Pharmacy Buyer

The Pharmacy Buyer procures sourced medications, equipment, and services for departments within the Newton Wellesley Hospital. This role plays a crucial part, as it supports Inpatient, Operating Rooms, and Ambulatory Clinics to purchase medications to disperse among the patients. The primary duties include serving as a single point of contact for vendors, process issues related to sourced items, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and more.

Responsible for all purchasing activities within the Department, including daily ordering, inventory control, price changes, remote purchasing functions, contract compliance, etc in excess of $20,000,000 in Pharmaceuticals and supplies.

Creates purchase orders (POs), reviews all invoices, and resolves any discrepancies with Mass General Accounts Payable (MGB A/P).

Maintains appropriate databases and process a variety of statistical reports.

• Responsible for managing and maintaining the electronic Epic Willow Medication Inventory Management database for all medications and supplies ordered, purchased, and received to and from the Organization’s Main Pharmacy and satellite areas (OR, Tanger Infusion), pertaining to Controlled Substances III to VI to ensure adequate quantities are consistently available to support our patients.
• Responsible for electronic medication supply chain receiving activities of daily orders (primary, secondary wholesalers, and direct orders) working in adhere with the department and wholesaler requirements and places all sourced orders for assigned vendors along with placing order for State supplied Hep B vaccines for children and functioning as backup Coordinator for DPH Vaccine for Children Program.
• Responsible for maintaining appropriate state-supplied vaccine inventory and uploading monthly temperature logs in accordance with the DPH regulatory requirements working in conjunction with the Pharmacy Operations Manager
• Responsible for record keeping and actions related to all Pharmaceutical purchases which includes but is not limited to: performs timely review of all Pharmaceutical Company and Drug Wholesaler invoices in addition to contract expirations and pricing discrepancies to resolve and convert to compliant purchases, reports billing errors and contract omissions to the appropriate vendor's representative(s) for correction and credit, organizes, facilitates updates, and retains product information files and purchase order records.
• Participates in the Medication Management Committee in a lead capacity working in conjunction with the Pharmacy Operations Manager, Clinical Pharmacy Manager and/or Clinical Specialist tracking medication shortages and developing remediation plans.
• Reports medication shortages, damages, and/or picking errors to vendors and completes the necessary paperwork to ensure accurate credit in addition to assessing and responding to all drug recalls.
• Working in conjunction with Pharmacy Management and Leadership team, demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations pertaining to optimizing inventory, maintaining critical medication supplies, decrease turnaround times, streamlining work processes, and works cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.
• Maintains the proper and appropriate professional and ethical relationship with vendor representatives, conducts business according to established principles and guidelines.
• Communicates supply chain status of issues to appropriate staff as required and drafts and edits written communication as applicable.
• Responsible for generating all Purchase Orders for any Pharmacy Department related purchases and oversees coordination of invoice payments through Accounts Payable Department.
• Works in concert with the sourcing teams that all updates are processed on a timely basis to facilitate an efficient procure to pay process.

• Assists Chief Pharmacy Officer (CPO) and Associate Chief Pharmacy Officer (ACPO) in an on-going analysis of drug expenditures and in preparing the forthcoming fiscal years' drug budget and maintains the NWH Pharmacy Department High-cost Medication Variance Tracking Smartsheet files.

• Collects, records, and deposits all Pharmacy monies; maintains revenue report of all monies collected.
• Responsible for NWH Cost Center Requisition Charges for all NWH Medical Practices that are under the hospital license in addition to reviewing requisition medication costs and updating monthly, as needed.
• In conjunction with Pharmacy Operations Manager works in a lead capacity to execute the Annual Physical Inventory activities for the NWH Pharmacy Department.
• Responsible to ensure, manage and facilitate tracking and tracing of prescription drug products through the pharmaceutical supply distribution chain in full compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) via the use of electronic software program (RxTransparent®).
• Participates in performance improvement activities and projects, as assigned by Pharmacy Leadership.
• Utilizes concepts of preventative maintenance, proper use, and cost-containment for any equipment used in the Pharmacy.

Education

• Completion of high school education or equivalent required

Experience

• 1 year inventory control and pharmaceutical purchasing experience preferred

License/ Registration

• Registered Pharmacy Technician and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) verified through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB or exCPT required)

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of Excel and Word required.

• Demonstrated evidence of: effective communication skills, ability to problem solve, ability to get along with others, ability to confront issues appropriately.

• Constantly – 75% or more of the worker's time is spent in the activity

• Frequently – 25% to 75% or more of the worker's time is spent in this activity

• Occasionally – 5% to 25% or more of the worker's time is spent in this activity

• Rarely – under 5% or more of the worker's time is spent in the activity

• N/A – not applicable