United States of America: Pharmacy Advisor

Global Health Fellows Program

Technical Advisor I/II: Pharmacy Advisor

Preparedness, Strategic Planning and Mitigation Team, Disaster Response and Mitigation Division, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC

Assignment: Two year fellowship

GHFP-II-P5-221

The Global Health Fellows Program (**GHFP-II**) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.

BACKGROUND:

The Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the office within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) responsible for providing emergency non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. OFDA is part of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) and is organized into three divisions.

The Disaster Response and Mitigation Division (DRM) is responsible for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance through a grants mechanism to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Private Voluntary Organizations (PVOs), the United Nations agencies and to partners to ensure the implementation and delivery of this assistance. This division also oversees OFDA's non-response efforts in disaster risk reduction. DRM also coordinates with other organizations and donors for the provision of relief supplies and assistance. DRM devises, coordinates, and implements program strategies for a variety of natural and human caused disaster situations with a focus on disaster risk reduction. It encompasses a group of technical sector specialists who provide expert capability in assessing the quality of disaster response and disaster risk reduction activities.

The Program Support Division (PS) provides programmatic and administrative support including budget/financial services, procurement planning and guidance, contracts and grants administration, and communication support for OFDA’s Washington and field offices.

The Operations Division (OPS) develops and manages logistical and operational support for disaster responses and administrative support to all offices and operations. OPS maintains readiness to respond to emergencies through several mechanisms, including managing Search and Rescue Teams (SAR), coordinating and supporting Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), and the Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs) as needed.

The Preparedness, Strategic Planning and Mitigation (PSPM) team within DRM was created in order to provide OFDA with a skilled cadre of technical experts in a variety of fields relevant to its disaster response and risk reduction activities. It is divided into a number of subgroups which include Food Security, Public Health and Nutrition, Vulnerable Populations, and Natural Hazards groups.

INTRODUCTION:

The Pharmacy Advisor (Advisor) will serve in OFDA’s PSPM, as a part of the Public Health and Nutrition subgroup. OFDA requires a Registered Pharmacist, licensed to practice in the United States, to provide OFDA with technical assistance in public health program assessment and planning for grant proposals, disasters, humanitarian crises, and other areas as needed. The Advisor will evaluate human and veterinary medical commodity requests, local health systems and pharmaceutical supply chains to assure that appropriate, safe, effective, and quality pharmaceuticals are supplied to beneficiaries.

S/he will work closely with the Lead OFDA pharmacist and the PSPM Director who will serve as his/her onsite manager.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Pharmacy Advisor will be responsible for:

• Coordinating with other technical staff in the pharmacy sector.
• Participating in the development of various country/regional strategies for field offices, Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) and assessment teams, and providing briefings and written reports as required.
• Assisting OFDA to coordinate, plan, implement, and evaluate emergency pharmaceutical procurement and distribution activities to ensure that efforts in assigned program areas are meeting the needs of affected populations and satisfy the goals and objectives of the response program.
• Assisting with identifying vendors and developing stockpiles of medical commodities that may be immediately accessed if needed for medical treatment of USAID / OFDA personnel.
• Conducting assessments of host nation pharmaceutical manufacturing, storage and distribution networks and recommending appropriate relief activities.
• Assisting in evaluating commodity requests for appropriateness of pharmaceuticals and medical commodities for the response and ensure quantities are in-line with anticipated needs.
• Assisting in evaluating the medical care and medical commodities needs available to USAID / OFDA personnel when deployed for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations.
• Coordinating pharmaceutical procurement and distribution activities, as well as evaluation of medical commodity requests, both in the US and in the field, ensuring that pharmaceutical procurements are in accordance with Agency regulations.
• Liaising with partners, international organizations and host nation authorities to ensure the appropriateness of medical commodities to be delivered, while maintaining awareness of the local capacities for production of medical commodities, the quality of locally produced medical commodities and the impact of imported medical commodities and pharmaceuticals on the local economy.
• Serving as needed on Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
• Participating in appropriate training either as a participant and/or trainer.
• Reviewing data to assure that all pharmaceuticals that may be purchased meet internationally accepted standards for safety, efficacy, and quality.
• Assisting in the development of standard operating procedures for the pharmaceuticals and medical commodities team to assure uniform application of internal procedures.
• Working closely with the health advisors to coordinate and monitor OFDA-funded health care activities to ensure the proper use of OFDA program funds. Reviewing documentation provided by the implementing partner to confirm that appropriate pharmaceuticals were in fact provided to the beneficiaries, and as appropriate, applying new developments in the pharmaceutical sector to OFDA programming.

LEVEL II

An Advisor at the level II will be further responsible for:

• Evaluating commodity requests for appropriateness of pharmaceuticals and medical commodities for the response and ensure quantities are in-line with anticipated needs.
• Evaluating the medical care and medical commodities needs available to USAID / OFDA personnel when deployed for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief operations.
• Briefing host governments on internationally accepted standards for medical commodities and pharmaceuticals such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Storage Practices (GSPs) and Good Distribution Practices (GDPs). Evaluating existing host nation programs and systems and recommending improvements that will enhance health care for the beneficiaries.
• Identifying pharmaceutical supply chain measures that could be linked to disaster response activities. Reviewing and analyzing risk reduction principles and recommending course(s) of action to OFDA-Washington staff.
• Facilitating and coordinating actual US Government (USG) emergency technical response activities with the USAID Mission, other donor agencies, and the US Embassy.

International and domestic travel approximately 30%.

TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (7%)

• Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of international pharmaceutical supply chain management.
• Deepening knowledge of US and international disaster relief and humanitarian assistance programming.
• Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to the scope of work.
• Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Active pharmacy license and in good standing to practice as a pharmacist in at least one US state.
• Pharm.D or Master’s degree or higher in public health, pharmaceutical studies or supply chain management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in an international humanitarian setting, working in the emergency public health sector with the USG, international organizations, or non-governmental organizations.
• Ability to take initiative, resourceful and can work independently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• US citizenship required.

In addition to the above, the position requires the following at each level:

TECHNICAL ADVISOR I

• 0-7 years’ experience as a pharmacist with experience in retail, hospital, Health Maintenance Organizations, or academic or research settings, with or without experience in an international or resource challenged setting.

TECHNICAL ADVISOR II

• Minimum five (5) years’ experience as a pharmacist with experience in retail, hospital, Health Maintenance Organizations, or academic or research settings, with at least two (2) years’ experience in an international or resource challenged setting.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.

TO APPLY:

All applicants are required to apply for this position through GHFP-II’s online recruitment system at https://www.ghfp.net/recruitment/, which allows you to store your CV, profile and bio data form in our database. A separate cover letter describing your qualifications and experience, interest and familiarity with issues relating to this position, and how this position relates to your career goals is required for each application. All online applications must be submitted by September 12, 2016 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

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