Purpose of the Position
The Pharmacy Manager will oversee the effective management of medicines, medical supplies and other health commodities across YAAR-supported programs. The position will ensure appropriate forecasting, procurement quality assurance, storage, distribution, inventory management, data quality and accountability, with particular attention to mSupply/Open mSupply and field-level monitoring.
The Pharmacy Manager is responsible for ensuring the availability, quality, safe storage, appropriate use and accountability of pharmaceutical commodities throughout YAAR health programs.
The position will provide technical leadership to pharmacy and commodity management and will spend at least 30% of working time on field monitoring and supportive supervision of provincial offices, warehouses/stock points and health facilities.
Key Responsibilities
A. Pharmaceutical Supply Planning and Quantification
· Consolidate pharmaceutical and medical commodity requirements based on consumption, morbidity, program needs and stock levels.
· Support forecasting, quantification and replenishment planning to minimize stock-outs, overstocking and expiry.
· Review stock trends and provide timely recommendations for redistribution or replenishment.
B. Procurement and Quality Assurance
· Provide technical input into pharmaceutical procurement, including specifications, quantities and quality requirements.
· Participate in technical review/evaluation of pharmaceutical suppliers and products, as required.
· Verify product quality, registration, batch numbers, expiry dates, certificates and other relevant documentation.
· Support inspection and acceptance of pharmaceutical commodities and report quality or specification concerns.
· Coordinate with Procurement, Logistics, Finance and Health teams to ensure appropriate procurement and delivery.
C. mSupply/Open mSupply Management
· Serve as the technical focal point for mSupply/Open mSupply within YAAR health programs.
· Ensure accurate and timely recording of receipts, issues, transfers, adjustments, losses, expiries and stock balances.
· Monitor batch numbers, expiry dates, locations, stock-on-hand, consumption and requisitions.
· Regularly reconcile mSupply records with physical stock and supporting documents.
· Identify and report data-quality issues, stock-outs, overstock and near-expiry commodities.
· Provide technical support and coaching to mSupply users at provincial and facility levels.
D. Field Monitoring and Supportive Supervision – Minimum 30%
· Conduct regular, risk-based monitoring visits to YAAR provincial offices, warehouses/stock points and health facilities.
· Physically verify pharmaceutical stocks against stock records, bin cards and mSupply data.
· Assess storage conditions, stock organization, FEFO practices, cold-chain requirements and pharmaceutical accountability.
· Review dispensing, stock management and documentation practices at health facilities.
· Provide on-site coaching, mentoring and technical support to pharmacy/health facility staff.
· Document findings, develop corrective actions and follow up implementation of agreed actions.
· Immediately escalate critical stock, quality, safety or accountability issues to the Health Director and relevant management.
E. Warehousing, Storage and Inventory Management
· Ensure appropriate pharmaceutical storage conditions and proper organization of commodities.
· Promote FEFO (First-Expiry, First-Out) and appropriate segregation of expired, damaged or quarantined products.
· Support regular physical inventories and reconciliation of stock discrepancies.
· Monitor losses, wastage, expiry and damaged commodities and recommend corrective measures.
· Ensure appropriate documentation and accountability throughout the supply chain.
· F. Reporting, Data Analysis and Accountability
· Prepare regular pharmaceutical stock, consumption, expiry, wastage and inventory reports.
· Analyze mSupply and other relevant data to identify trends and supply-chain risks.
· Prepare field monitoring reports and track corrective actions.
· Provide accurate pharmaceutical information for internal, project and donor/UNICEF reporting, as applicable.
G. Technical Support, Training and Coordination
· Provide technical guidance and mentoring to pharmacy and relevant health staff.
· Identify capacity-building needs and support or conduct appropriate training.
· Coordinate closely with Health, Programs, Procurement, Logistics, Finance, MEAL and other relevant departments.
· Liaise with UNICEF, relevant government authorities and other partners on pharmaceutical supply-chain matters, as authorized by YAAR.
H. Compliance and Safeguarding
· Ensure pharmaceutical management is consistent with applicable national regulations, YAAR policies/SOPs, project agreements and relevant UNICEF requirements.
· Promote transparency, accountability, proper documentation and prevention of fraud, misuse and diversion of medicines and supplies.
· Comply with YAAR safeguarding, PSEA, code of conduct and other organizational policies.
Expected Results / Key Performance Indicators
· At least 30% of working time is dedicated to field monitoring and supportive supervision.
· Accurate and timely mSupply/Open mSupply records and regular physical reconciliation.
· Reduced pharmaceutical stock-outs, overstocking, expiry and wastage.
· Appropriate storage, FEFO and pharmaceutical accountability maintained across supported locations.
· Timely and accurate pharmaceutical reports and data analysis.
· Procurement-related pharmaceutical quality requirements appropriately addressed.
· Field findings followed by documented corrective actions and follow-up.
· Compliance with YAAR, project, national and applicable UNICEF requirements.