Buyer

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for the day-to-day procurement activities that support clinical, operational, and business functions across Snoqualmie Valley Health. This position independently manages assigned purchasing responsibilities to ensure timely acquisition of supplies, equipment, and services while promoting operational continuity, financial stewardship, and exceptional customer service. The Buyer serves as an operational resource within the Supply Chain department and is responsible for purchase order management, vendor coordination, inventory support, purchasing ticket management, recall coordination, backorder mitigation, procurement analytics, and payment integrity support activities. The position partners with clinical and operational departments to resolve supply challenges, improve procurement workflows, and identify opportunities for standardization, efficiency, and cost savings. This role must demonstrate sound judgment, strong organizational and analytical skills, healthcare purchasing knowledge, and the ability to effectively balance competing priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.

Essential Functions

• Procure medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and non-medical supplies in accordance with hospital policies and budget requirements.
• Process purchase orders and ensure timely, accurate delivery of goods and services.
• Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with departments to maintain appropriate stock and prevent shortages.
• Build and maintain effective vendor relationships, negotiate pricing, and ensure compliance with contracts and Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) agreements.
• Resolve purchasing, delivery, and invoice discrepancies while maintaining accurate purchasing records.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through product standardization, utilization analysis, and process improvements.
• Collaborate with clinical and operational leaders to ensure supplies support safe, high-quality patient care.
• Serve as the primary point person for the organization's purchasing ticketing or request management system. Monitor, triage, assign, and track purchasing-related requests submitted by departments. Ensure timely response and resolution of procurement tickets, order inquiries, supply issues, and sourcing requests. Coordinate communication between requestors, vendors, Supply Chain staff, and leadership regarding ticket status and resolution. Maintain accurate documentation and follow-up within the ticket management platform. Identify trends, recurring issues, and workflow improvement opportunities related to purchasing requests and service response times. Assist with development and maintenance of ticketing workflows, prioritization standards, and departmental service expectations. Support KPI reporting related to ticket response times, resolution metrics, and customer service performance.
• Perform daily purchasing activities for medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, office, maintenance, and operational supplies as assigned. Process purchase orders accurately and timely in accordance with organizational procurement policies. Monitor open purchase orders and proactively resolve delayed shipments, discrepancies, pricing issues, and receiving concerns. Maintain appropriate inventory support through coordination with departments, vendors, and distribution partners. Ensure purchasing activities align with contract compliance, formulary standards, and organizational sourcing strategies. Assist departments with product sourcing, substitutions, and procurement troubleshooting. Participate in Value Analysis initiatives, product evaluations, and formulary review activities.
• Participate in value analysis initiatives and product review activities. Support department formulary standardization efforts through product research, vendor coordination, utilization analysis, and pricing review. Assist with evaluation of product conversions, substitutions, and cost-saving opportunities. Collaborate with clinical stakeholders to balance operational efficiency, product quality, clinician preference, and financial stewardship. Review purchase transactions to ensure pricing accuracy and contract compliance. Assist with invoice reconciliation and resolution of purchasing discrepancies in collaboration with Accounts Payable. Support payment integrity initiatives through identification of pricing variances, duplicate charges, and purchasing errors. Promote responsible stewardship of organizational resources through accurate procurement practices.
• Monitor vendor backorders and supply disruptions on an ongoing basis. Coordinate alternative product sourcing and substitution recommendations during shortages or outages. Communicate supply disruptions and mitigation plans to impacted departments and leadership. Collaborate with clinical teams to identify clinically appropriate substitute products when necessary. Maintain documentation related to shortages, substitutions, and resolution efforts. Assist with coordination and management of product recalls and field correction notices. Collaborate with clinical departments, inventory personnel, vendors, and risk management as necessary to ensure timely recall response activities. Support product quarantine, removal, replacement, and documentation requirements. Maintain recall logs and supporting compliance documentation.

Qualifications

Required Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate degree or bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Healthcare Administration, or related field preferred.

Required Licensure: N/A

Specialty Certification: Certified Materials & Resource Professional (CMRP) preferred

Required Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of experience in healthcare purchasing, or supply chain operations. Experience within a hospital or healthcare environment strongly preferred. Experience with ERP, MMIS, or healthcare purchasing systems preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of healthcare supply chain operations and purchasing practices.
• Understanding of inventory management and procurement workflows.
• Familiarity with backorder mitigation and recall processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical and operational teams.

Work Environment

Office and warehouse settings with potential exposure to patient care areas. Flexibility to work extended hours as needed.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple priorities. May require occasional travel between facility locations. Occasional lifting of supplies.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Pharmacy
• Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
• Life and AD&D
• Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Travel Assistance & ID Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Other Voluntary Benefits

Benefit Eligibility Requirements: Employees regularly scheduled at least 20 hours per week. Your legal spouse or domestic partner; dependent children until age 26. Waiting period: 1st of the month from the date of hire.

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