Pharmacy Buyer

Allina Health; Minnesota; On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Allina Health is seeking a Pharmacy Buyer to procure and manage hospital pharmaceutical inventory, sourcing pharmaceuticals and supplies to meet budget and quality standards. You will build strong vendor relationships, monitor backorders, and support formulary usage across hospital clinics.

The role emphasizes collaboration with pharmacy staff and suppliers, with responsibility for order placement, invoice verification, and compliance with DEA regulations.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age with education and/or experience to meet required competencies.
• Working knowledge of pharmacy wholesaler purchasing software systems.
• Understanding of supply chain concepts and principles.
• Registered Pharmacy Technician with MN Board of Pharmacy required upon hire; certification preferred within 180 days.

Responsibilities

• Sources pharmaceuticals & supplies and maintains stock levels.
• Oversees purchasing, order confirmations, and expediting; resolves pricing issues.
• Manages narcotic inventory, DEA reporting, recalls, and safety compliance.
• Supports hospital-based clinics inventory and procurement processes.
• Develops supplier relationships; monitors performance and lead times.

Skills

Pharmacy purchasing software

Supply chain concepts

DEA reporting

Education

Bachelor degree in Pharmacy or related field

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Pharmacy wholesaler purchasing software systems

Job description

## Pharmacy BuyerApply: United Hospital: Full time: Posted Today: R-0074911**Location Address:**333 Smith Ave NSaint Paul, MN 55102-2344**Date Posted:**September 30, 2026**Department:**34007800 Pharmacy Services**Shift:**Day/Evening (United States of America)**Shift Length:**8 hour shift**Hours Per Week:**40**Union Contract:**Non-Union-NCT**Weekend Rotation:**None**Job Summary:**Allina Health is a not-for-profit health system that cares for individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. If you value putting patients first, consider a career at Allina Health. Our mission is to provide exceptional care as we prevent illness, restore health and provide comfort to all who entrust us with their care. This includes you and your loved ones. We are committed to providing whole person care, investing in your well-being, and enriching your career.**Key Position Details:*** 1.0 FTE (80 hours per two-week pay period)* 8-hour day/evening shift* No weekends* This position will help to support hospital-based clinics and their inventory/purchasing.* Assist with manufacturer/hospital free drug programs.* Preferred candidates will have competency with electronic health records (EHR) and automated dispensing systems.* Interviews for this position will be in-person and onsite at United Hospital Pharmacy. **Job Description:**Responsible for the procurement, distribution, and inventory management of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy supplies to meet budgeting requirements and departmental standards for quality and efficacy. Manages relationship with suppliers, vendors, and internal customers to ensure adequate stock is kept. Audits and escalates issue regarding shortage, backorders, and necessary replacements. **Principle Responsibilities*** Sources pharmaceuticals & supplies. + Develops expert-level understanding of pharmaceuticals /supplies, sources, supplier performance, potential lead times or shipping disruptions. + Oversees purchasing to maintain adequate stock levels while minimizing inventory. + Educates requisitioners to maximize use of formulary items + Provides product knowledge/expertise to support resolution of backorder situations and optimal substitute product and vendor source. + Communicates to customers drug shortage information and when available alternative products.* Orders placement, confirmation, and expediting. + Placement and oversight of orders, including rush requisitions. + Reviews all order confirmations, communicates any fulfillment issues to requisitioner, identifies and resolves pricing inconsistencies. + Receives orders, verifies invoices, distributes order, and approves payment.* Special orders, blanket or standing POs, and new vendor or customer set-up. + Processes orders ensuring proper documentation to support Accounts Payable(AP) check requests. + Identifies new orders that require credit application and/or unique order forms, submits required information and follows-up with AP to establish new vendor records. + Supports customers’ needs for unique product procurement. + Sets up new customer accounts and test order, delivery and invoice processes.* Pharmaceutical wholesaler relationship management and supplier performance management. + Reviews and analyzes purchasing and expense data. + Develops and maintains relationships with drug wholesaler. + Trains back up buyer and other staff on pharmaceutical wholesaler ordering systems. + Identifies supplier performance concerns and implement measures to address. + Actively participates in multi-departments improvement/problem-solving initiatives when supplier performance jeopardizes patient care and/or site-based departmental operations. + Contacts supplier for documentation of order receipt, track-down internal routing discrepancies, or determine if loss should be taken and item reordered.* Billing, price management, other invoice issues. + Provides support and management for pharmaceutical and supplies costs, prices, billing and revenue. + Addresses pricing and billing discrepancies when requested. + Reconciles credit to returns, pricing errors, product set-up problems and take corrective action. + Reviews and analyzes pharmaceutical and supplies purchasing and expense data reports. + Summarizes and escalates key issues with purchasing and expense data. + Responds to requests for pharmaceutical and supplies purchasing and expense data for specific departments.* Pharmacy purchasing support. + Manages narcotic inventory and DEA reporting, manage return/destruction of outdated/ drugs, recalls, product defect reporting, track and apply for failure to supply rebates, hazardous waste management, specialty product management. + Processes charges to outside of pharmacy departments or product redistributions with cost transfers to internal departments. + Manages requests and needs for patient and employee safety. + Responds, manages and provides analysis for regulatory and government requests. + May prepare pharmacist and pharmacy technician schedules. + May perform pharmacy technician duties.* Other duties as assigned. **Required Qualifications*** Must be 18 years of age with education and/or experience needed to meet required functional competencies as listed on the job description* Working knowledge of pharmacy wholesaler purchasing software systems* Understanding of supply chain concepts and principles **Preferred Qualifications** * High school diploma or GED* Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Supply Chain, Business or other related field* 2+ years of pharmaceutical or supply purchasing **Licenses/Certifications*** Registered Pharmacy Technician - MN Board of Pharmacy required upon hire* Certified Pharmacy Technician - Pharmacy Technician Certification Board required within 180 Days **Physical Demands*** Light Work:* Lifting weight up to 20 lbs. occasionally, up to 10 lbs. frequently **Pay Range**### Pay Range: $27.65 to $37.90 per hour