Procurement and Inventory Specialist

About the role

The Procurement and Inventory Specialist plays a critical role in maintaining supply chain resiliency, efficient inventory, minimizing costs, and fostering strong vendor relationships as well as strong relationships with clinical teams when there is a need to source alternative products. This role organizes, schedules, executes daily departmental activities including working in financial systems that manage the inventory and procurement operations of the health system, as well as contract management systems such as Global Health EXchange -Contract Center System (GHX CCS), and group purchasing organization (GPO) systems.

Responsibilities

• Exercises appropriate judgment and executes orders to maintain supply stability for the health system, this role is critical in maintaining operations for the health system, particularly in times of supply shortages; understands the critical nature of products and escalates issues that are not resolvable.
• Maintains inventory and item demand levels; analyzes inventory turnover; adjusts ordering to minimize inventory excess and avoid stockouts.
• Leads the procurement effort on Low Unit of Measure distribution program expansion, constantly looking at inventory items to determine if they are “good candidates” for this unique distribution program with the primary distributor.
• Issues purchase orders based on trends, forecasts, and stock requirements. Conveys appropriate demand levels to distribution supplier partners to achieve optimal order fill rates.
• Tracks open orders; resolve delays and discrepancies promptly and works with supply chain site managers when there are issues that might impact supply availability.
• Negotiates with vendors to address pricing, shipping, invoicing, and quality issues and strives to achieve (and maintain) Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) contract pricing and purchasing compliance.
• Aids health systemwide inventory areas and other stakeholder departments in researching and purchasing best value products to ensure the proper needs and goals of the health system are maintained, in terms of product availability, GPO compliance, product standardization and approved product use.
• Aids departments (internal Supply Chain, inventory areas or departments with ad-hoc requests, returns, ordering issues and order status updates pertaining to their orders).
• Collaborates with various supply chain leadership to identify potential substitute product. Engages with departments, suppliers, the Supply Chain site leaders and the Clinical Value Analysis Manager to resolve the immediate supply need.
• Serves as an expert resource for supply chain regarding inventory replenishment and backorder management; uses the various available technologies such as PeopleSoft, ECRI, GHX and Premier Spend Director and Supply Disruption Manager to provide end-users with information regarding products, pricing, and usage.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, such as materials management, OR and accounts payable, to ensure efficient procure to pay management resulting in the timely delivery of products and supporting on time payments.
• Knowledgeable of GPO contracts and Health System contracts to ensure procurement compliance within the terms of contracts/agreements.
• Solves any issues or disputes with suppliers, such as late deliveries, purchasing holds, quality concerns, or contractual non-compliance, ensuring a satisfactory resolution that aligns with the organization's goals.
• Provides regular reports to leadership regarding inventory concerns, back orders, vendor performance, and other relevant purchasing metrics; uses judgement to escalate issues when supply risks are difficult to mitigate.
• Coordinates with the supply chain site leaders and receiving staff to resolve deliveries and/or work with suppliers and Clinical Value Analysis Manager to relay product quality issue and coordinate returns.
• Coordinates with the accounts payable to ensure timely invoice processing and resolve invoice match exception errors.

Qualifications

• Associates Degree, Bachelors Degree or equivalent years of experience is required.

Skills

• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of GPO contracts and Health System contracts.

Benefits

Benefits Overview: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, Retirement Plan (with employer match for employees who work more than 1000 hours in a calendar year), Paid Time Off, Tuition Assistance, Benefits Employee Referral Bonus Program, Paid Holidays, Disability, and Life/AD&D for full-time employees, Wellness Programs, Employee Assistance Programs and more. Benefits offerings based on employment status. Opt-in for text notifications!