Pharmacy Buyer - Elijah McCoy

Henry Ford Health; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Health is seeking a Pharmacy Buyer to join the Pharmacy Commodity Team. The role supports pharmacy purchasing, collaborates with wholesalers and vendors, and helps standardize products across HFHS. You will help maintain inventory levels, ensure regulatory compliance, and process invoices.

Responsibilities include expediting back orders, resolving discrepancies, and supporting recalls. A strong grasp of procurement practices and 340b requirements is beneficial for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Experience with procurement in a healthcare setting preferred.
• Knowledge of 340b program is advantageous.
• Strong computer skills and attention to detail required.

Responsibilities

• Procure pharmaceuticals and related supplies for the organization.
• Ensure pricing is accurate and loaded for the system.
• Process purchase requisitions and generate purchase orders daily.

Skills

Procurement

Inventory management

Vendor relations

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associates Degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

PeopleSoft

Job description

Company Description

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve. Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact. Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you'll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

Job Description

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Pharmacy Buyer is a member of the Pharmacy Commodity Team within HFHS and supports the pharmacy purchasing office(s) within the HFHS Pharmacy Product Line. Under general supervision of the Manager, Pharmacy Purchasing, the Pharmacy Buyer is responsible for ordering pharmaceuticals and related supplies that are necessary for supporting pharmaceutical care within an integrated health system. Responsible for collaborating with the pharmacy purchasing office, wholesalers, vendors or other distribution agents and packaged goods for distribution. Responsible for collaborating with the Pharmacy Stockroom on inventory maintenance and ordering of required equipment and supplies. The Pharmacy Buyer works in collaboration with the Commodities Specialist on system product standardization initiatives, existing HFHS pharmacy business practices, contractual agreements, regulatory compliance, and vendor relations.

Principal Duties And Responsibilities

• Responsible for procuring pharmaceuticals and related supplies for the organization and ensuring compliance with procurement standards, procedures, policies, and agreements.
• Order pharmaceuticals and related supplies that are necessary for supporting pharmaceutical care within an integrated health system.
• Meet with pharmaceutical vendors, distributors and providers and ensure all pricing is accurately reflected and loaded for the system.
• Ensures all pharmacy requisitions received have been entered and purchase orders generated are fulfilled daily.
• Reviews and processes purchase requisitions that can include both expense and capital requests. Confers with requesters regarding specifications, delivery requirements, and other special needs.
• Process all invoices daily and ensure all expenses are according to system established and acceptable accounting practices.
• Resolves match/exception and rejection within guidelines established by management as it relates to dollar thresholds and days outstanding.
• Actively cross references non-formulary or non-inventoried item requests to defined formulary products and facilitates the addition of products to the inventory to drive overall utilization.
• Resolve discrepancies between receipts and purchase order requirements.
• Expedites back orders when necessary and verifies the acceptability of substitutes with requesters.
• Ensure compliance with pharmacy purchasing policies and regulatory standards, including, but not limited to The Joint Commission and 340b requirements as defined by the Health Resources & Services Administration.
• Process pharmaceutical returns with vendors as needed.
• Maintains standards related to the operations of the pharmacy purchasing office and pharmacy stockroom.
• Handles related internal and external customer concerns regarding orders pertaining to pharmaceuticals and related supplies.
• Sets inventory levels and places purchase orders as needed to replenish inventory needs.
• Assist with pharmaceutical recalls and investigate impact to internal and external customers of the pharmacy purchasing office.
• Collaborate and support the Commodity Specialist, local and system pharmacy purchasing team.
• Evaluate and respond to drug shortages and assess alternatives with appropriate stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the HFHS Drug Information team to ensure formulary compliance and appropriate medication management within the system.

This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and duties. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described above.

Qualifications

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Associates Degree preferred.
• Minimum of one year experience involving medication procurement or medication inventory management in a health care setting required.
• Pharmacy technician experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge and/or understanding of 340b is preferred.
• Strong computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
• PeopleSoft experience preferred.

Certifications/Licensures

• Pharmacy Technician license from the State of Michigan preferred.