Senior Officer, Pharmacist Quality Assurance and Compliance Medical Procurement

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles.

The IFRC’s Supply Chain Department is a core function supporting the IFRC humanitarian action. The Department has a global network including:

▪ a headquarters-based Supply Chain Management Department in Geneva

▪ a Logistics Hub and Global Fleet office in Dubai

▪ Five regional operational supply chain units located in Panama, Kuala Lumpur, Nairobi, Beirut and Budapest

▪ logistics hubs

▪ country-based logistics set-up

Supply Chain Management is a function dedicated to:

• Provide the goods and services as needed by IFRC to deliver to the most vulnerable;
• Provide services to deliver visible value to the members, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply chain and strengthening its control;
• Developing talents & future leaders

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Global Lead, Procurement, this role shall ensure effective Quality Assurance, the application of Good Distribution Practices (GDP), WHO Model Quality Assurance for Procurement Agencies (WHO MQAS) procedures in compliance with the IFRC’s Procurement Manual quality requirements for medical supplies. The incumbent will also support the localization strategy for medical procurement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Support the operations on topics related to the quality assurance of medical supplies (pharmaceuticals and medical devices). Actively participate in the effective implementation of the quality management system and the policies related to medical supplies. Work in close coordination with regional procurement teams, the health department, and operations. This role supports compliance with IFRC supply chain standards related to medical supplies globally, ensuring that global and local policies and procedures are conveyed to end users in the procurement of medical supplies.

Key Accountabilities

• Support in the implementation of the revised Procurement and QA procedures for medical supplies in line with IFRC quality requirements of medical supplies and Good Distribution Practices.
• Support all requesters and National Societies as needed in the review of the lists of medical supplies to ensure that they are compliant with National Essential Medicines Lists (EML) or WHO model EML.
• Provide support for the development of appropriate specifications and quality standards for medical supplies.
• Provide support on the technical and regulatory assessment of offers submitted for QA review from all IFRC regional offices for compliance with IFRC QA requirements and to recommend compliant offers for procurement.
• Actively participate in the prequalification of potential suppliers, both local and International and the maintenance of existing suppliers, to ensure the Approved Vendor/Supplier List is always up to date.
• Ensures compliance of medical donations.
• Assist in the maintenance of the QA database of medical supplies.
• Assist in the development of training materials related to quality assurance on pharmaceutical and medical products and ensure its proper dissemination organisation wide
• Work closely with the relevant IFRC Health units as needed.
• Execute the tasks delegated to him/her by the Global Lead, Procurement, respecting GDP regulations.
• Ensure proactive contribution within the Movement and other organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, MSF in the field of pharmaceutical and medical products.
• Manage complaint file related to pharmaceutical products and produce regular reports as required
• Represent the IFRC externally at seminars, workshops, presentations in the pharmaceutical field.

Duties applicable to all staff

• Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals.
• Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles.
• Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Education

• Degree in pharmacy, health science or related field. Master’s degree in drug regulatory affairs or pharmaceutical quality assurance. Required.

Experience

• Minimum of 5-8 years of relevant experience in managing pharmaceutical operations in Humanitarian sector and/or commercial sector. Required.
• Experience of pharmaceutical markets, in low-medium income. Preferred.
• Red Cross/Red Crescent knowledge and experience. Required.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• In-depth grasp of pharmacology. Required.
• Broad knowledge of humanitarian pharmacy issues. Required.
• Very good understanding of the pharmaceutical industry. Required.
• Good knowledge of the state of the world in pharmaceutical regulations and pharmaceutical markets. Required.
• Knowledge of Good Distribution Practices. Required.
• Knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices. Required.
• Knowledge of Regulatory Affairs. Required.
• Knowledge of drugs. Required.
• Ability to synthesize and analyze complex data. Required.
• A broad understanding of humanitarian issues, disaster recovery and related organization. Preferred.
• Fluently spoken and written English. Required.
• Good command of spoken and written French. Preferred.
• Good command of another IFRC official language (Spanish or Arabic). Preferred.

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
• Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.