Pharmacy Implementer

Job Brief

A dedicated pharmacist can significantly enhance the operational capacity of teams responding to emergencies by ensuring appropriate medication use, minimizing overstock and expiries, aligning with logistics, and managing field pharmacies effectively.

MSF is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization. We are a non-profit, self-governed worldwide movement of more than 63,000 people.

We provide emergency medical assistance during armed conflict, natural disasters, outbreaks of deadly diseases and assist those who are excluded from healthcare. MSF delivers care based on need and when we see injustice, we speak out. We are an organization that remains impartial, knowledgeable, and effective, and this is what makes the difference between life and death.

People are our priority. At Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Artsen zonder Grenzen, we are committed to an inclusive culture that encourages and supports the diverse voices of our employees. We encourage diverse applicants including individuals of all gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, races, religions, beliefs, social and marital status, people with different abilities and all other diversity characteristics and how they work together.

The Public Health Department (PHD) is responsible for providing strategic direction and integrated advice on medical and public health issues to the project sites and headquarters. The PHD plays a key role in developing and maintaining the medical humanitarian identity and image of MSF-OCA, and in continuing to develop and improve intervention strategies to be relevant and effective.

The department is made up of a group of generalist Health Advisors (based in Amsterdam and Berlin) and medical and public health specialists (paediatrics, nutrition, water and sanitation, mental health, HIV/TB, etc.) who provide expert support in a range of fields. The Manson Unit, a medical unit based in MSF-UK, focuses mainly on support to tuberculosis and epidemiology.

With immediate effect our Public Health Department is looking for a:

Pharmacy Implementer (100%)

Supporting emergency operations & Emergency Support Department

Preferably based in Amsterdam

Temporary - until 31 December 2025

In emergency settings, the efficient management of pharmaceutical resources is crucial to ensure rapid response, minimize waste, and maintain high standards of care. A dedicated pharmacist can significantly enhance the operational capacity of teams responding to emergencies by ensuring appropriate medication use, minimizing overstock and expiries, collaborating with logistics, and managing field pharmacies effectively. Additional pharmacy capacity to support the Emergency Support Department (ESD) is a significant added value and benefit.

Main objective

Strengthening medical supply in emergency responses and the responsibility for the implementation of Public Health department policies and guidelines in the countries of operation.

Responsibilities and activities

The pharmacist will fall hierarchically under a Public Health coordinator of the PHD and functionally support the ESD. The position is expected to spend approximately 50% in HQ and 50% in country programs under ESD management (or other desks/countries on request).

Emergency response support

• Effective delivery and (practical) implementation of required medical supply processes and tools in newly established or emergency projects

• Support the medical team with orders, working with the supply team to ensure orders are placed in a timely manner

• Recruitment of pharmacy staff and development of knowledge and technical competencies in newly established projects through team trainings, team coaching, workshops, individual coaching

• Ensure medical supplies overall efficiency and effectiveness in country responses. This involves regular technical visits to project sites to ensure appropriate set up of appropriate pharmacy spaces, follow up of activities and management of field pharmacies; and together with the Medical Coordinator take corrective decisions when necessary and provide technical pharmacy support regarding pharmaceutical information, medication use (protocols and rational drug use), management of side effects, adherence issues etc.

• Work with other sections pharmacy/medical teams, the Exceptional Validation team in HQ, the Quality Assurance (QA) pharmacists in the European Supply Centers (ESCs) and Intersectional Pharmacist (where present) to explore, assess and implement local purchase options for medical supplies and support in the understanding of import regulations, as well as support MedCo/LogCo/HoM in the collaboration with the national authorities in facilitation medical items importation

Emergency Support Department support

• Support Emergency Health Managers (EHM) in medical supply management of countries under ESD management including clean orders for processing, audit of orders for IMO, collaboration with Amsterdam Procurement Unit

• Liaise with ESD log advisor and field supply colleagues

• Work with the Emergency Support Manager and EPREP Coordinator in the development of stock calculators based on emergency scenarios

• Support ESD in management of the Central Emergency Stocks by updating stocks based on agreed scenarios and latest protocols, linking to Field Support Unit stock manager on stock expirations and support with adhoc requests for release of emergency stocks for emergency response in existing countries

• Development of training packages and workshops based on observed needs

PHD support

• Engage actively as a member of the PHD Pharmacy team, collaborate with the other team members

• Ensure up to date and consistent pharmacy and medical stock management across the organization

• Support the preparation and delivery of the OCA Pharmacy workshop

• Provide backup for QA procedures such as Exceptional Validation, batch recall etc. when required and ensure consistent QA standards across the organisation

Candidate profile

Education, qualification, and experience

• Pharmacy degree, or equivalent 4 to 5 years diploma according to the country of origin of the pharmacist

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in pharmacy management

• At least 3 years country level field experience with MSF OCA in at least 2 different settings. At least one emergency project in a high security setting

• Commitment and passion for the goals of MSF

Capacities and skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills; Fluency in English is required, French or Arabic are strongly preferred

• Sensitive towards diverse cultural and professional backgrounds

• Enthusiastic, motivated and independent; able to work with minimal supervision

• Able to work under time pressure on various projects and deadlines at any given time

• Innovative, able to lead and coach teams, and produce timely outputs

Must be able to visit and support projects at short notice, and willing to spend up to 50% of time in the project countries.

We offer

When based in The Netherlands:

• An employment contract for with an end date of 31 December 2025 for 40 hours a week (100%) based on satisfactory performance;

• 
  A gross monthly salary between €4,665 and €6,422 a month depending on relevant work experience, based on a fulltime appointment;

• 
  A stimulating, professional working environment in an international organisation.

Other benefits include:

• 30 days off (based on a full-time employment)

• A premium free pension where MSF covers 100% of the monthly pension contribution

• 8% holiday allowance, paid out with the salary in May

• Commuting allowance (terms and conditions apply) & work from home allowance

• L&D will support you with a variety of learning and development opportunities with internal and external trainings and courses

• An environment that fosters diversity, with colleagues from around the world representing various cultures and background

Remote working is possible. If you are located somewhere else, we can only contract in another country where we have an MSF-office. The local contract and salary grid will then apply.

Application

If you recognise yourself in this profile, we welcome you to apply directly via our website and upload a letter of motivation + Curriculum Vitae (in English) as one combined document.

The closing date for applications is 14 February 2025.

Please note the application deadline specified above may be subject to change at MSF-Netherland’s discretion.

Selection will be by means of one interviewing round. This interview is scheduled in the week of 17 February 2025. A test/case may be part of the process.

Information

For more information about the recruitment procedure, please contact Irene Tellekamp (Recruitment Team) at [email protected].

For more information about the position, please contact Barbara Pawulska (Public Health Coordinator) at [email protected] or Ruth Kauffman (Emergency Health Manager) at [email protected].

***No agencies please***