Buyer, Materials Management

CarePoint Health Management Associates•Jersey City, NJ

About The Position

The Materials Management Buyer is responsible for the purchase of supplies, equipment and purchased services with the goal and focus on quality, availability, and cost that afford the best products at the lowest cost by adhering to the agreed upon contracts (including GPO or local contracts). As part of the procurement function, responsible for strategically reducing acquisition costs within defined categories of the hospitals spend. Seeks to reduce expenditures through effective supplier negotiations, value analysis, cost modeling, etc. Facilitates contract management and prepares requests for proposals or bids while following established policies and procedures. Implements savings initiatives. Researches and maintains competitive sources of supply, while utilizing data and analytics tools/resources.

Requirements

High School diploma required.
3-5 years prior experience working in healthcare procurement preferred.
Ability to multitask and perform other duties as assigned, or as needed.
Ability to communicate/interact professionally and respectfully with other CarePoint employees, professional staff, and/or external contacts to offer ideas, identify issues, obtain information, or deliver services and savings.
Familiarity with methods of purchasing, supplier partnership, shipping, receiving, and accounts payable, as well as contract terms and conditions, procurement, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Ability to navigate and manage multiple information systems
Strong negotiating skills accompanied with the ability to strategically reduce costs.
Ability to provide a high level of customer service in an intensive yet professional, service-oriented, respectful manner using active listening and problem-solving approaches.
Ability to demonstrate the ability to adapt to change, while effectively responding to changing needs, conditions, and/or priorities.
Focus on problem solving
Ability to work collaboratively, in a team setting.

Nice To Haves

Undergraduate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Identifying, addressing and reporting all major, consistent/persistent price discrepancies to appropriate personnel including the Materials Manager.
Creates, confirms, and accurately expedites all purchase orders for assigned departments via email, telephone, or electronic order entry.
Organizes, updates, and retains product information files, and purchase order records.
Proactively investigates price changes and challenges these changes when not justified.
Ensures appropriate paperwork is secured from the vendor and updated in the respective information systems.
Analyzes data in spreadsheet and database format
Verifies requisitions for proper approvals, appropriate use of item files, contract pricing and manufacturer, distribution channel, and terms and conditions.
Resolves issues of receipts, backorders, accruals, returns, quality (fitness for use), or invoicing issues for purchase orders, and assists in resolving invoice/Purchase Order discrepancies by working collaboratively with vendors and CarePoint Health Accounts Payable Department.
Establishes and maintains an open and clear line of communication with assigned departments while acting as a source of product knowledge, with the goal of driving savings and standardization.
Initiates and maintains the preferred vendor list for each department and reviews purchase orders to verify compliance with approved vendors.
Provides detailed review for assigned departmental spend to ensure adherence to contract when appropriate and assists in conversion to compliant products.
Governs backorder and substitution requirements and action plans to ensure clinicians have the necessary supplies to maintain patient care levels. Also facilitates and maintains the short-term substitute list.
Maintains proper and appropriate professional and ethical relationships with all vendor representatives/business partners and conducts business according to established principals and guidelines.
Collaborate with end users to support key initiates.
Consistently reviews spend and identifies areas for savings and renegotiation.
Other projects and duties as assigned.