Pharmacist and International Project Manager – Pacific Islands in Melbourne

A bit about us: Here at BES International (formerly Beyond Essential Systems/BES) we make awesome, free and open-source technology and put it to good use in the world. Our aim is to provide meaningful data to improve decision-making in low resource settings, supporting better outcomes for individuals and more resilient systems. Our services and products have an impact across health, education, supply chain and disaster management, and we are proud to provide innovative solutions while working closely with local partners in the Asia/Pacific region.

About the role: As a Pharmacist and International Health Supply Chain Project Manager, you will be responsible for traveling to and supporting all aspects of health supply chains in partner countries including procurement, warehousing, distribution, policy, usage of data for decision-making, and digital system strengthening. You will be responsible for delivering our supply chain work across a specific set of PICTs, and you’ll join an established team of Project Managers working towards achieving similar goals in other countries. This is a 12 month contract with potential for extension. The successful applicant will be required to spend most of their time in a Pacific Islands Nation with regular trips back to an Australian or NZ home base for R&R purposes. The expectation would be that the Project Manager is willing and available to spend 90% of their time travelling across multiple trips.

Key responsibilities:

• Identify supply chain gaps and design practical, fit-for-purpose improvements across procurement, quantification and forecasting, warehousing, inventory management, dispensing and quality use of medicines, and distribution/last-mile logistics.
• Work directly with the national medical store, public hospitals, and public health services to strengthen procurement processes, stock management, and supply planning.
• Support the development and roll-out of supply chain policies, guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Build the capacity of the national health workforce in core supply chain management practices through mentoring, coaching, and formal training.
• Requirements-gathering with stakeholders at the partner country Ministry of Health to ensure supply chain reforms and digital systems meet local needs, workflows, and health system reporting requirements.
• Configure and deploy health supply chain software, including mSupply and Health Supply Hub, and translate requirements for the software development team.
• Deliver training and hands-on support to end-users across go-lives, new feature roll-outs, and post-implementation, tailored to individual needs and digital literacy.
• Maintain project documentation and contribute to country-level and donor reporting.
• Provide software demonstrations and trainings as required on BES and related software, and promote BES products and generate revenue leads through collaboration with partner countries and organisations.
• Ensure compliance with policies and fiduciary responsibilities in the carrying out of contracts.
• Attend meetings and conferences on behalf of BES, including delivering presentations where required.
• Other duties as reasonably requested by your manager, including support on other projects if required.

About you: You’ll have a real connection with our purpose and be looking for a role with meaningful influence and impact on the lives of others. You’ll be a natural collaborator with initiative and drive. You’ll have:

• Tertiary qualifications: At a minimum, Bachelor of Pharmacy
• At least 2 years’ experience working in a pharmacy setting

Ideally, you’ll have experience in:

• Recent clinical pharmacy practice
• Supply chain reform or health systems strengthening programs
• Working with digital health tools
• Living or working in low-resource or culturally diverse settings

Personal attributes:

• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to work with individuals from a variety of professions
• Resilience working in tough environments, with a high level of autonomy and the ability to solve problems
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• High comfort with and ability to learn new technology

What’s in it for you? The opportunity to lead and contribute to on the ground management of a major digital health and international development project. The opportunity to live overseas and experience a new place and culture.

What will BES cover with respect to this position?

• Rent/accommodation in-country
• Return flights to your home country in accordance with a schedule as determined between the Project Manager and their manager
• A monthly per diem to cover costs associated with living overseas

Work with a mission-driven team that is committed to transforming healthcare in low-resource settings through technology. We strongly encourage women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and individuals from other underrepresented communities in the technology and international development sectors to apply.