Head of Pharmacy Operations and Clinical Procurement - Equity Afya

Role Overview

This is a senior leadership position for an experienced pharmacist who will own the full pharmacy value chain across a multi-site healthcare network. Reporting to the Chief Pharmacist, you will set the strategic direction for pharmaceutical operations, lead clinical procurement and supply chain activities, and build partnerships that keep essential medicines available, affordable, and compliant. Your daily work spans contract negotiations, formulary governance, inventory optimisation, franchise support, and team leadership — all with the aim of protecting patient safety and driving sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Define and execute the pharmacy department's long-term and annual plans, aligning them with the organisation's clinical, financial, and expansion objectives. Represent pharmacy at executive level and champion its interests in organisational decisions.
• Commercial partnerships: Identify, develop, and manage relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and other healthcare suppliers. Negotiate pricing, service levels, and supply agreements that balance cost, quality, and continuity.
• Business growth support: Drive revenue and market share for pharmacy services across the network, spot opportunities for new collaborations, and work closely with franchisees and clinical teams to align commercial initiatives with overall goals.
• Budgeting and cost control: Own the pharmacy budget, allocate resources efficiently, and implement cost-containment measures without compromising medication quality or patient care. Review performance against financial and operational targets regularly.
• Supply chain and inventory management: Oversee end-to-end procurement, forecasting, replenishment, and stock control for pharmaceuticals, lab commodities, medical devices, and consumables. Maintain availability above 95%, keep stockouts under 1%, and minimise waste, expiry, and working capital tied up in inventory.
• Formulary and compliance: Establish and maintain a standardised formulary for pharmaceuticals and clinical supplies across the network. Ensure all facilities comply with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and other relevant regional regulators through regular audits and risk assessments.
• Quality and process improvement: Build a robust quality management system for pharmacy services, introduce digital inventory and reporting tools, and lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency, medication safety, and patient outcomes.
• People and capability building: Set clear goals and KPIs for pharmacy staff, coach and mentor the leadership team, and deliver training that raises clinical competence and patient education standards across all franchise sites.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education and registration: Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from a recognised institution and an active practising licence as a Registered Pharmacist. A master’s degree in Pharmacy, Public Health, Healthcare Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or a related field is an added advantage.
• Experience: At least eight years of progressive leadership experience in pharmacy, healthcare, or supply chain operations, with a demonstrated track record of managing high-performing teams. Experience with multi-site, franchise, or multi-country pharmacy operations is highly valued.
• Procurement and supply chain expertise: Proven ability to lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract management, inventory optimisation, and distribution planning for healthcare commodities, including cold chain and quality-controlled products.
• Regulatory and governance knowledge: Solid understanding of pharmacy governance, patient safety standards, quality assurance frameworks, and regional regulatory requirements, with hands-on experience conducting audits and managing compliance.
• Commercial and financial acumen: Strong grasp of budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, and cost management, coupled with the ability to make data-driven decisions that improve margin while preserving service quality.
• Technology and innovation: Experience implementing pharmacy information systems, ERP platforms, or digital inventory tools, and using data to monitor stock levels, reporting compliance, and performance metrics.
• Leadership and stakeholder skills: Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities, with a history of working effectively alongside executives, franchisees, regulators, suppliers, and clinical teams. High ethical standards and a commitment to professional excellence are essential.