Buyer

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital•Memphis, TN

33d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for source selection and procurement functions directly associated with clinical, scientific and research products and services. Negotiates contractual arrangements between St. Jude and selected vendors committing hospital funds to ensure the acquisition of high-quality goods and services at optimum cost and ensures enterprise systems (Workday, Craneware and Epic) are maintained for accurate and timely billing of patient chargeable items. Ensures quality of goods, and competitive levels of delivery consistent with institution and departmental policies and performance standards.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED required.
Two (2) years purchasing or directly related purchasing experience required; preferably in health care or laboratory.
Ability to build productive on-going working relationships with vendors and customers.
Ability to gather, synthesize, summarize, and analyze the information necessary to ensure cost-effective bids.
Knowledge necessary to review purchasing processes and recommends areas for correction/improvement.
Skill in evaluating quality and price of products to judge suitability of goods and alternatives offered.
Ability to schedule, evaluate, and set priorities without direct supervision.
Knowledge of MMIS Computer System.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree with emphasis in business administration or economics preferred.
Lawson software experience preferred.
Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) credential or the Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (APP) credential awarded by the Institute for Supply Management is preferred.

Responsibilities

Commits hospital funds up to authorized limits established by the institution.
Ensures that requisitions have processed properly in the ERP Process Flow software.
Ensures that proper approvals signatures are present on requisitions (up to dollar thresholds).
Ensures that additional reviews as required by institutional policies have been conducted.
Reviews for sole source documentation, competitive bids, and contract applicability as appropriate, before placing the order.
Analyzes markets to determine vendor sources and product availability.
Assists customers in selection of vendors and merchandise as required.
Provides customers information on new product developments.
Secures and analyzes quotations; negotiates prices and terms with suppliers.
Ensures that the institution obtains the best value as defined by cost, quality, and delivery competitiveness.
Ensures contracts and contract pricing is current with vendors and in ERP system and are honored at time of order placement/acceptance.
Provides contract, price, analytical data, and impact analysis for new and renewal contracts.
Ensures enterprise systems (Workday, Craneware/Trisus, Epic, ServiceNow) and Item Master are maintained for accurate and timely order placement and billing of patient chargeable items.
Resolves order and invoice discrepancies by coordinating with the Accounts Payable staff, customers, and vendors as appropriate.
Maintains positive communications between Materials Management team, customers, and vendors.
Provides prompt, courteous and accurate customer service to all customers and vendors.
Communicates order status and updates to customers in a timely manner.
Supports materials management team members to increase the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the department.
Actively participates in problem solving and team discussions.
Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in–service meetings, and workshops.
Performs other related duties as assigned or directed to meet the goals and objectives of the department.
Maintains regular and predictable attendance.