Purchasing Agent - Supply Chain Management

About the role

The Purchasing Agent performs activities in Supply Chain Management to procure products and services from outside sources at the best cost available. This includes sourcing, letting bids, negotiating and authorizing procurement of supplies and services, managing order acknowledgements, open orders, substitutions, backorders, and resolving order discrepancies and exceptions. The role requires knowledge of purchasing theory and practice to acquire a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical materials. The Purchasing Agent works closely with the SCM Supervisor and warehouse staff to maintain appropriate supply levels and ensure product availability.

Responsibilities

• Source, bid, negotiate, and authorize procurement of supplies and services within established scope of authority and ethical standards.
• Manage order acknowledgements, open orders, substitutions, backorders, and resolve discrepancies or exceptions.
• Collaborate with SCM Supervisor and warehouse staff to maintain appropriate supply levels and product availability.
• Apply purchasing, contracting, and inventory principles to develop integrated procurement strategies.
• Analyze bids, calculate pricing, return on investment periods, and break-even analysis.

Requirements

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• 1 year of relevant experience in a hospital setting or 2 years in a non-hospital setting.
• Knowledge of purchasing, contracting, and inventory principles, methods, and techniques.
• Computer skills in word processing and database applications.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills for developing integrated strategies.
• Basic knowledge of warehousing, distribution, supply functions, and data processing systems.
• Quantitative reasoning skills for bid analysis and pricing calculations.
• Previous purchasing experience in a Children’s Hospital environment (preferred).
• California Driver’s License (if applicable).

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree.
• 5 years of relevant experience.

Pay

The current salary range for this position is $26.74 to $36.78 per hour. Compensation decisions consider experience, education, licensure, unique skillsets, organizational need, and internal equity.