Associate Specialist, Medical Commodities, BML (Part-time position for maternity leave coverage)

JOB SUMMARY: Act as the technical person in the field for management of medication, medical supplies and equipment that are part of IMC projects. This includes storage, proper use, tracking and reporting.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for the pharmaceutical chain management at the assigned field office in consultation with the technical supervisor, health program manager, logistics manager and/or designates. 

Representation
•    Represents the pharmacy department in all pertinent field site meetings internally within IMC 
•    Supports the health program manager and/or designate during discussions on medical commodities with field level counterparts in relevant meetings such as sub-national health cluster meetings.

Proposal Development
•    Contributes to field inputs on medical commodities pertinent to the project design 
•    Draft and submit bill of quantities of medical commodities in accordance with host country and donor approved formularies within approved project scope and budget limitations 
•    Contribute to the identification of outsourcing of additional medical commodities to augment donor procured items to ensure comprehensive support according to project design

Quality Control
•    Leads the field site health unit in ensuring that all pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities which includes medical and laboratory equipment and supplies are at par with globally accepted standards 
•    Upon the confirmation of the chief pharmacy officer, participates as the technical expert during vendor pre-qualification and vendor verification processes at field site level
•    Promotes the highest standards of supply chain management through the adherence of WHO standards in the acquisition, storage, delivery, distribution and disposal of medical commodities

Reporting
•    Ensures that pending stock outs, damaged medication or any other irregularities observed with regard to the use of pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities are reported in a timely manner to pertinent staff including the technical supervisor, health program manager and field site coordinator
•    Counter check any submitted monthly consolidated consumption and stock reports 

Documentation
•    Prepare goods issue orders according to requests received from pharmacists at supported health facilities as verified through consumption records and inventory stock reports 
•    Maintain hard and soft copy files for all documents relating to procured, received gifts in kind, and donated medical commodities including records of pharmaceutical disposal of expired or unusable items as per host-country and donor guidelines

Monitoring and Evaluation
•    Coordinates with the MEAL department to ensure that regular monitoring of pharmacies and storage within supported health facilities are conducted 
•    Ensures that all sites maintain updated stock inventories, record usage through consumption reports and provide feedback on near expiring medications, impending stock outs as well as slow moving medical commodities 

Capacity building
•    Conduct close monitoring on patient’s files and medical prescriptions. Perform analysis and put action plans for identified issues and discrepancies.
•    Providing capacity building to staff at supported health facilities on topics of proper management, storage and use of medication and other commodities.

Warehouse and Storage
•    In collaboration with the medical commodities officer, ensures that medical commodities in the health facilities are received, stored and transported in accordance with internationally accepted standard practices including tracking expiration dates, First Expire - First Out policy, bin cards, stock cards, tracking registers, re-order thresholds, cleanliness, temperature monitoring and other tasks pertinent for the maintenance for the viability and storage of pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities
•    Follow up on pharmaceutical and other medical commodities stocks and communicate the need to request for replenishment
•    Ensure tracking of over-utilized and under-utilized items and advise program manager and senior medical officer

Other responsibilities
•    Adhere to administrative directives with regards to work schedules, record keeping, patient communications, re-stocking of essential pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities
•    Adhere to IMC Code of Conduct and internationally accepted humanitarian principles

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Job Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

•    Typically, a Bachelor's degree in pharmacy. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
•    Typically, 4+ years in medical commodities and pharmaceutical chain management.
•    Must present training certificate or previous experience in pharmacy management or equivalent 
•    Familiar with the Basic Package of Health Services according to MOH
•    Knowledge and previous experience working with stock management. 
•    Experience with pharmaceuticals and other medical commodities preferred. 
•    Ability to work under pressure and willing to be on call when the need arises
•    English writing and reading skills essential
•    Willing to work with a team
•    Verbal and written English skills desirable  

Please note, for Lebanon-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in Lebanon. Since the position is a national role, we are unable to progress applications that would require sponsorship

Code of Conduct

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report. If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

Safeguarding

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons.

Equal Opportunities

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.