Chief Pharmacy Officer Full Time

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic & Leadership

• Develops and executes a long-term strategic plan for pharmacy services in alignment with hospital goals and international best practices.
• Provides executive leadership to all pharmacy operations, ensuring integration with medical, nursing, and clinical services.
• Champions a culture of excellence, innovation, and accountability within the department.
• Advises executive leadership on medication management trends, emerging technologies, and pharmaceutical innovations.

Clinical Governance & Patient Safety

• Ensures compliance with Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) and Dubai Health Authority (DHA) standards.
• Oversees formulary management, medication use evaluation, and drug utilisation reviews.
• Implements robust medication safety programs to minimise adverse drug events and optimise patient outcomes.
• Leads clinical pharmacy initiatives, ensuring evidence-based practice and integration of clinical pharmacists into patient care teams.

Operational Management

• Directs day-to-day pharmacy operations, including inpatient, outpatient, compounding, and sterile preparation services.
• Manages departmental budget, ensuring cost-effective procurement, inventory management, and resource allocation.
• Oversees automation, digitalisation, and pharmacy information systems to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Establishes standards for procurement, storage, distribution, and handling of pharmaceutical products.

Education, Research & Development

• Promotes continuous professional development of pharmacists and technicians through structured training and competency assessments.
• Fosters academic partnerships with universities and healthcare organisations to support pharmacy education and residency programs.
• Encourages research and publications in pharmaceutical sciences, clinical outcomes, and drug safety.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborates with medical, nursing, and administrative leadership to integrate pharmacy into multidisciplinary care.
• Engages external stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, suppliers, and academic partners, to ensure alignment with UAE and global standards.
• Maintains effective communication channels with hospital leadership and frontline staff to ensure operational transparency.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressive experience in hospital pharmacy practice, including at least five (5) years in a senior leadership role within a tertiary care or academic medical center.
• Knowledge of clinical pharmacy practice across acute, ambulatory, and specialty care.
• Knowledge of pharmacy automation, informatics, and computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems.
• Knowledge of JCIA, DHA, and global accreditation standards relevant to pharmacy operations.
• Skills in strategic planning, financial stewardship, and organizational development.
• Skills in clinical governance, formulary management, and patient safety systems.
• Skills in leadership, change management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to foster innovation in pharmaceutical care, digital transformation, and precision medicine.
• Ability to communicate fluently in English; Arabic proficiency preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) or Master’s in Pharmacy/Clinical Pharmacy.
• Valid UAE pharmacy licensure (DHA) or eligibility for licensure.
• Postgraduate residency (PGY1/PGY2) or fellowship in clinical pharmacy, pharmacy administration, or a related speciality preferred.
• Board Certification (e.g., BPS in Pharmacotherapy, Oncology, or Critical Care) preferred.