Material Customer Service Associate

Kaiser Permanente; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu seeks an Inventory Associate to order and replenish items and assist in training clerical staff. You will advise customers on inventory levels and ensure timely delivery of supplies within regulatory standards.

The role emphasizes strong communication, teamwork, and attention to detail, with responsibilities across procurement, stock management, and data entry in material systems.

Qualifications

• One year experience in material services or purchasing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in oral and written communication, customer service, interpersonal relations, teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem solving.
• Reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.
• Training/giving and receiving instructions.
• Mathematical ability, attention to detail, organization and prioritization.

Responsibilities

• Advise customers to develop and maintain appropriate inventory minimum and maximum target levels.
• Ensure replenishment cycles provide accurate, timely delivery of supplies.
• Maintain organized storerooms and storage areas per standards.
• Rotate dated items appropriately.
• Advise customers to remove non-standard items from inventory.
• Serve as liaison for customers for national product standards.
• Provide reliable product information to customers.
• Identify actions to optimize use of goods and services.
• Assist in training health care team members on Material Services practices.
• Manage and resolve stock outages and equipment failures.
• Edit requisitions and place orders via material computer systems.

Skills

Customer service

Oral communication

Interpersonal relations

Teamwork

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma

Associates degree (business administration, hospital administration, or economics)

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Database

Inventory management systems

Job description

Job Summary

Under indirect supervision, orders and replenishes items, materials or services of non-technical, technical or specialized nature which are usually made, altered or customized to specific needs and specifications that detail, in technical terms, required physical, chemical or other properties; assists in training Inventory Associate and other clerical staff.

Essential Responsibilities

• Advises customers to develop and maintain appropriate inventory minimum and maximum target levels; assists customer with material inventory needs which may include research.
• Ensures that established replenishment cycle results in most accurate, timely, and efficient delivery of supplies to customers.
• Develops and maintains effective physical organization of storerooms and storage areas that respects Program and regulatory agency standards.
• Rotates dated items appropriately.
• Advises customers to eliminate non-standard supply items from inventory.
• Acts as liaison for customers for national product standards.
• Demonstrates exceptional customer service with variety of internal and external customers.
• Acts as effective resource and liaison for Material Services.
• Provides reliable, useful product information to customers.
• Identifies and devises action plans to enhance utilization of goods and services.
• Functions effectively as adjunct medical office team member while advocating prudent application of national and divisional Material Services and financial control standards.
• Assists training for health care team members and Material Services staff members on Material Services practices.
• Provides information to health care team members and Material Services staff members on Material Services practices.
• Effectively manages and resolves emergency situations, such as stock outages and equipment failures.
• Edits requisitions and confers with issuing department regarding requirements, specifications, quantity and quality of merchandise and delivery schedules; places orders by utilizing material computer system.
• Carries out necessary follow-ups and expediting activities to insure proper delivery schedules.
• Keeps management informed of problem areas and takes constructive corrective action.
• Insures proper inventory levels are maintained.
• Interprets inventory printouts; provides information, projections and recommendations for purchase standardization, quality, amounts or equivalency.
• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide culturally sensitive care and/or service.
• Performs other duties and accepts responsibility as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• One (1) year experience in material services or purchasing.

Education

• High School Diploma; or equivalent combination of education (lesser) & experience may be considered in lieu of requirements.

License, Certification, Registration

• N/A

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in oral communication, written communication, customer service, interpersonal relations, teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem solving.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in word processing, spreadsheets, database, and inventory management information systems PC applications.
• Talking to co-workers, customers, outside vendors, and on the telephone.
• Reading, writing, speaking and understanding English.
• Training/giving and receiving instructions.
• Mathematical ability, attention to detail (e.g., organization, prioritization, proofing), concentration and alertness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some experience or exposure to the healthcare industry, including basic knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare supplies.
• Certification in material management (e.g., APICS or PMA).
• Associates degree in business administration, hospital administration, or economics.