Senior Buyer

Sonora Quest Laboratories / Laboratory Sciences of Arizona; Yakima (WA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonora Quest Laboratories / Laboratory Sciences of Arizona is seeking a Senior Buyer to own procurement end-to-end, including creating and issuing purchase orders, managing deliveries, and resolving back-orders with a focus on cost savings and ethical purchasing. This Arizona-based role requires being in the office as needed and candidates must be local.

This position emphasizes advanced vendor negotiations, contract administration, and providing guidance to staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field with five years’ purchasing experience.
• Capital buying and contract experience preferred.
• Experience with MMIS systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate contracts and achieve cost savings.
• Procure difficult purchases including major supplies and capital equipment.
• Maintain vendor relationships and support departments.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders and manage delivery schedules.

Skills

Excel

Data entry

Word processing

Office filing procedures

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field

MBA/Master’s Degree

Job description

Primary City/State:

Phoenix, Arizona

Department Name:

Purchasing-Ref Lab

Work Shift:

Day

Job Category:

Supply Chain

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to own procurement from end to end—creating, approving, and issuing purchase orders, managing delivery schedules, and resolving back-orders before they escape. This role calls for a confident negotiator who builds vendor relationships grounded in trust and delivers measurable cost savings while upholding the highest standards of ethical, disciplined purchasing. If you lead by example, thrive at the negotiating table, and bring out the best in the buyers around you, we’d love to hear from you. Come do great work on behalf of better health!

NOTE: This is an Arizona-based role that requires being in the office as needed, so candidates must be local.

Starting salary: $55,000-$72,000 annually (dependent on experience)

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is responsible for advanced vendor relations and contract negotiations. Provides technical and expert counsel to other staff members. In addition, this position provides administrative support to senior management, procures difficult and complicated purchases. Promotes sound and ethical purchasing practices between SQL/LSA and the vendor community by developing and maintaining positive vendor relationships based on mutual respect and trust.

COREFUNCTIONS

• Responsible for advanced vendor relations, contract negotiations. Writes, reviews, analyzes and negotiates new and existing agreements. Enhances opportunities for cost savings by promoting use of contracts and pooled purchases. Maintains the integrity of the information contained in all data files. Negotiates best possible pricing for off-contract items.
• Procures difficult and complicated purchases, such as major supplies agreements, prime vendor agreements, GPO participating agreements, capital equipment for projects and pooled purchases.
• Is a resource for product and vendor information for the facilities and utilization efforts. Is a source for products and suppliers. Works closely with assigned departments to understand and meet their needs regarding product specifications and selection.
• Analyzes and evaluates product usage categories for savings, comparing contracted distributor pricing and manufacturing direct pricing. Calculates and documents savings on items as appropriate. Identifies new opportunities for items on which to seek negotiated pricing. Leads procurement process for all equipment implementation projects. Leads and monitors Procurement projects.
• Provides technical training to purchasing staff concerning all aspects of procurement and contracting. Maintains Procurement’s Standard Operation Procedures. Maintains organized files of Purchase Orders and requisitions per document retention guidelines. Indexes receiving documents and packing slips so that images are easily retrieved and readable.
• Coordinates standardization and utilization efforts in collaboration with the Contracts team and committees as assigned. . Requests new item and vendor setups as appropriate, ensuring that proper product information is entered and no duplications exist. Resolves late shipments from suppliers, material quality issues and expedites supplier deliveries if required.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Basic computer experience including moderate skills in Excel.
• Knowledge of data entry and word processing.
• Working knowledge of general office filing procedures.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to solve problems and obtain assistance to resolve more complex problems.
• Ability to work under strict time constraints and manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to interface with a broad range of internal and external customers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field and five (5) years’ purchasing experience or equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MBA/Master’s Degree.
• Capital buying and/or contract experience.
• Experience with MMIS systems.
• Additional purchasing experience including general knowledge of purchasing procedures.

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