Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist

Brown University Health Services • Providence, RI

297d

About The Position

The Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist reports to the Manager of Pharmacy Supply Chain and is responsible for supervising pharmacy purchasing specialists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff. This role oversees the coordination of workflow and services related to medication and supplies procurement processes. The specialist monitors and is responsible for purchasing inventory distribution and record keeping for medications for the Pharmacy Department. They oversee the initiation of purchase orders for medications and supplies, receiving and distribution of supplies, and processing of purchase requisitions. The specialist authorizes payment for wholesaler invoices and collaborates with Supply Chain leadership to manage shortages, backorders, and recalls, identifying sources of selected alternate products. They also collaborate with Pharmacy Information Systems/Information Technology (IS/IT) and Brown University Health Information Services (IS) to maintain the Charge Description Master (CDM) and work with the 340B Coordinator and Pharmacy IS/IT teams to maintain 340B computerized systems and split-billing software programs. The specialist serves as a primary resource for product and vendor information and group purchasing contracting.

Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent required; one to two years of college preferred.
• Maintains current unrestricted Rhode Island Pharmacy Technician II licensure.
• Holds and maintains current National Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT).
• Minimum 4 years of experience as a pharmacy technician, preferably with an emphasis on purchasing and supply chain.
• Knowledge of MS Office applications including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Familiar with purchasing and inter-dependent software information systems.

Nice To Haves

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees medication and pharmaceutical supply purchasing processes including drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement operations, stock receiving operations, and inventory management.
• Prepares, secures authorized signatures, and processes purchase orders as necessary.
• Provides expertise and assists with training, education, and communication to new pharmacy supply chain members and hospital pharmacy staff.
• Collaborates with Pharmacy IS/IT and Brown University Health IS teams to maintain the CDM for new products, product changes, and product removals.
• Identifies and coordinates management of backorders and secures acceptable product alternatives when necessary.
• Reports known expected or suspected supply disruptions to the Clinical Pharmacist Drug Shortage Management.
• Generates, assesses, and leverages pharmacy supply chain related reports to optimize drug spend and minimize drug waste.
• Oversees and manages purchasing contracts including vendor or manufacturer outreach and initiating purchase requisitions.
• Coordinates and maintains timely flow of purchasing receipts to Accounts Payable.
• Oversees and maintains responsibility for tracking credits, rebates, and drug replacement.
• Collaborates with Pharmacy Purchasing Supervisor to develop and execute action plans for recalled drugs.
• Participates in the planning and coordination of the annual pharmacy medication inventory process.
• Manages State of Rhode Island vaccine supplies including required continuous temperature monitoring.
• Supervises, orients, trains, schedules, and evaluates performance of newly hired technicians and support staff.
• Develops improvement activities in collaboration with Pharmacy Supply Chain leadership.
• Identifies and evaluates new technologies to enhance workflows relating to pharmacy supply chain.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: High school or GED