National Pharmacy Practice Manager

Function

Pharmacy

Facility

Head Office, Dunkeld

Position

National Pharmacy Practice Manager

Introduction

A vacancy exists for a National Pharmacy Practice Manager, based at Life Healthcare Head Office Dunkeld, reporting to the General Manager: Pharmacy.  The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and professional leadership to ensure national alignment and excellence across all pharmacy functions within Life Healthcare. The role drives pharmacy governance, regulatory compliance, medication safety, operational efficiency, workforce development, and digital transformation. Critically, the position ensures that pharmacy contributes directly to the Group’s objectives of high-quality, cost-effective patient care, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. It also supports the LPMS Director in maintaining national governance of pharmacy licensing and professional practice, ensuring that Life Healthcare’s license to trade remains protected and that all pharmacy operations meet the highest standards of compliance and ethical conduct.

Critical Outputs

Strategic and Operational Leadership:

• Translate the Group Pharmacy strategy into executable operational plans that drive growth, operational excellence and long-term sustainability.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the LPMS Director, ensuring pharmacy operations align with business priorities and governance frameworks.
• Partner cross-functionally with Procurement, Finance, Operations, and Clinical functions to ensure pharmacy contributes directly to hospital and group KPIs.
• Provide regulatory and operational leadership in new ventures and expansion projects to ensure pharmacy readiness, licensing compliance, and integration into operational planning.
• Drive the pharmacy digital transformation agenda, including e-Prescribing, clinical decision support tools, and analytics to enable predictive insights within value-based care models.

Governance, Compliance, and Professional Practice:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, including SAPC, SAHPRA, and OHSC requirements, maintaining Life Healthcare’s licence to trade.
• Provide national oversight of all professional and legal pharmacy governance activities across more than all licensed hospitals and registered pharmacy professionals.
• Direct pharmacy licensing activities – including new applications, relocations, and closures – ensuring alignment with business timelines and regulatory standards.
• Maintain oversight of SAPC audit processes to achieve 100% Grade A compliance and manage all corrective actions.
• Oversee the Quality Management System (QMS) for pharmacy, ensuring policies, work procedures, and audit tools are current and aligned with ISO 9001:2015 and OHSC standards.
• Ensure full compliance with SAPC CPD requirements across all pharmacists, and manage professional development frameworks and documentation.
• Strengthen Life Healthcare’s position with external regulators and professional bodies through proactive engagement and commentary on draft legislation.

Quality, Medication Safety, and Risk Management:

• Lead the National Medication Safety Programme to prevent incidents and ensure continuous improvement in pharmaceutical care.
• Oversee medication safety bundles and risk mitigation strategies for high-risk areas such as controlled medicines, paediatrics, and emergency cupboard management.
• Ensure effective collaboration with Quality, Nursing, and Clinical Governance to embed pharmacy risk prevention and medication safety culture throughout the Group.
• Drive continuous improvement in reporting accuracy, data integrity, and the reduction of zero-reporting hospitals.

Operational Efficiency and Business Processes:

• Lead national initiatives to optimise stock management, reduce stockholding days, manage dead stock, and achieve cost-of-sales efficiency.
• Oversee the pharmacy component of the Procure to Pay process to ensure reconciliation accuracy
• Collaborate with Procurement to align formulary optimisation, vendor governance, and best-cost initiatives with business objectives.
• Drive utilisation of SAP MM and MRP systems and strengthen data-driven operational decision-making.
• Implement standardised pharmacy operational processes to ensure national consistency and compliance with audit standards.

People and Capability Development:

• Lead, mentor, and manage the Pharmacy Practice Specialists and Regional Pharmacy Managers to deliver national objectives and uphold professional standards.
• Oversee pharmacy workforce planning, development, and succession – including the Pharmacy Operating Model (POM) and staffing optimization across hospitals.
• Strengthen the pharmacist intern, pharmacist assistant, and leadership development programmes in partnership with HWSETA and SAPC to ensure professional pipeline growth.
• Foster a high-performance, values-driven culture with strong talent pipelines and succession plans for all critical pharmacy roles.
• Collaborate with HR and Operations to ensure transformation, equity, and professional excellence within the pharmacy function.

Stakeholder and External Engagement:

• Build effective internal partnerships with Procurement, Finance, Quality, IT, HR, Legal, and Operations to deliver integrated pharmacy outcomes.
• Represent Life Healthcare in national professional bodies and forums to influence healthcare policy and innovation.
• Provide expert input to governance forums, including Clinical Governance, Quality, and Risk Committees, supporting the Group’s commitment to excellence and compliance.

Requirements

• B.Pharm / Dip.Pharm, and current registration with the South African Pharmacy Council
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in private hospital pharmacy leadership
• Strong understanding of relevant legislation, operating structures and relationships within a hospital system
• Proven track record in strategic execution, compliance and people development
• Computer proficiency (MS office)

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution
• Governance and compliance orientation
• Problem-solving, analysis and judgment
• Operational excellence and analytical capability
• People development and coaching ability
• Effective communication and influencing skills
• Adaptability, resilience and integrity in leadership
• Building relationships and networking
• Verbal and written communication skills

Email

Careers@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Monday, December 8, 2025