Buyer I

OU Health•Oklahoma City, OK

About The Position

The Buyer I, in the Supply Chain department, processes and follows through on purchasing requests for supplies, services, and equipment. The role ensures orders are processed accurately and promptly, identifies viable substitute products to reduce the impact of backorders, resolves price discrepancies that could delay deliveries, and addresses supplier-account issues such as credit holds, pricing, packaging, and recalls. The Buyer I maintains communication with Supply Chain teams, suppliers, and organizational departments. The position processes assigned purchase requests and approved electronic requisitions, monitors open receipts and purchase-order confirmations, expedites orders, and coordinates with departments and suppliers about purchases, delays, backorders, and substitutions. It also supports supplier account setup, item-file updates, quotes, returns, recall communications, invoice discrepancy resolution, requisitioner training, credit-hold resolution, and procurement projects. A bachelor’s degree is required for Level I, and no prior work experience is required. No license, certification, or registration is required. The posting also lists separate Level II qualifications, including a bachelor’s degree and at least three years of Supply Chain or healthcare procurement experience.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required for Level I.
No prior work experience required for Level I.
No license, certification, or registration required.
Ability to understand and analyze data to drive performance.
Oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization.
Ability to solve complex problems effectively and manage multiple high-priority deliverables.
Ability to establish and maintain long-term customer relationships and build trust and respect by consistently meeting and exceeding expectations.
Demonstrated working knowledge of Supply Chain procurement functions.
Ability to convey messages logically, simply, and with confidence.
Ability to apply tools and processes to manage data collection and analysis.
Ability to foster vendor relationships that support successful partnerships.
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Basic-level knowledge of Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Experience with healthcare-industry supplies and Supply Chain processes is preferred.
For Level II: three or more years of work experience in Supply Chain or healthcare procurement.

Responsibilities

Process assigned purchase requests accurately and promptly in accordance with Supply Chain policies and procedures.
Process approved electronic requisitions for assigned vendors and cost centers within one business day.
Review the Open Receipts (OREC) report weekly and follow up with suppliers about orders with missing or expired due dates.
Validate receipt of purchase-order confirmations and review them for shipping delays and potential service failures.
Expedite open purchase orders and communicate updates in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Maintain communication, cooperation, and customer service with assigned departments regarding purchases, backorders, and substitutions.
Work with suppliers to create and maintain shipping accounts for facility delivery locations.
Communicate customer shipping-account issues to the Purchasing Manager to ensure online requisitioning, EDI, and ERP supplier accounts are correct and optimized.
Communicate required item-file changes for price, unit of measure, and product code to Strategic Sourcing using established tracking tools.
Identify supplier resources and obtain quotes for hospital departments with assistance and direction.
Process supplier-return requests, obtain Return Material Authorizations (RMAs), and provide return instructions to ordering departments and Supply Chain Receiving personnel.
Communicate supplier recalls, account changes, acquisitions, and mergers to appropriate Supply Chain and Accounts Payable personnel.
Work with Accounts Payable to resolve match exceptions and invoice discrepancies.
Identify and communicate requisitioner training needs, refer employees to the Purchasing Manager for additional training, and provide Job Aids.
Assist Accounts Payable with credit-hold resolution through purchase-order modifications and/or communication with supplier representatives.
Support procurement-process projects, helping ensure efficient implementation and consistent follow-through.
Maintain supplier and supplier-representative relationships to support follow-up, tracking, and proof of delivery for open purchase orders.
Report item unit-of-purchase or packaging errors on par replenishment orders to appropriate inventory-control team members and the Purchasing Manager.
Perform other duties as assigned.