Pharmacy Technician

Posting Title: Pharmacy Technician, G6

Job Code Title: Pharmacy Technician

Organization: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

Duty Station: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Posting Period: 06 July 2023 - 08 September 2023

Job Opening Number: 23-Medical-ECA-213018-R-Addis Ababa (X)

Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

ECA's mission is to deliver ideas and actions for an empowered and transformed Africa; informed by the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.

The mission is guided by ECA's five strategic directions which are: advancing ECA's position as a premier knowledge institution that builds on its unique position and privilege to bring global solutions to the continent's problems and take local solutions to the continent; developing macroeconomic and structural policy options to accelerate economic
diversification and job creation; designing and implementing innovative financing models for infrastructure, and for human, physical and social assets for a transforming Africa; contributing solutions to regional and transboundary challenges, with a focus on peace security and social inclusion as an important development nexus; advocating Africa's position at the global level and developing regional responses as a contribution to global governance
issues.

The position is located in the Division of Administration, United Nations Health Care Center, at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The incumbent will report to the Chief Medical Officer or designated Official.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Assistant Pharmacist at this level will be responsible for the following duties:

I-Dispensing & Securing Availability of Drugs and Medical supplies.

• Develops and maintains a system for ongoing inspections of drug safety in UNHCC.
• Offers day-to-day advice on pharmaceutical issues including evaluating different antibiotics for impact on the local microbiological situation.
• Secures the proper usage of Antibiotics to prevent unnecessary influence on the ecological balance.
• Dispenses medicines and supplies prescribed by physicians and dentists.
• Providing accurate instructions regarding dosage, administration, and possible side effects to the beneficiaries (patients or care givers).
• Substitutes, as appropriate, comparable drugs with trade names after informing the prescribing physician.
• Regularly informs Prescribing Physicians on the stock availability and maintains an inventory system for timely procurement of medications/supplies and avoid shortages.
• Responds to inquiries regarding content, dosages regimen review, storage and disposal. -Monitor drug interactions, allergies, and contraindications.
• Maintains stringent handling and recording of narcotics and affiliated drugs.
• Ensures continuous supply of antiretroviral drugs. -Notify physicians and the Chief Pharmacist about drugs with short shelf life.
• Maintains supplies and ensures security of drugs in treatment room, night emergency, and ICU cabinet. -Inspects facilities where medications are kept such as the ICU cabins, treatment room, mobile emergency box and ambulance.

II-Electronic Pharmacy Inventory system handling and procurement of pharmaceuticals through Umoja
• Provides the necessary information, enters data and updates it daily and creates requisitions in Umoja.
• Organizes the Category of Drugs following the pharmacological classification and the pharmaceutical forms.
• Creates database for suppliers both locally and internationally and ensures that they are registered in the global market system.
• Produces a report on consumption, availability, patient history and transfer for each category.
• Handles the electronic pharmacy inventory system and other expense entry system
• Submits a complete expense entry report every month.
• Obtains technical clearance from UNMSS for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in time to process requisitions

III-Stock Handling and Providing Information

• Advises the medical team and works with the chief pharmacist in the specification of drugs to be requisitioned and offering a prudent scale of issue for the planning of re-supply for the upcoming year.
• Updates the medical team on new developments in production, interaction, eventual withdrawal of drugs and reagents from the market.
• Disposes expired drugs according to relevant rules with concerned Units and documents this.
• Follows up on and recommends WHO guidelines on malaria prophylaxis and other travel related supplies.
• Monitors stock of drugs, chemical reagents, and supplies; and keeps an accurate balance and informs the chief pharmacist regularly.
• Provides technical assistance to medical team respecting always confidentiality.
• Compiles the requisitions from each Unit, Dental, Laboratory, treatment, Radiology, Fever clinic & UN Clinics (Dollo ado, Gambella, Shire & Mekelle) for the preparation of the annual budget.

IV-Preparation of Annual Budget and Annual Inventory

• Conducts stringent annual inventory of drugs and medical supplies. Participates in preparation of the annual supply chain planning using the planning tool.
• Prepares annual budget for medicines and supplies,
• Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making.
• Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures.

Competencies

Professionalism: - Knowledge and hands on experience in pharmaceutics. Basic training in drug supply management and rational drug use. Knowledge of major electronic pharmaceutical inventory tools and ability to use them with solid computer skill. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. The ability to perform analysis, modeling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making.

Planning and organizing: - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, identifies priority activities and assignments, adjusts priorities as required, allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work, foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning, monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary, uses time efficiently.

Technological Awareness: - Keeps abreast of available technology, understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office. Actively seeks to apply technology to the appropriate task. Shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

High school diploma and diploma in Pharmaceutical Studies of equivalent is required. National registration is required. First level University degree in Pharmaceutical Science is an advantage.

Job - Specific Qualification

National registration and license in Pharmaceutical Science are required.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (7) years of progressive working experience as a Pharmacist is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced to five (5) year for candidates who possess a first-level university degree or higher.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview

Special Notice

This position is Extra Budget (GTA) fund. Appointment extension subject to availability of funds.

This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse
and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated
in the application.

Passing the Global General Service Test (GGST) is a prerequisite for recruitment consideration in the General Services and related categories in the United Nations Secretariat. Applicants who have not passed the GGST at the time of application may be invited for the test after submitting an application. Having passed the Administrative Support Assessment Test [in English] at the United Nations headquarters, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, United Nations Office at Geneva, United Nations Office at Vienna, International criminal tribunal for Rwanda or International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia may be accepted in lieu of the GGST.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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