PHARMACY BUYER

Insight; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Sick Time

Paid Vacation Time

Health, vision, and dental benefits

Job summary

JobRx, Inc. in Chicago is seeking a Pharmaceutical Buyer to manage drug and supply inventories under the Director of Pharmacy Services. This role involves coordinating with various departments, ensuring medication availability, and placing orders with manufacturers and wholesalers.

The ideal candidate will hold a High School diploma and be a certified Pharmacy Technician. Benefits include health insurance, paid sick time, and vacation after 90 days.

Qualifications

• Minimum of High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Meeting or exceeding state requirements for Pharmacy Technicians.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician designation needed.

Responsibilities

• Maintain inventory of drugs and supplies.
• Prepare and place drug orders with manufacturers.
• Communicate with Inpatient Pharmacy Staff.

Skills

Effective oral communication

Written communication skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Certified Pharmacy Technician designation

Job description

The Pharmaceutical Buyer works under the supervision of the Director of Pharmacy Services or Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services to maintain an accurate inventory of drugs and supplies. The role includes preparing and placing drug and supply orders with manufacturers and wholesalers, receiving and verifying orders, storing products in proper conditions, and initiating invoice processing. The buyer assists with unit dose packaging, specialty care area stock orders, and billing for non-formulary or special medications. All activities must follow written procedures, guidelines, and approved deviations.

Responsibilities

• Maintain collaboration with all hospital departments to ensure medication availability.
• Work with OR department to stock medications before each case.
• Communicate daily with Inpatient Pharmacy Staff regarding drug shortages, arrivals, allocations, ordering issues, and inventory organization.
• Report inventory matters to the Director of Pharmacy on a case‑by‑case basis.
• Participate in weekly inventory meetings with the Director of Pharmacy.
• Coordinate medication requests and ordering changes with OR and SDS.
• Engage vendors and manufacturers to address inventory shortages.
• Maintain live drug shortage documents and report to Pharmacists in Charge.
• Fill and deliver requested drugs, fluids, and supplies from the storeroom to the dispensing pharmacy.
• Review inventory levels against par levels.
• Place orders for drugs, fluids, and supplies with manufacturers and/or wholesalers.
• Receive, unpack, verify quantities, price stickers, and store products under proper conditions.
• Verify invoice prices against BID prices for accuracy.
• Prepare documentation required for invoice processing and payment.
• Maintain the Premier contract book in current status.
• Run and maintain reports on general pharmacy department usage, including automated dispensing units.
• Process returns of outdated or damaged goods to manufacturers or wholesalers and reconcile for proper credit.
• Exhibit professional conduct, performance, and attendance.
• Participate in implementing departmental goals, objectives, policies, and procedures.
• Adjust par levels with the Director of Pharmacy or designee.
• Engage in continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Assist in filling requisitions and floor stock orders.
• Assist in unit dose packaging.
• Perform housekeeping duties to keep storeroom and stock areas clean and orderly.
• Operate storage systems for medicinal agents following health system policies on cart fill, unit dose distribution, labeling, controlled substances reconciliation, and purchasing.
• Perform other assigned duties.

Contacts

• Frequently interact with health care professionals, nurses, pharmacists, staff, patients, and visitors in various circumstances.

Physical Demands

• Prolonged stationary work or movement throughout the facility.
• Lifting, pushing, or transporting medication carts or IV fluid carts.
• Lifting boxes up to 25 pounds frequently.
• Frequent stretching for boxes and materials.
• Reading for extended periods.
• Using telephone or other communication devices to interact with healthcare personnel.
• Operating computers, modems, calculators, and other devices.
• Maintaining alertness in an environment where accuracy and promptness are critical.
• Traveling throughout the hospital and working at computer terminals.
• Providing evidence of good health per hospital policy.

Working Conditions

• Exposure to risk of blood‑borne disease, patients, and chemotherapy.
• Exposure to very sick patients, mentally ill patients, and death.
• Risk of emergency or disaster situations, irregular hours, and high work pressure.

Dress Code

• Wear clothing that meets Medication Management and customer expectations.
• Display badge/name tag prominently at all times.

Personal Protective Equipment

• Gloves when handling hazardous materials or bloody secretions.
• Apron or gown of impermeable material if soiling or splashing is likely.
• Mask when contacting known infectious airborne agents, hazardous materials, or when splashing/spraying is likely.
• Eye protection if splashing of hazardous materials is possible.

Education/Experience

• Minimum of High School diploma or equivalent.
• Meeting or exceeding state requirements for Pharmacy Technicians.
• Certified Pharmacy Technician designation.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Aptitude for working with other health care professionals.

Benefits

• Paid Sick Time – effective 90 days after employment.
• Paid Vacation Time – effective 90 days after employment.
• Health, vision, and dental benefits – eligible 30 days, following the first of the following month.
• Short and long‑term disability and basic life insurance – after 30 days of employment.

Insight Employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Insight is an equal opportunity employer and values workplace diversity!