The Senior Buyer represents the health system by performing the procurement process to support the daily operations of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The Senior Buyer coordinates with the Supply Chain Management team to deliver quality products at the most cost-effective price for our patients while providing excellent customer service and communication to all departments and facilities within the health system. Collaborates with SCM leadership to develop strategies to optimize procurement processes and increase efficiencies. Assists in analyzing contracts to determine cost effective opportunities for supply expense reduction. Demonstrates effectiveness in identifying future needs and problems and developing workable solutions.

REPORTS TO

• Manager of Procurement, Value Analysis & Contracting

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Supervisory Responsibilities: NA

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field and 5+ years’ experience in Healthcare Supply Chain preferred or Associate Degree with 10+ years’ of progressively responsible experience in Supply Chain and Procurement.

License/Certification Required: Certified Materials Resource Professional is preferred.

Minimum Work Experience: Proven experience as a Buyer or similar procurement role, preferably in a senior capacity. Previous work experience in a Supply Chain environment with 5+ years purchasing experience. Healthcare experience preferred. Demonstrated advanced knowledge of theory and practices of purchasing, including ethics, standards, contract compliance, competitive bidding procedures, quality control; data collections techniques for establishing sources of supply, product, and vendor information; process improvement; market research techniques, analysis, contracting, capital planning, accounting, budgetary controls, and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications preferably Workday.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Intermediate accounting and business skills.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

• Must demonstrate critical thinking, analytical skills, and critical thinking skills to manage day to day challenges. Ability to solve practical problems, interpret a variety of information whether presented in written, oral or diagram form and the ability to multi-task.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Expresses self in a clear and concise manner. Listens and follows directions and asks for clarification when needed. Must be proficient in the English language.

• Advanced knowledge of areas related to Supply Chain Management, such as, procurement, bidding, contract negotiations, value analysis, group purchasing organizations, Capital equipment planning, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), market research, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications preferably Workday, vendor management and medical terminology.

• Communication Skills: Effective oral and written communication. Expresses self in a clear, concise manner. Listens and follows directions. Documents accurately and thoroughly. Prepares concise and readable reports, memos, and notes.

• Interaction Skills: Works and interacts with others in a cooperative and positive manner. Treats others with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Considerate of others. Treats patients with empathy and caring through individual actions.

• Teamwork: Promotes achievement of group goals. Supports group decisions through individual action. Contributes to overall department and System goals. Develops cooperation among teams, departments, customers, and suppliers.

• Attendance & Punctuality: Maintains an acceptable level of attendance and/or punctuality. Consistently reports when scheduled. Returns from breaks promptly and on time. Works until end of shift. Provides proper notice of reports off.

• Planning & Organizing: Plans workload appropriately and demonstrates effective time management. Organizes work to accomplish objectives and meet assigned deadlines.

• Fiscal Responsibilities: Demonstrates sound fiscal management. Controls waste and expenses. Performs within budget.

• Adaptability: Maintains effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work tasks or the work environment; adjusts effectively to new work structures, processes, or requirements or to work within a new culture.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates advanced understanding of purchasing fundamentals and processes, accounting principles, business communication, contracts, department policies, purchasing and contracting policy and procedures and actively pursues opportunities to allow the department to run more efficiently and serve its customers better.

• Ensures that all purchase orders are processed on schedule with the correct quantity at the correct price taking into consideration any local, regional, or Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contracts to minimize invoice discrepancies.

• Confirms and verifies pricing and quantities daily on all orders to ensure that vendors have the correct price and contract loaded for all facilities within the organization to prevent exceptions

• Works with leadership to procure all capital requests.

• Utilizes all available web-based resources such Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) and Vizient’s Member Dashboard to confirm pricing and contracts available.

• Ensures that all purchase orders are received within expected delivery date.

• Resolves all backorders daily and satisfactorily. Sources backordered product from a different distributor location, vendor or arranges for an acceptable substitution whenever possible or necessary.

• Collaborates with Shipping/Receiving to ensure receiving problems are managed within 24 hours and that all product returns are processed within vendors requirements.

• Collaborates with SCM Leadership to manage and coordinate product evaluations and trials.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks while remaining meticulous are necessary.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Light lifting, pushing and pulling is required for 10-20 lbs occasionally and frequent moving of objects of less than 10 lbs is required. Frequent sitting with some walking, standing, squatting, bending and reaching is required. Keyboard/computer use and/or repetitive motions may be required.