Pharmacy Buyer

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is seeking a Pharmacy Procurement professional to assist Pharmacy Managers in day-to-day processes ensuring uninterrupted, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of materials, supplies and quality products for the pharmacy department.

The role requires 5 years of purchasing experience, 3 years in healthcare, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field. Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in purchasing.
• 3 years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• 3 years of experience coordinating purchasing, analysis, negotiation, and contract review.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Orders and maintains inventory of supplies and services for pharmacy from outside vendors and via purchasing department/supply chain.
• Reviews backorder reports daily and communicates status; collaborates with Buyers to order from new vendors and non-formulary products as needed.
• Supports value analysis by identifying opportunities and implementing process improvements to purchasing.
• Collaborates with Compliance Analyst to maintain contract compliance; reviews group contracts for pricing and quality.
• Communicates with pharmacy staff and departments to ensure patient medication needs and supplies; responds to orders and requests promptly.
• Allocates inventory space by category and ensures labeling/barcode updates.
• Handles recalls and recalls coordination; assists with year-end inventory.
• Coordinates return goods to maximize reimbursement and resolve invoice discrepancies.
• Provides bridge to Accounts Payable to resolve past due PO/invoice issues.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Data analysis

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Work Shift

Day

Work Day(s)

Monday-Friday

Shift Start Time

7:30 AM

Shift End Time

4:00 PM

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Children’s is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals. No matter the role, every member of our team is an essential part of our mission to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow. We’re committed to putting you first, and that commitment is at the heart of our company culture: People first. Children always. Find your next career opportunity and make a difference doing what you love at Children’s.

Job Description

Assists Pharmacy Managers in day-to-day processes to ensure uninterrupted, compliant, and cost-effective procurement of materials, supplies and quality products required by the department and service lines.

Experience

• 5 years of experience in purchasing Preferred Qualifications
• 3 years of experience in a healthcare setting.
• 3 years of experience coordinating the purchase of products and services providing analysis, negotiation, and contract review
• Experience with Supply Chain Systems Education
• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Qualifications

• N/A

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or related field

Certification Summary

• No professional certifications required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrates negotiating skills with the ability to grasp and maintain financial objectives of the department
• Proven ability to manage and track activities/projects through purchasing completion.
• Proven ability to facilitate issue clarification and resolution at appropriate levels.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written, oral, and presentation format across organizational levels
• Advanced analytical skills in database management tools, including Microsoft Office

Job Responsibilities

• Orders and maintains inventory of supplies and services for the provision of pharmacy services from outside vendors and via the purchasing department/supply chain.
• Reviews backorder reports daily, follows up on backorders with sales or customer service representatives, communicates backorder status to department and locates substitute items. Communicates substitute products to staff. Collaborates with Clinical Pharmacy Manager/Operations Manager and other Buyers to order from new vendors and non-formulary products when needed. Informs clinical Pharmacy of usage of non-formulary medication.
• Supports value analysis by identifying opportunities and implementing action for purchasing process improvements which drive outcomes to reach department goals. Researches prices, product information and potential substitute products pro-actively.
• Collaborates with Compliance Analyst to maintain and optimize contract compliance. Utilizes knowledge of WAC, 340B and GPO to review group contracts for optimal utilization, making recommendations to evaluate products based on pricing and quality.
• Spot checks critical use drugs on a regular basis in order that inventory and budgetary projections may be made. When requested, participates in the development of department metrics.
• Effectively communicates with pharmacy staff and service lines throughout the institution to provide for patient medication needs and necessary medication related supplies. Responds to customers’ requests/needs by answering phone promptly, returning email and voicemail messages daily. Promptly communicates results or problems with orders to the customer. Anticipates requests and communicates updates on customer orders.
• Allocates sufficient space for each inventory item, organized by category, and ensures inventory items are stored in assigned location and ensures current labeling/label/barcode updates.
• Handles recalls and outdated products by being sure to inform all affected areas of problems, making sure floor stock in the pharmacy remains in date and removing recalls from the shelves in order to provide the best products for patients. Assists with coordinating year-end inventory.
• Coordinates return goods by obtaining appropriate information about the return from the department, contacting company for authorization, negotiating no restocking fees with vendor, noting return information in computer for accounting and receiving, forwarding instruction or paperwork to Receiving for pickup and return, and coordinating with pharmacy staff to obtain maximum reimbursement on returns.
• Provides a bridge to support for Accounts Payable and key stakeholders to assist in the resolution of past due purchase order/invoice exceptions, credit holds and past due accounts. Resolves discounted invoice discrepancies as soon as possible, research problem by reviewing computer files and/or making contact with vendors or using department, dates and makes notation of all action taken towards resolving the invoice discrepancy, makes correction or charge to purchase order through receipts or invoice authorization, keys appropriate resolution code for tracking, and keeps invoice discrepancies current.
• Ensures that interdepartmental requisition billing is communicated to Finance by the 3rd day of the following month.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic covered by applicable law.

Primary Location Address

1001 Johnson Ferry Rd

Job Family

Pharmacy