Head of Pharmacy

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership:

• Lead the pharmacy department, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff.
• Serve as the chief advisor on pharmaceutical care, medication management, and clinical pharmacy services.
• Promote a patient-centered approach to medication use and pharmaceutical care.
• Lead and mentor a team of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff to deliver high-quality pharmaceutical services.

Strategic Development:

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for the pharmacy department, aligning with the hospital's overall goals.
• Innovate and expand pharmacy services, including clinical pharmacy programs, medication therapy management, and specialty pharmacy services.
• Assess emerging trends in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, integrating new medications and technologies to enhance patient care.

Governance:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, including those from the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Drug Law Enforcement Administration (NDLEA), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), and Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
• Oversee the hospital's formulary management, ensuring the availability of essential medications and reviewing new drug requests.
• Implement and maintain robust medication safety protocols, including adverse drug event monitoring and reporting systems.
• Ensure correct governance arrangements, which include the management of finance and regulatory activity where appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant pharmacy regulations, standards, and accreditation requirements.

Other Responsibilities:

• Offer advisory expertise to senior members/managers in relation to any issues relating to pharmaceutical services.
• Oversee the procurement, storage, and distribution of medications, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness.
• Manage the preparation and dispensing of medications, including sterile and non-sterile compounding.
• Lead the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems for medication management.
• Provide regular updates to management and the board.
• Collaborate with the relevant bodies to ensure that any external monetary funding opportunities from external sources are explored.
• Be responsible for the distribution of resources and budgets that have been allocated to the pharmacy department.
• Continue to work and develop to acquire further skills appropriate to the post where necessary. This could be in the form of extra educational qualifications/accreditations.
• Serve as a resource and expert on pharmacy-related issues for healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders.

Equality and Diversity:

• Act as lead for Equality & Diversity in the department to ensure the development and effective implementation of a strategy, set of policies, procedures, and monitoring and control systems are in place.

Personal and Staff Development:

• Work with HR to undertake recruitment, retention, performance management, and development of staff in the team.
• Work with the Recruitment Manager to establish connections with appropriate local, international, and online communities to nurture a pipeline of talent to support the growth of the company.
• Responsible for the development of high-potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.

Communications and Working Relationships:

• Collaborate with healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals, to optimize medication therapy and patient outcomes.
• Communicate with patients and caregivers, providing education on medication use, potential side effects, and adherence strategies.
• Work closely with hospital administration on budgeting, policy development, and strategic planning for pharmacy services.
• Coordinate and facilitate consultations with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for ongoing improvements or systems implementations.
• Establish credibility throughout the organization and set an example as a proactive senior leader and change agent who earns respect by demonstrating a sound understanding of the organization's objectives and goals.
• Collaborate with the COO and divisional heads to determine the short and long-term needs of the organization.
• Develop and present updates to the Board of Directors.

Line Management:

• Supervise the pharmacy team, including recruitment, training, performance evaluations, and professional development.
• Set departmental goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with the hospital's mission and regulatory requirements.
• Manage staffing levels and scheduling to meet the needs of the department and the hospital.
• Provide strong leadership to develop, coach, and ensure a high-performing team.
• Establish the department's goals, objectives, and operating procedures.

Organizational Responsibilities:

• Report directly to the Clinical Director of General Medical Services, contributing to the overall strategy and operational planning of the hospital.
• Participate in hospital-wide committees, including those focused on clinical governance, quality improvement, and patient safety.
• Represent the pharmacy department in interdisciplinary discussions and initiatives, ensuring the integration of pharmacy services into patient care pathways.

Confidentiality:

• The post holder must be aware that Confidential Information and data to which the post holder will have knowledge and access to in the course of their employment with the AMCE is to be kept confidential, and this confidentiality is a condition of employment. The duty to maintain confidentiality continues even when the post holder is no longer employed.
• This information is not to be shared with anyone outside of the AMCE under any circumstances, except to the extent necessary to fulfill any duties and responsibilities required within the role. Furthermore, upon termination with the AMCE Abuja, the post holder will return to the AMCE all confidential information held.
  

General:

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety, and well-being and that of work colleagues, visitors, and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures, and standards of AMCE together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients, staff, and visitors.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an AMCE email account, which will be the AMCE's formal route for email communication. You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.
  

Infection Control Statement:

• The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
• These requirements are set out in the AMCE Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures, which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
  
  

Essential Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Degree in Pharmacy or related field
• Licensed Pharmacist with current registration with the pharmacy council of Nigeria or eligibility to register with registrable qualification.
• Evidence of commitment to continuing professional Development

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a Pharmacist.
• Proven experience working as a Head of department of Pharmacy on a complex project of healthcare institution.
• Experience managing issues and identifying any potential risk to strategy
• Evidence of successfully implementing strategy with allocated budget/resources

Management and Leadership

• Inspirational and visible leader, with first class communication skills, capable of engaging audiences at all levels.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to think and act strategically, developing practical, innovative and creative solutions to the management of issues and complex problems related to the department
• Ability to identify opportunities to improve business outcomes through partnership at all levels
• Well-developed management skills, with the ability to build and lead large teams
• Highly effective influencing and negotiating skills, with the ability to develop partnerships and alliances across a diverse range of stakeholders
• Politically astute and resilient, with the ability to manage conflict and ambiguity
• Outcome-focused, with the capability and tenacity to drive the agenda forward
• Financially literate and commercially astute, with a sophisticated understanding of commercially orientated performance and financial management including contract management
• Shares the AMCE’s vision and values
• Commitment to clinical governance / improving the quality of patient care

Personal attributes:

• Professional attitude towards work
• Shares the AMCE’s vision
• Proactive and organized
• Commitment to clinical governance / improving quality of patient care
• Has personal and professional credibility and commands the respect of colleagues peers
• Is supportive and approachable and capable of inspiring confidence in staff members
• Commitment to caring for others
• Ability to adapt to living in a new country and new culture accordingly
• High levels of honesty and integrity

Languages:

• All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about  medical topics with patients and colleagues

AMCE Values:

• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the AMCE’s values
• Commitment to uphold the AMCE’s values

Desirable Requirements:

• Doctorate in Pharmacy or related field Professional qualification in a relevant subject
• Strong Knowledge of pharmacy operations, medication procurement, and regulatory requirements in Nigeria.
• Skills in languages other than English

This Job Description and Person Specification may be subject to change depending on the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.