African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the commencement of its African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) project in Abuja, Nigeria. It will provide world-class care to both low and high-income patient groups across the continent. The AMCE in Partnership with King's College Hospital London will be located in Abuja, which is a hub for travel in Nigeria and West Africa, enabling it to attract patients across the region. The African Medical Centre of Excellence will be implemented in four phases over a six-year period, starting with a 170-bed specialist hospital before expanding to a 500-bed facility. The centre will have the potential to provide services to over 200,000 patients in Nigeria and a further 150,000 patients from neighbouring West African countries within its first five years of operation. The clinical areas the centre will specialise in Cardiology, Haematology and Oncology. A range of businesses providing relevant health support will support this facility and provide commercial services to its patients and staff, thus creating a healthcare ecosystem sustainably designed to deliver long-term value to its community and region. This is an outstanding initiative and creates a unique opportunity to be involved in the opening chapter of this exciting project that is set to make a decisive impact on non-communicable disease care across Nigeria and West Africa. The AMCE will benefit millions of people in Abuja and over the wider regions of West Africa. The institution will act as a beacon of healthcare in Africa and will be the employer and healthcare provider of choice across the region. What makes this facility even more special is its very close partnership with King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Job Summary As the Head of Pharmacy, you will responsible for the overall operation of the pharmacy department, providing strategic leadership, development, and implementation of medicines management & pharmacy services within the organisation. The post holder will create a strategic plan that incorporates risk management, pharmaceutical clinical governance and quality assurance, ensuring all aspects of pharmacy and medicine management are accounted for in order to deliver a safe, effective and efficient strategic pharmaceutical plan. The ideal candidate will be a qualified pharmacist with a professional registration. You will have previous experience in senior leadership of pharmacy, having successfully passed on your outstanding level of knowledge in the operations of a pharmacy department to ensure that there has been a successful delivery with regards to meeting the pharmaceutical objectives of an organisation. The post holder will have exceptional interpersonal skills, using these skills to ensure the delivery of a high standard of patient care. Key Responsibilities Leadership:
Provide strategic leadership in medicines management within the organisation and to ensure services provided are efficient.
Takes leadership in allocating resources to the pharmaceutical plan and making sure that these align with the financial budget given to the department.
To ensure the safe day to day management of controlled drugs within the pharmacy.
To oversee the practice of the safe and secure practices related to medicine. This may include storage, preparation, dispensing etc.
Provide leadership for the safety, effectiveness and development of the electronic prescribing and medicines administration.
Strategic Development
Provide expert advice to the wider pharmacy team and ensure this is used when developing the Pharmacy strategy of the organisation.
Responsible for the regular reviews/analysis of the performance of the department.
Takes responsibility for any audit that needs to be completed within the relevant areas.
To ensure that all practice within the pharmacy complies with regulatory standards.
Develops initiatives where appropriate if necessary to improve the level of patient care.
To ensure that medicines are stored in the appropriate conditions with a record of temperature logs being kept.
To ensure that medicine stock levels are managed appropriately with a sufficient volume for smooth operations of the pharmacy.
Governance
Ensure correct governances arrangements, which include the management of finance and regulatory activity where appropriate.
To ensure that records of prescriptions are recorded in accordance to statutory regulations.
Fulfil the duties required of the Head of Pharmacy within regulatory standards & guidance in relation to all medicines.
Control the risk of error by ensuring that protocols are in place for prescription, dispensing and administration of medicines.
Oversee pharmaceutical research and audit strategy in medicines management.
Other Duties
Provide regular updates with regards to pharmacy 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.
Develop and present Pharmacy updates to the Board of Directors.
Equality and Diversity
Act as lead for Equality & Diversity in the Pharmacy 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 development of high potential employees, providing a structured approach to mentoring and developing critical talent at all levels of management.
Communications And Working Relationships
Coordinate and facilitate consultations with stakeholders to define business and systems requirements for new improvements or systems implementations that may benefit the pharmacy department.
Establish credibility throughout the organisation and set an example as a proactive senior leader and change agent who earns respect by demonstrating a sound understanding of the Pharmacy departments’ objectives and goals.
Collaborate with the Chief Medical Officer and divisional Heads to determine short and long term needs of the Pharmacy department.
Develop and present Pharmacy updates to the Board of Directors.
To collaborate with senior members to ensure that there is an appropriate mix of skill within the Pharmacy department.
Line Management
Line manage all staff members in the Pharmacy department.
Develop and maintain the Pharmacy department with the appropriate mix of business knowledge and technical skills required to achieve strategic objectives and ensure the core functions of the Pharmacy department are reliable, stable and efficient.
Provide strong leadership to develop, coach and ensure a high performing team.
Establish the department goals, objectives and operating procedures.
Create a medicine management and pharmacy related policy that operates in line with best practice and governance framework.
Organisational Responsibilities
Work with the senior management team to horizon scan for new sector related improvements.
Provide solutions and services to the business that retain and increase a competitive advantage within the sector.
Evaluate, select, and implement new technology/ systems needed to support the organisation in reaching the strategic objectives set out by the Pharmacy department.
Managing clinical incidents that may involve medicine, identifying ways in which these could be minimised to avoid a future recurrence.
Offer advisory expertise to senior members/managers in relation to any issues relating to the pharmacy department.
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 fulfil 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 and staff. 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. Requirements: 1. Qualifications Educational and certification requirements typically expected.
Pharmacy Degree: A Master’s or Doctorate in Pharmacy (MPharm or Pharm D) from an accredited institution.
Licensure: Must be registered as a pharmacist with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPh C) or relevant regulatory body.
Specialized Certifications:
Postgraduate qualifications in clinical pharmacy or management (e.g., Clinical Diploma, MSc in Clinical Pharmacy).
Leadership certifications (e.g., ILM, Lean Six Sigma) can add value.
Continuous Professional Development (CPD): Commitment to ongoing education and professional development, keeping up with advancements in pharmacy and healthcare.
2. Experience Practical exposure and relevant work experience necessary for the role.
Pharmacy Practice Experience: At least 7-10 years of experience in a pharmacy setting, with significant time spent in a hospital or clinical pharmacy role.
Leadership in Pharmacy: Minimum of 3-5 years in a managerial or leadership role, overseeing pharmacy operations, teams, or departments.
Clinical Experience: A background in clinical pharmacy is highly valuable, especially for overseeing patient care and medication safety.
Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge: In-depth understanding of healthcare regulations, pharmacy laws, and standards, such as MHRA and NICE guidelines.
Experience with Pharmacy Systems: Familiarity with healthcare information systems (e.g., EPMA, EPR) and how they integrate with pharmacy services.
3. Management & Leadership Pointers Key skills and attributes that define successful leadership in the pharmacy domain.
Strategic Leadership: Ability to develop and execute a vision for pharmacy services aligned with hospital or healthcare organization goals, driving improvements in patient care and operational efficiency.
Clinical Leadership: Strong understanding of clinical guidelines and ability to lead initiatives for safe medication use, ensuring that pharmacy services support clinical teams effectively.
Team Management & Development: Skilled in leading multidisciplinary pharmacy teams, fostering professional development, and building a culture of continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with various stakeholders, including hospital administration, clinical teams, and regulatory bodies, ensuring pharmacy aligns with broader organizational priorities.
Change Management: Proven track record of leading change in healthcare settings, such as introducing new technologies (e.g., automated dispensing), managing transitions to new regulatory standards, or implementing cost-saving initiatives.
Operational Oversight: Ability to oversee day-to-day operations of the pharmacy, ensuring efficient workflows, stock management, and adherence to safety and quality standards.
Risk & Compliance Management: Expertise in identifying risks related to medication safety and compliance, and developing strategies to mitigate those risks.
Financial Stewardship: Skilled in balancing clinical needs with budget constraints, optimizing drug purchasing, and managing pharmacy financial performance.
Communication & Advocacy: Clear communication skills for reporting to senior management, advocating for pharmacy resources, and educating healthcare staff on medication use and safety.
Job Type: Full-time Education:
Undergraduate (Preferred)
Experience:
Clinical Pharmacy: 10 years (Required)
License/Certification:
General Pharmaceutical Council (GPh C) of Nigeria (Required)