds rapport with internal and external staff.
• Decisions may affect a work unit or area within a department.

Education:

• Associate Degree in Pharmacy.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of experience working as a pharmacist.
• Previous experience working with donor-funded programs especially USAID/BHA a plus.
• Previous Experience working with a humanitarian organization is advantageous.
• Ability and willingness to travel to the program implementation sites and stay in the field.
• Current, active professional registration as a licensed pharmacist in Ethiopia with no restrictions.
• Ability to work in an environment where there are physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or security.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and representative skills (written, oral, cross-cultural).
• Outstanding knowledge of MS Office and pharmaceutical databases.
• Excellent communication skills in the local language, working knowledge of English

Technology to be Used:

Personal Computer/Laptop, Microsoft applications (i.e., Office 365, SharePoint, Skype/Zoom/Teams), cell phone/mobile technology, and standard office equipment.