Buyer

DCH Health System; Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

DCH Health System in Tuscaloosa, AL, seeks a Buyer to manage procurement of supplies, equipment, and services for multiple entities. The role supports adherence to GPO policies and drives standardization, cost efficiency, and timely order processing.

Responsibilities include coordinating with vendors, Accounts Payable, and Shipping/Receiving, and applying Lean principles to improve workflow and patient care outcomes. Strong English communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Must possess high school diploma or equivalent.
• Associates degree preferred.
• Two to four years Supply Chain experience preferred, healthcare experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written skills as well as interpersonal relationship and customer service skills are required.
• Experience using front office personal computer applications also required.
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.

Responsibilities

• Assuring timely release of manual and electronic orders of all supplies and equipment for all entities while ensuring proper freight mode is selected per departmental policies and procedures.
• Appropriate and timely completion of returns and credits for products, equipment and equipment repairs.
• Actively communicating status updates to end customers until all are fully resolved.
• Facilitating product conversions and standardization according to SC policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with interdepartmental staff and managers, vendors, contractors, and related committees to identify material and service needs, solve problems, educate and promote good practices and improve work processes utilizing lean concepts.
• Engaging in process improvement related activities such as Lean principles, operational and clinical resource management opportunities that improve efficiency while maintaining or enhancing the quality of patient care.
• Achieves organizational goals and competencies set forth for them.
• Assists in orientation of other Buyers as needed.
• Actively participates in fostering collaboration within and across Supply Chain Department.
• Providing accurate information to set up a new item.
• Performing daily maintenance in MMIS system to include template creation, modification and price updates. Utilize additional reports to monitor tools to assist with other discrepancies.
• Collaborating with Shipping and Receiving to ensure orders are received and processed timely for payment by Accounts Payable. Hold vendors to contracted Terms and Conditions as it relates to delivery.
• Collaborating with Accounts Payable to ensure all outstanding items are processed by end of each month.
• Managing resolution of day to day Buyer messages due to price, unit of measure or receiving discrepancies as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Manage expense as it relates to minimum order fees, break fees and additional shipping and/or handling fees. Understand and utilize Optifreight inbound shipping program.
• Assisting the Contract Specialists with managing supplier relationships and quality performance through such avenues as quarterly business reviews, quality assessments, etc.
• Participate in projects team and attend meetings as assigned.
• Provides excellent customer service and teamwork to all parties involved in the sourcing and contracting process.
• Responsible for utilization of GHX software solutions to enhance efficiency of the essential functions of the Buyer position.

Skills

Supply Chain experience

Healthcare experience

Customer service

Verbal communication

Written communication

Reading and writing English

Front office software

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Associates degree preferred

Tools

GHX software

Job description

Overview

Responsible for performing a variety of duties in complex portfolios to purchase material, equipment and supplies according to established Health System policies and procedures. With the guiding principles of cost, quality, delivery, for the right item at the right time, the Buyer will take direction from the Sourcing and Contracting Manager and/or Senior Contract Specialist. Role will perform all activities according to department policies and procedures and will ensure appropriate sourcing through the GPO partners. The role will also be responsible for assisting in developing sourcing strategies by portfolio and ensuring alignment to GPO affiliate sourcing strategies, projects and initiatives within commodities.

Responsibilities

• Assuring timely release of manual and electronic orders of all supplies and equipment for all entities while ensuring proper freight mode is selected per departmental policies and procedures.
• Appropriate and timely completion of returns and credits for products, equipment and equipment repairs.
• Actively communicating status updates to end customers until all are fully resolved.
• Facilitating product conversions and standardization according to SC policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with interdepartmental staff and managers, vendors, contractors, and related committees to identify material and service needs, solve problems, educate and promote good practices and improve work processes utilizing lean concepts.
• Engaging in process improvement related activities such as Lean principles, operational and clinical resource management opportunities that improve efficiency while maintaining or enhancing the quality of patient care.
• Achieves organizational goals and competencies set forth for them.
• Assists in orientation of other Buyers as needed.
• Actively participates in fostering collaboration within and across Supply Chain Department.
• Providing accurate information to set up a new item.
• Performing daily maintenance in MMIS system to include template creation, modification and price updates. Utilize additional reports to monitor tools to assist with other discrepancies.
• Collaborating with Shipping and Receiving to ensure orders are received and processed timely for payment by Accounts Payable. Hold vendors to contracted Terms and Conditions as it relates to delivery.
• Collaborating with Accounts Payable to ensure all outstanding items are processed by end of each month.
• Managing resolution of day to day Buyer messages due to price, unit of measure or receiving discrepancies as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Manage expense as it relates to minimum order fees, break fees and additional shipping and/or handling fees. Understand and utilize Optifreight inbound shipping program.
• Assisting the Contract Specialists with managing supplier relationships and quality performance through such avenues as quarterly business reviews, quality assessments, etc.
• Participate in projects team and attend meetings as assigned.
• Provides excellent customer service and teamwork to all parties involved in the sourcing and contracting process.
• Responsible for utilization of GHX software solutions to enhance efficiency of the essential functions of the Buyer position.

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Must possess high school diploma or equivalent. Associates degree preferred. Two to four years Supply Chain experience preferred, healthcare experience preferred. Excellent verbal and written skills as well as interpersonal relationship and customer service skills are required. Experience using front office personal computer applications also required. Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental

May be in proximity of pallet jacks and other inventory transport equipment on occasion, so must be aware of surroundings.

Physical

S-Sedentary Work – Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or conditionexists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the humanbody. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periodsof time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentarycriteria are met.

Physical presence onsite is essential. Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range. Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.

Psychological

Frequent contact with others.. Must be able to interact with the vendor community and internal customers .Frequent use of electronic mail and face-to-face discussions. Occasional sending of memos and letters. Frequent telephone conversations with vendors and internal customers.