Pharmacist / Pharmaceutical Technologist

Reporting To: Project Health Coordinator, Turkana

Working With: Other Medical team members

Merlin’s Mission

Merlin is a UK based international Humanitarian Non Governmental Organization providing health care to populations in crises. Merlin exists to provide an immediate and effective response to medical emergencies throughout the world.

The goal of the Kenyan mission is to address humanitarian and health crisis within Northern Arid Kenya with current operations in Turkana County while increasing capacity of local structures to deliver effective and quality health care services.

Overall Objective of the Position

Responsibilities:

• Ensures good inventory management practices, of the medicines and medical supplies, at all Merlin stores and all Merlin supported facilities based on Merlin drug management and logistics guidelines
• Oversees the acquisition (prepares drug orders) and disbursement of drugs and medical supplies to Merlin supported facilities and Merlin field sites, under direction of the Project Health Coordinator (PHC)
• Ensures rational use of drugs at all Merlin supported sites with focus on improved therapeutic outcomes based on appropriate drug use
• Conduct training of dispensers and/or Nurses in other health facilities on good prescribing and dispensing practices, and rational use of medicines
• Ensuring maintenance of cold chain
• Liaises with Logistics and/or Procurement department regarding drugs and medical supplies orders, buffer stocks and distribution to the field sites / clinics in a timely manner
• Monitoring drug consumption at Merlin medical store and at the Merlin supported Health facilities, and submitting timely regular stock level and drug consumption reports to the PHC
• Keep records of serious untoward incidents e.g. drug errors, poor quality, expired drugs as requested by PHC
• Keep up to date stock records and information on stock of medicine and medical supplies with a view of improving inventory management practices.
• Receive orders for medicine and medical supplies from health facility and primary health care Nurse and distribute the supplies accordingly.
• In collaboration with logistician and Project officer, assist with receiving drug supplies
• Prepares medicine needs projections and submits orders to PHC Supervisor and Field Coordinator

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy or Diploma in Pharmacy from accredited institutions, by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board with a minimum of 2 years’ experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
• Licensed Pharmacist/ Enrolled Pharmaceutical Technologist
• Computer skills – excel and word (good)
• Language skills – English and Kiswahili, written and spoken (good)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Knowledge of drugs and their indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, and proper administration.
• Skill in the use of computers and related software applications.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical personnel.
• Knowledge of policies and regulations pertaining to the disbursement of pharmaceutical drugs.
• Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures.
• Ability to maintain quality, safety, and/or infection control standards.
• Ability to design and implement systems necessary to collect, maintain and analyse data.
• Ability to supervise and train assigned staff as necessary.
• Knowledge of related accreditation and certification requirements.

In general:

• To carry-out any other duties and/or responsibilities assigned by his immediate supervisor.
• To be flexible as required.
• To be accountable, give feedback and appropriate information regarding the requested or ongoing tasks to the person or department, for the duties and performances he/she is carrying out.

How to Apply

All applications should be sent to:

HR Department,
Merlin, Nairobi Office,
P.O Box 3350 – 00200,
Nairobi, Kenya

or e-mail to: recruitment@merlin-kenya.org

Application deadline is 5:00pm on Friday, 10th February 2012.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.