Buying Unit Head – Pharmacy

Position Overview:
Kifayah is looking for an experienced, strategic, and result-driven Buying Unit Head – Pharmacy to lead and optimize pharmacy procurement, commercial strategy, category management, and vendor negotiations. The ideal candidate will take full ownership of product availability, profit margins, supplier management, and regulatory compliance across the retail pharmacy network.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Assortment: Drive the commercial strategy for the Pharmacy category, managing margins, assortment planning, pricing, and overall turnover.

Vendor & Supplier Management: Lead negotiations with pharmaceutical manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers to secure competitive pricing, favorable credit terms, and trade promotions.

Inventory & Stock Availability: Partner with supply chain teams to ensure high fill rates, prevent stock-outs of essential medicines, and eliminate overstock/expired risks.

Compliance & Standards: Ensure strict adherence to national pharmaceutical regulations, quality standards, and statutory requirements (DRAP guidelines).

Team Leadership: Mentor, lead, and develop the pharmacy buying team, driving performance, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and excellence.

Market Insights & Expansion: Monitor market trends, competitor pricing, consumer demands, and new drug launches to expand high-margin offerings.

Job Requirements & Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy (Pharm-D) or related field. An MBA/Master's in Supply Chain, Commercial Management, or Marketing is strongly preferred.

Experience: 6–10 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical procurement, commercial buying, or category management within retail pharmacy chains or FMCG/pharma distribution.

Skills & Competencies:

Strong commercial acumen and niche negotiation skills.

In-depth understanding of pharmaceutical supply chains, margins, and inventory turnover.

Proficiency in data-driven category planning and ERP/pos reporting tools.

Leadership, team management, and strategic decision-making capabilities.