Buyer Sr

SUMMARY:
Under limited supervision, reviews and coordinates complex purchase requests, including requests for quotes, bids, and proposals, and creates purchase orders in accordance with established policies and processes.  Interviews vendor representatives and controls vendor actions within the TMC Vendor Policy guidelines.  Meets regularly with customers, at their place of work, to provide assistance with their needs and correct any perceived problems.  Corrects invoice discrepancies in coordination with the Accounting Department.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Subscribes to and upholds established standards of behavior.

Works collaboratively and supports efforts of other team members.

Supports quality improvement initiatives through team participation, data collection, process change implementations and other activities.

Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times, including patient information, proprietary information, and personnel information.

Adheres to organizational and department-specific safety standards and guidelines.

Adheres to TMCH values of integrity, diversity, accountability, compassion, and teamwork.

Advises and/or assists buyers with complex procurement activities as needed. Train and mentor buyers as required. 

Reviews Stock Out Report and notifies the department if supplies are on back order, and follow ups to ensure receipt of merchandise occurs or if substitute products needs to be identified and ordered.

Prioritizes orders and confirmations to ensure any rush orders are handled in a timely manner to ensure all Customer delivery requirements are met.

Reviews requisitions for proper composition per department guidelines. Requisitions will be reviewed within one working day. Secures from requesting department correct information and signatures on requisitions prior to placing orders, per department guidelines.

Confers with suppliers ensuring price, delivery, quantity, and prices are correct in accordance with current contract.

 Review daily, weekly and monthly reports, research and resolve issues take appropriate action in a timely manner.

Negotiates with suppliers to establish favorable price, delivery, and payment terms on all day to day purchases.  Works collaboratively with the Purchasing Manager, Contract Resource Specialist, and the Director of Supply Chain, to analyze opportunities for and assist in negotiating new supply and service contracts for the Medical Center.

Acts as a liaison between suppliers and hospital departments for procurement procedures, order status, and problem resolution.

Manages and/or coordinates assigned projects which may be large in scope, complex in nature, or involve equipment acquisitions.

Assists the Purchasing Manager and Contract Resource Specialist in renegotiating or re-bidding existing contracts within assigned areas of procurement responsibility.

Maintains procurement records in accordance with established policies and audit guidelines.

Takes initiative to report and/or correct problems when recognized within the department.

Reviews quotes and proposals for conformity to contractual and legal requirements; evaluates and performs comparisons making recommendations of acceptable bids.

Reconciles all invoice errors within 30 days of receipt.  Identifies reason for invoice error and initiates corrective action.  Obtains necessary information to approve invoice for payment or obtain credit for invoice as evidenced by documentation and supervisor review (if needed), and as directed or required by the Accounting Department.

Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:  Associate's degree or successful completion of at least 60 college-level credit hours from and accredited college or university.  Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE:  Three (3) years of buying or purchasing experience. Additional experience may be substituted for education requirement on a year-for-year basis.  Preferred experience in acute care hospital                                    

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION:  None required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of purchasing principles and practices.

• Some Positions:Knowledge of medical and medicine terminology.

• Skill in organizing tasks and tracking purchase requests and orders.

• Ability to prioritize and manage timelines.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

• Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.

• Ability to listen and accurately interpret others’ communication or instructions to take appropriate action.

• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

• Ability to calculate figures and compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs and apply basic algebraic concepts.

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations