Lead Pharmacist

Role Overview

As the Lead Pharmacist, you will act as the organisation’s most senior pharmacy authority, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director. Your day-to-day work will involve steering pharmacy operations across multiple sites, with a special focus on oncology and infusion services, clinical trial pharmacy, regulatory compliance, and commercial performance. This position is central to the organisation’s ambition to become Kenya’s premier provider of cancer care, research, and integrated healthcare, so your decisions will directly shape patient safety, service quality, and business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and drive the long-term pharmacy strategy, standardising services and workflows across existing and future clinics, pharmacies, and infusion centres nationwide.
• Maintain full compliance with Pharmacy and Poisons Board rules, Ministry of Health directives, narcotics and psychotropic substance controls, Good Pharmacy Practice, and hazardous drug handling safety standards.
• Oversee all oncology pharmacy functions, including the safe preparation and dispensing of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and supportive medications; verify treatment plans; and manage aseptic compounding and cleanroom operations.
• Lead the pharmacy side of clinical research and trials, establishing infrastructure, investigational product accountability systems, and procedures aligned with Good Clinical Practice and sponsor/ethics committee requirements.
• Manage pharmaceutical forecasting, procurement, supplier negotiations, inventory control, cold-chain integrity, expiry monitoring, and controlled drug stock management to prevent shortages and waste.
• Build pharmacy budgets, pricing structures, and revenue projections while supporting billing and reimbursement processes for SHA, private insurance, and corporate clients.
• Strengthen medication safety through pharmacovigilance, incident investigation, cytotoxic waste disposal, and emergency preparedness initiatives.
• Recruit, mentor, and evaluate pharmacy professionals, design competency and continuing education programmes, and support the rollout of pharmacy services in new facilities.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Pharmacy and Diploma in Pharmacy from recognised institutions, with current registration as a Pharmacist and a valid Annual Practising Licence from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya.
• At least seven years of pharmacy practice experience, including a minimum of three years in a pharmacy leadership or management capacity.
• Proven hands-on experience in oncology pharmacy, clinical trials, procurement and inventory management, regulatory compliance, team leadership, and healthcare facility development.
• A Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health, Healthcare Management, or Business Administration is an added advantage.
• Certification in Good Clinical Practice, oncology pharmacy, aseptic compounding, research administration, or nutrition will be viewed favourably.
• Strong strategic planning, financial management, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement abilities, alongside excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Demonstrated integrity, attention to detail, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the capacity to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth healthcare setting.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and participation in Continuous Medical Education and pharmaceutical training programmes.

What We Offer / Why Join

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of oncology and clinical research pharmacy in Kenya from a senior leadership position. You will have the autonomy to build systems, mentor teams, and influence facility development while working closely with the organisation’s top executives to achieve a nationally significant healthcare mission.