The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
Health programs represent the largest single sector within which IRC currently operates, constituting approximately 45% of the international budget and with activities in 22 countries. IRC health programs worldwide provide drugs, medical and surgical equipment, and disposables to health facilities managed by the Ministry of Health or nongovernmental organizations. IRC is also engaged in direct provision of health care to beneficiaries where needed. Thus, procurement and rationale use of drugs, medical equipment, instruments and disposables are necessary and high cost activities for IRC health programs.
IRC Health Unit contributes to the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of IRC health programs through technical support, staff development, and institutional learning. IRC Global Supply Chain provides operational support for pharmaceutical supply chain needs of IRC country programs, including comprehensive support for international procurement and guidelines for local procurement of pharmaceuticals. The two units work together to ensure that pharmaceuticals for IRC health programs are selected in accordance with the essential drug lists, good quality products are procured in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost, pharmaceuticals are stored and distributed appropriately, stock out and wastage are minimized, and pharmaceuticals are used rationally by the providers and patients.
Job Overview/Summary: The Drug Management Technical Advisor will act as focal point for all drug management issues except procurement, and provide drug management related technical assistance to country health programs, including training of relevant staff.
Major Responsibilities:
- Drug Management Policy and Guidelines: Develop and update drug management policy, guidelines and tools.
- Essential Drug List: Assist country health teams to routinely update the essential drug lists for IRC managed facilities based on the type of providers employed and services provided; monitor country program compliance with the national/IRC essential drug list during procurement; maintain an inventory of essential drug lists for countries where IRC implements health programs.
- Estimation and Forecasting: Provide training and technical assistance for estimating and forecasting of pharmaceutical needs in countries with annual pharmaceutical budget exceeding US$500,000.
- Inventory Management: Ensure organization wide use of Inventory Management and Assessment Tool (IMAT) to ensure good record keeping practices and minimize pharmaceutical stock out and wastage.
- Rational Use of Drugs: Develop/adapt and introduce methodologies and tools to assess and improve rational use of drugs in IRC-managed/supported facilities.
Job Requirements:
- Education: Degree in Pharmacy; Master in Public Health and/or training in pharmaceutical supply chain is a plus
- Work Experience: At least five years experience in drug management/medical logistics/ pharmaceutical supply chain, with progressive increase in responsibilities
- Field Experience: At least one year field experience in humanitarian setting
- Team work: Able to work with remote and multi-disciplinary teams
- Communication Skills: Excellence in writing and presentation
- Training Skills: Able to transfer technical knowledge and skills
- Language Skills: English proficiency is a must; French and/or Arabic a big plus
- Travel Requirement: 30 – 40% of the time
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