Regional Pharmacist Southern Africa (m/f/x) – MSF Belgium At Médecins Sans Frontières

CONTEXT

In mid-2019, MSF Operational Center Brussels (OCB) launched a reform aiming at providing more autonomy to the projects. Southern Africa missions (Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa) were chosen as a first pilot and an innovative and transformational approach was implemented in 2020 in the region.

This unique set up promotes increasing responsibility and competence at the project level, by altering the responsibility of today’s national coordination teams who will transition towards needs-based Country Support Teams (CST). A Regional Support Team (RST) was established as the first line contact for the strategic projects. The RST reports directly to the OCB Director of Operations.

As a result, the strategic positions within the project, Project Operational Responsible (POR) and Project Medical Responsible (PMR), take on a new character as the main responsible stakeholders for the interventions’ success. They will be accountable for ensuring that decision-making is made by consultation and consent and that they are taken as close as possible to the beneficiaries and communities.

The rationale of the position of Regional Pharmacist Southern Africa is to support MSF programs and sections in medical products supply, by guaranteeing that MSF quality standards are applied according to the situation and available information in Southern Africa region.

The focus of this position will be on Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa but may include, as needed, other countries in Southern Africa region.

This position is hierarchically and technically linked to OCB Section Pharmacist (technical manager) and the Regional Medical Team Leader (line manager).

As the Regional Pharmacist, you are a member of the RST7, the OCB Pharmacy Unit and the MSF International Pharmacy Network, you work closely with both the OCB Supply Unit and the Regulatory Affairs pharmacists. For administrative and security management, you report to the Regional Medical Team-Leader. It will be the responsibility of the OCB Section Pharmacist to ensure that you are given appropriate technical back-up, by:

• Considering you as a member of the Quality and Operational circles of the OCB Pharma Unit. Acting as a regular technical back-up
• Sharing relevant updated information on sources and quality
• Providing any needed information on demand
• Ensuring the links with the Advocacy and Access Campaign present in Southern Africa, with European Supply Centers (ESC) and SASU (Southern Africa Supply Unit)

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

You support the missions by addressing specific medical supply issues with all relevant departments in challenging countries where access to quality medicines for MSF’s projects is compromised. This involves providing advice, support, and facilitating communication between the pharmaceutical side and the projects in-country, as well as coordinating with Section Pharmacists.

In addition, you support the various projects in the Southern Africa region where MSF works by solving operational pharmaceutical issues with all relevant departments (medical, supply, logistic, finance, HR).

• Responsible for facilitating all pharmacy-related operational activities within RST7 and mentoring project pharmacists in the performance of their duties and to uphold OCB pharmacy standards. Act as the focal point for quality and pharmacovigilance issues in RST7 countries
• Gain a better knowledge on the pharmaceutical, medical device, and therapeutic food legal framework and market within the specific context (analysis of registered drugs, main pharmaceutical, and medical device companies, etc.) as well as the regulatory frameworks and potential constraints
• Advice on and (re)evaluate the relevance of the procurement strategies, considering MSF program developments in the countries, quality, legal and administrative issues
• Work closely with the OCB Regional Procurement Responsible to synchronize pharma component in the regional procurement strategy
• Ensure that the procurement strategies approved by the Medical Department in HQ are followed and implemented by the teams in each country
• To support the Country Pharmacists, Medical Coordinators/ Country Medical Representative (CMR), Heads of Mission/ Country Representatives when representing MSF to the authorities on pharmaceutical issues by means of lobbying and negotiation for a consistent and coordinated response
• For countries where local procurement is a necessity: perform local market assessment (distributors only) as per the Section Pharmacist requests. The Local Market Assessment (LMA) will be validated by the Section Pharmacist (manufacturers will only be assessed together with the Section Pharmacist)
• Maintain and keep updated of the Country Constraints sheets and CSP Geo-App tool, together with the different Country Pharma focal points

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Pharmacist with degree/ diploma in pharmacy
• Minimum 3 years professional experience with MSF
• Experience with quality assurance, Good Distribution and Storage Practices and manufacturing aspects of pharmaceutical products desirable

Competencies and skills

• Cross-Cultural Awareness
• Strategic Vision
• Participative Leadership
• Networking and Building Relationships
• Teamwork and cooperation
• Coaching or mentoring skills are an advantage

Languages:

• Fluency in English is mandatory
• Portuguese Spanish or Italian is an asset

CONDITIONS

• Expected starting date: as soon as possible
• Location: based in Maputo, Mozambique
• Mobility of approx. 50% is required for frequent visits in the region
• Contract type: fixed term (full time)
• Length of contract: 12 months
• Salary according to MSF-OCB field salary scale; the contractual terms, conditions and salary will be established according to the official residence of the selected candidate and in compliance with the standard MSF function and salary grids
• Family position is possible
• Adhere to MSF principles and to our managerial values: Respect, Transparency, Integrity, Accountability, Trust and Empowerment
• Adhere to the MSF Behavioral Commitments