Job title : Quality Assurance Pharmacist - Vendor Management (JHB North)
Job Location : Gauteng, Johannesburg
Deadline : December 06, 2025
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OBJECTIVE OF ROLE
The role undertakes responsibility for the pharmaceutical tasks within the Vendor Management division of the Quality department for Pharmacare Limited, ensuring Vendor and Company compliance with sound QA principles and requirements, Aspen Group and Third-Party Alliance partner policies and procedures and in accordance with GxP guidelines, The Pharmacy Act, Act 53 of 1974 as amended, the Medicines and Related Substances Act, Act 101 of 1965 as amended, and any other relevant legislation and guidelines relating to the import, export, manufacture, packing, testing, warehousing and distribution of medicines in South Africa and SADC, thereby ensuring that the products meet the intended quality, safety and efficacy standards and requirements as required of the MA holding entity, Pharmacare Limited.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
General Operational Activities
Execute daily tasks and work instructions according to the relevant SOPs.Adherence to agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Support the continuous development and improvement of the Quality function while upholding Aspen core valuesOperate computer systems by capturing data, printing standard reports, etc.Perform reconciliations of data.Update and maintain databases.Generate reports as per instruction.Collating data for ad hoc requestsVerify and interpret the accuracy of data and audit documentation.Ensure that all relevant documentation gains the necessary signatures for completion.Maintain accurate filing and retrieval of documentationActive collaboration with the regional and global quality, regulatory and operational teams to ensure the appropriate flow of information and decisions, to seek advice, inputs, guidance and work on any regional or cross functional projectsPerform any other administrative tasks relating to your work as and when requiredEffective management and utilization of resources to keep processes cost effectiveCustomer Service
Manage the Quality relationship between Aspen and Third-Party Contract manufacturers, Licensors, Testing Laboratories, Distributors, Wholesalers and other Regulatory and Quality service providers, providing guidance on Quality and GxP matters and decisions.Manage the Co-marketing arrangements with distributors, e.g. GSK, Amgen, Lilly and other third-party products where Aspen is the appointed agent to market and distributeInvolvement with technical customer queries and product investigationsResponding to enquiries in a timely manner, giving advice on quality requirementsEnsuring good relations and communications with all members of the team, and responding politely and in a timely fashion to internal and external customersWorking with all members of staff, cross-functionally, to maintain and develop the positive progressive culture within AspenProvide quality support for the SA and SADC Commercial, Supply Chain and Value Chain structures, as it relates to Vendor Management, Distribution and Wholesale mattersManagement of GxP Vendor Audits
Manage vendor audit schedules.Conduct vendor audits.Compile audit reports.Document audits on the electronic QMSEnsure that appropriate CAPAs from audit findings are tracked and followed through to completion.Perform desktop audits, when required as per SOP.Ensure risk assessment of all vendors is conducted, and audits are planning according to this risk categorization.Periodically request information from vendors regarding recent regulatory inspections of their company, review this information and determine risk (if any) to the service provided to Aspen and its product.Ensuring vendor ratings system is utilized to assess vendor compliance.Management of Technical Agreements, Manufacturing Licences and GxP Certificates
Ensure that technical agreements and SLAs are in place for all third-party vendors involved in manufacture, packing, testing, storage and distribution of finished productsDraw up Technical and Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with new vendors / affiliates / Distributors (SA & SADC) to ensure that all GxP roles, responsibilities and requirements for all parties are stipulated, and both agree to complyEnsure that active agreements are being reviewed and updated according to their review datesPerform gap analysis to determine which vendors do not have an agreement in place and formulate and actionable plan to close the gap.Compile and maintain a database of all vendors for Pharmacare Ltd. containing all relevant information to assist in audits and Technical Agreement (TA) / SLA management.Ensure that the TA and SLA SOP, templates, and associated documents are current and effective on the electronic QMS and are reviewed when required.Compile TA declaration for the RA department for new submissions and amendments.Management of Manufacturing licenses and GxP certificates of all Aspen Pharmacare vendors.Distribution and Wholesale Quality
Provide Quality support for Commercial, Distribution and Logistics structures as relates to Distribution and WholesaleEnsure Distributor and Wholesaler compliance with sound Quality Assurance principles, GxP and regulatory requirements relating to the warehousing / distribution of medicines in South Africa and SADCEnsure appropriate management of blocked stock notifications, Co-Marketing arrangements with distributors, Material listing verifications, Change management, Permit application process and Post-release incidents at internal and third-party distributors / wholesalersQuality Management Systems and GxP Compliance
Ensuring that Pharmacare and its vendors comply with current and future GxP standards and requirementsObserving and complying with GxP requirements (e.g. GMP, GWP, GDP, GLP, GDP, etc) as outlined by guidelines, the company SOP’s and written instructions in all tasks and activitiesObserving and complying with Policies, SOPs and processesComplete all records and reports timeously and accurately as described in the relevant SOPs, protocols and associated documentationEnsure that products are handled according to the required SOPs and documentationCompile, review and update SOPs and related documentation (e.g. Work Instruction, standard forms, trackers and all relevant Quality System documents) related to work function to ensure compliance with the relevant Policies, Guidelines, Regulations and Contractual requirements.Identify and introduce new policies and procedures where necessaryReview of processes (SOP’s, Work Instructions, etc) to ensure continuous improvement and the updating of procedures to align accordinglyMaintain Templates and ListsChange Ownership for all assigned change controls and completion of Action ItemsDeviation and CAPA managementRisk Management, mitigation and performing Quality Risk Assessments where requiredEnsure ongoing Quality and QMS requirements and commitments, as per latest SAHPRA PICS and other relevant guidance, is fulfilled and maintainedProvide vendor management information for QSMR and any other reporting requirementsParticipating in QMS monthly and annual reviewsConducting / assisting with internal self-inspection auditsComplete Change controls, Change actions, Deviations, CAPA, Effectiveness checks, Audit Finding records in accordance with the requirements of the QMS Due datesContinuous Improvement
Identifying gaps within current processes and investigation and proposing ways to close the gapsIdentifying ways to streamline processes, resulting in greater efficiency and productivityEnduring the necessary information and statistics generated by the department is accurate and easily retrievableOther
ITAC Permit managementPIT ExemptionsAssisting with Batch Release process, including deviation management where requiredParticipating in Regulatory and Third-Party inspections and audits of Pharmacare or its contracted partiesAdherence to company HR Policies and ProceduresAdherence to Company Health and Safety Policies and ProceduresParticipate in training programmesKeep abreast of developments in best practice, inspection trends and all QMS related activitiesRequirements
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
MatricBachelor of Pharmacy Degree or equivalent (Registration with the South African Pharmacy Council as a practicing Pharmacist)Technical qualification related to the pharmaceutical industry is advantageous.KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a GxP-accredited pharmaceutical environment, preferably in an MA Holding entity, Distributor Wholesaler or manufacturing facility, of which at least one year must be in QualityQuality Auditing experience is mandatoryExperience in medicine legislation and related guidelines and codes of practiceExperience in Quality Management Systems requiredExperience in Vendor Management within a GxP-accredited pharmaceutical environmentAdvanced knowledge of the legislation applicable to the pharmaceutical industry in South Africa (including but not limited to the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965, as amended)Advanced knowledge of SAHPRA requirements and guidelinesSound knowledge of the pharmaceutical industryAdvanced knowledge of Pic / s and EU GuidelinesSOFT SKILLS AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS
Excellent communication skills, including verbal and written proficiency in the English & Afrikaans languagesAdministrative, planning and organizational skillsElectronic database management skillsReport writing skillsHigh level of integrity, ethical values and confidentialityAbility to make good decisionsCustomer focus / service-orientated and outcome basedInitiating action, follow up and time managementPositive, diligent and hard workingAbility to prioritize and co-ordinate workSelf-motivatedQuality orientationStress tolerance and conflict resolutionProblem solving, attention to detail and analytical skillMethodical implementation skillsNegotiation SkillsPharmaceutical jobs