Pharmaceutical Technologis at Kakenya’s Dream

The successful candidate will be required to work long hours sometimes committing to late evening, emergency calls at night and working over weekends.

Roles and responsibilities:

Support to Strategic Management of Pharmaceutical Services

• Work in collaboration with the Health Services team and management to develop and implement strategies for effective management and operations of KHWC and health related programs.
• Support the development and implementation of KHWC and health related programs procedures, rules, and regulations that are consistent with government laws and policies, professional standards and internal organization procedures.
• Ensure compliance to government laws and policies and internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for pharmaceutical services.
• Supervise staff in the Pharmaceutical Unit.
• Offer technical advice, training and capacity building on pharmaceutical services.
• Ensure that high standards of hygiene and general cleanliness are maintained in the pharmacy.
• Ensure that pharmacy equipment is kept in good working conditions.
• Develop project activity strategy with timely and regularly reviewed implementation work plans.
• Support the facility’s growth strategy by staying up to date in their profession through attendance to educational workshops and maintaining annual Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements as per the requirements of the professional’s board.

Management of Pharmaceutical Stock

• Work in liaison with Clinical Officer in Charge to forecast on the drug needs for the KHWC and ensure that drugs are ordered and delivered on time.
• Offer advice on proper rationalization of drug, medicine and medical supplies and use at KHWC.
• Maintain pharmacy inventory by checking pharmaceutical stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed medications and supplies; placing and expediting orders; verifying supplies stock receipt; dispensing; and removing outdated drugs.
• Coordinating and ordering of the purchase of pharmaceuticals.
• Ensure cost effective management of purchase and use of drugs, medicine and medical supplies for the facility.
• Establish and maintain a patient's profiles, including a list of medication taken by individual patients.
• Advise clinicians on drug interactions and advising on alternatives where applicable.
• Provide pharmacological information by responding to questions and requests from the health professional counseling patients on drug therapies.
• Maintain stock control procedures for the pharmacy to ensure accountability.
• Carry out monthly stock taking of drugs to verify drug stock versus usage.
• Review and ensure data of patients is accurate and credible.

Preparing and Dispensing Drugs

• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verifying that information is complete and accurate, ensuring proper dispensing in the facility.
• Ensure that correct medication is dispensed to patients.
• Organize and pre-pack medicines for dispensing.
• Ensure that drugs and medical devices are dispensed per prescriptions.
• Ensure that drugs are labeled with correct dosage.
• Ensure that patients are given instructions on how to use prescribed drugs and other medical devices.
• Ensure that clarifications are given to patients on prescriptions and errors on prescriptions are addressed.

Drug Store Management

• Maintain proper storage and security conditions of pharmaceutical stocks.
• Ensure timely requisition and inventory management.
• Tallying medicines received from supplies against invoices and checked for correctness of quantity, price, batch numbers and expiry date.
• Maintain cleanliness of shelves and medicines.
• Maintain purchase records and invoices.
• Ensure established cold chain and safe storage procedures for drugs are observed.

Documentation and Reporting

• Ensure all dispensed medication is correctly billed to capture revenue.
• Maintain proper and confidential storage of pharmacy data/records.
• Maintain updated, accurate documentation and records for pharmaceutical services.
• Prepare and submit records and reports to government agencies and management as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of Diploma in Pharmaceutical Technology from a recognized institution.
• Must be a registered member of the Pharmacist Association of Kenya.
• Must be licensed by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, and have a valid current practicing license.
• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in handling multiple tasks and in multicultural environment.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong planning, organization, and coordination skills.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities with capacity to work independently.
• Diligent, honest, and responsible individual with self-discipline and high integrity.
• Team player with the ability to multitask and adapt to changes.
• Attention to detail and accurate reporting skills.
• Proficient in ICT, including internet usage and basic MS Office packages.
• Excellent communication skills, fluent in both spoken and written English and Kiswahili.
• Practical experience in development programs within local Kenyan communities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.