Pharmacy Buyer - Sharp Grossmont - Day Shift - Full Time

Sharp HealthCare•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Pharmacy Buyer manages pharmacy procurement to ensure adequate drug and supply inventory for day-to-day operations, compliance with regulatory requirements, optimized inventory turns, reduced drug expirations, and control of costs within financial budget targets. The role handles inventory management, purchasing, invoice reconciliation, budget monitoring, medication safety, and collaboration with pharmacy leadership, clinical teams, vendors, and other facilities. The position is based at Sharp Grossmont and is a full-time day-shift role.

Requirements

Other education pursuant to licensure.
At least 3 years of experience as a hospital pharmacy technician.
California Pharmacy Technician License (TCH) from the California State Board of Pharmacy is required.
Computer skills are highly desirable, particularly word processing and spreadsheet and database creation and management.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years of experience purchasing pharmaceuticals and supplies.
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) credential from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board is preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish and maintain appropriate stock levels based on utilization, shortages, waste prevention, and critical needs.
Resolve supply problems and secure acceptable product alternatives when necessary.
Adjust minimum and maximum inventory levels to help prevent stockouts and improve inventory turns, reduce expired waste, and meet budget targets.
Oversee receipt of drugs and supplies; return overstocked or misordered items to vendors for credit when possible.
Maintain organized inventory shelving and workspace, coordinate short-dated items among buyers, and prepare for yearly inventory.
Oversee emergency supplies and wholesaler disaster-plan drug lists; monitor recalls; quarantine expired inventory and arrange its return for credit and disposal.
Place primary wholesaler, secondary vendor, and direct pharmaceutical orders accurately and on time.
Communicate drug price increases to pharmacy leadership, monitor contract changes, and follow approved purchasing and vendor criteria.
Use computerized purchasing systems, including split-billing software related to the 340B program when applicable.
Reconcile and approve wholesaler, secondary vendor, and manufacturer invoices; follow up on credit memos and resolve shipping or billing errors.
Review pharmaceutical and supply costs in Lawson monthly and obtain approvals for purchases from new vendors.
Coordinate borrowing and lending between facilities and maintain purchase, invoice, receipt, and inventory-control records.
Review pharmaceutical dashboards, explain variances, track expenses, and assist with processes to improve inventory turns and meet budget targets.
Work with manufacturers, group purchasing organizations, and vendors to secure accurate, competitive pricing; meet with pharmaceutical representatives as directed.
Collaborate with the clinical team on cost-saving initiatives related to formulary conversions and participate in annual pharmaceutical budgeting.
Identify medication-safety improvement opportunities involving medication storage, packaging, hazardous medications, delivery, and security.
Submit new NDC drug purchases for Cerner barcoding and/or DoseEdge scanning and participate in medication-safety initiatives.
Participate in developing tools and standards to improve procurement and inventory processes; meet deadlines and complete special projects.
Set work priorities and objectives in consultation with the pharmacy director and/or manager, represent the department professionally, and continue developing skills.
Complete other duties as assigned.