Purchase Associate, Contracts & Procurement

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University•Brooklyn, NY

About The Position

Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors. Bargaining Unit: UUP Job Summary: The Department of Contracts and Procurement at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Purchase Associate. The Purchase Associate provides a comprehensive review of legal and financial aspects of procurement agreements on behalf of SUNY-DMC, including review of legal sufficiency and economic transactions for the acquisition of goods and services throughout the institution, including but not limited to its affiliated organizations and corporations. Additionally, the successful candidate will: Provide legal review of transactions proposed by entities throughout SUNY-DMC for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulation sand policies of respective funding source(s), including but not limited to state, federal, private and grant funds. Provide legal review of documents generated by SUNY-DMC departments and external organizations for legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies. Provide legal review of affiliation agreements for students, residents and fellows based at SUNY-DMC performing clinical training at other training sites, and for those performing clinical training at SUNY-DMC from other educational institutions. Provide legal review of managed care and other SUNY-DMC revenue agreements and transfer and referral agreements for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies. Process such agreements through to approval by appropriate NY State agencies. Consult with SUNY-DMC departments and affiliated organizations and corporations to maintain to develop appropriate agreements, and secure necessary review agency approval, to manage their relationships with internal and external entities, including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, employment agreements and funding agreements. Provide other limited legal support to affiliated organizations and corporations. Develop ongoing relationships and interact with clinicians in order to understand and serve the needs of the business and source goods and services accordingly. Provide fact based solutions. Have a keen understanding of the existing supply chain for assigned categories and an awareness of emerging potential suppliers and technologies. Develop supplier relations. Monitor, measure and influence supplier performance and service levels. Implement the Procurement and Strategic Sourcing Process Map for purchasing activities conducted. Negotiate professionally and aggressively on behalf of the hospital. Collaborate with clinical departments, appropriate State Offices and clerical staff to ensure timely and accurate turnaround of requisitions and purchase orders. Each manage $4-8 million spend Lead sourcing team Manage the purchasing process across all commodities Jointly drive cost savings with end users Develop supplier relationships Plan, evaluate and oversee purchase of capital equipment and contract for appropriate services to ensure cost-effective procurement to meet the need of SUNY. Consult with department at SUNY to identify and determine purchasing needs and specific requirements. Obtain and analyze a variety of product and service information, i.e., price structure, payment terms, contractual arrangements, servicing and warranty coverage, etc. Negotiate with outside vendors to obtain purchasing terms. Recommend and/or approve vendor selection and formalize purchasing agreements. Coordinate, monitor, and maintain department activities to ensure timely, accurate and efficient processing of purchasing requests from SUNY-DMC. Monitor placement of orders with appropriate vendors. Monitor departments operations to ensure all terms of purchase agreements are met and required products/services are received as necessary. Maintain effective communication with department heads, staff and outside agencies. Meet regularly with vendors and sales representative to evaluate products and services offered. Act as liaison between vendors and hospital and network hospital departments to arrange presentation and demonstrations, select products, answer related inquiries, and resolve purchasing problems. Maintain current knowledge of trends and developments related to field. Perform all other job related duties as needed or required. The incumbent must work closely with internal and external review and control agencies in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies. Position requires interaction with counsel representing vendors and other external entities to ensure that the best interests of SUNY-DMC are protected.

Requirements

Contract procurement and administration experience in a public sector environment.
Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies and the ability to communicate same to user departments, vendors and review agencies.

Nice To Haves

Juris Doctor with a minimum of 3 years of experience in a business-related or legal field.
Outstanding collaborative leadership skills.
Negotiation planning and execution.
Customer service and interpersonal relationship building.
Project management, implementation, and coordination skills.
Communication and presentation skills.
Analytical ability to understand and define critical issues and develop a fact based solution in consideration of all of the alternative available.
Willingness to constructively dissent and challenge leadership thinking.
Supply chain management skills.
Exposure to formal Strategic Sourcing methodologies.
Comfort and experience with Excel, Access and Power Point.
Understanding of financial analysis and controls.
Training, development, and mentoring of other procurement professionals.

Responsibilities

Provide legal review of transactions proposed by entities throughout SUNY-DMC for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulation sand policies of respective funding source(s), including but not limited to state, federal, private and grant funds.
Provide legal review of documents generated by SUNY-DMC departments and external organizations for legal sufficiency and compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
Provide legal review of affiliation agreements for students, residents and fellows based at SUNY-DMC performing clinical training at other training sites, and for those performing clinical training at SUNY-DMC from other educational institutions.
Provide legal review of managed care and other SUNY-DMC revenue agreements and transfer and referral agreements for compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
Process such agreements through to approval by appropriate NY State agencies.
Consult with SUNY-DMC departments and affiliated organizations and corporations to maintain to develop appropriate agreements, and secure necessary review agency approval, to manage their relationships with internal and external entities, including but not limited to memoranda of understanding, employment agreements and funding agreements.
Provide other limited legal support to affiliated organizations and corporations.
Develop ongoing relationships and interact with clinicians in order to understand and serve the needs of the business and source goods and services accordingly.
Provide fact based solutions.
Have a keen understanding of the existing supply chain for assigned categories and an awareness of emerging potential suppliers and technologies.
Develop supplier relations.
Monitor, measure and influence supplier performance and service levels.
Implement the Procurement and Strategic Sourcing Process Map for purchasing activities conducted.
Negotiate professionally and aggressively on behalf of the hospital.
Collaborate with clinical departments, appropriate State Offices and clerical staff to ensure timely and accurate turnaround of requisitions and purchase orders.
Each manage $4-8 million spend Lead sourcing team Manage the purchasing process across all commodities Jointly drive cost savings with end users
Develop supplier relationships
Plan, evaluate and oversee purchase of capital equipment and contract for appropriate services to ensure cost-effective procurement to meet the need of SUNY.
Consult with department at SUNY to identify and determine purchasing needs and specific requirements.
Obtain and analyze a variety of product and service information, i.e., price structure, payment terms, contractual arrangements, servicing and warranty coverage, etc.
Negotiate with outside vendors to obtain purchasing terms.
Recommend and/or approve vendor selection and formalize purchasing agreements.
Coordinate, monitor, and maintain department activities to ensure timely, accurate and efficient processing of purchasing requests from SUNY-DMC.
Monitor placement of orders with appropriate vendors.
Monitor departments operations to ensure all terms of purchase agreements are met and required products/services are received as necessary.
Maintain effective communication with department heads, staff and outside agencies.
Meet regularly with vendors and sales representative to evaluate products and services offered.
Act as liaison between vendors and hospital and network hospital departments to arrange presentation and demonstrations, select products, answer related inquiries, and resolve purchasing problems.
Maintain current knowledge of trends and developments related to field.
Perform all other job related duties as needed or required.
The incumbent must work closely with internal and external review and control agencies in order to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies.
Position requires interaction with counsel representing vendors and other external entities to ensure that the best interests of SUNY-DMC are protected.