The Pharmacy Buyer is responsible for services related to drug and equipment/supplies procurement. These activities include purchasing, receiving, tracking, payment of, and accurate record keeping. The buyer coordinates with pharmacy staff to maintain adequate inventory levels and communicates information such as shortages, recalls, alternative product source and selection. They serve as a resource for product and vendor information and collaborates with hospitals as necessary for medication ordering, inventory, distribution, and record keeping.

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

• Coordinates drug procurement operations and inventory management to ensure critical drug availability, accurate inventory value assessment, compliance to 340B, optimized inventory turns, and minimized drug expirations. Monitors and manages inventory on an ongoing basis for opportunities for enhanced inventory turns and decreased expired medications.
• Ensures prudent buying practices for all supplies, equipment, medication, and any other services needed to support quality patient care in an efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.
• Proper execution of the functions ensures high quality patient care at the lowest possible impact cost to UnityPoint at Home.
• Generates purchasing and inventory reports as requested by departmental leadership.
• Maintains responsibility for borrow and loan systems from other hospitals
• Coordinates and maintains timely flow of purchasing and receipts with Accounts Payable.
• Assists in managing influenza and other vaccine supply including temperature logs as necessary.
• Manages price changes and AWP price updates.
• Coordinates inventory to resolve/manage backorders, shortages or recalls and secures acceptable product alternatives when necessary. Evaluates and adjusts par levels in response to ongoing utilization, shortages, waste and critical needs.
• Places orders with vendors, utilizing proper procedures that provide a clear audit trail of all transactions
• Assists with providing proper and secure storage for all supplies, equipment or other materials.
• Answer the telephone, screen and route all incoming telephone calls to the appropriate person or take messages according to office policy and procedure.
• Participates in system services procurement meetings including shortages meetings.
• Greet clients and vendors providing courteous, caring and professional assistance.
• Maintain regular and consistent attendance at work.
• Behave in a manner consistent with Mission, Vision, Values and Expectations for Excellence.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA, Accreditation Standards and Risk Management guidelines.
• Maintain compliance with Personnel policies and procedures.
• Behave in a manner consistent with all Corporate Compliance policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as requested by Pharmacy Manager to facilitate the smooth and effective operations of the office.
• Meets measures as determined and required for job productivity and performance improvement.
• Employee is responsible for completion of communication tasks and activities in a timely manner. This would include, but is not limited to:
  • responding to email, voicemail or telephone messages, promptly, accurately, and professionally;
  • attending staff meetings as scheduled or viewing minutes of those meetings;
  • asking questions of team members and supervisors when needing clarification about various day-to-day issues or patient needs;
  • and reviewing employee communication pieces, to stay aware of UnityPoint at Home programs and initiatives.

Education:

• High School or Vocational School graduate or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong Computer skills, MSWord, MS Excel and MS Outlook.
• Ability to work as a collaborative team member.
• Read, speak and write fluent English and perform simple arithmetic computations.
• Ability to understand and apply guidelines, policies and procedures.

Licensure/Certification:

• Registered as a pharmacy technician with Board of Pharmacy prior to commencement of work if already nationally certified (or registered as technician trainee if not yet certified)
• Valid licensed driver with automobile insurance in accordance with state and/or organizational requirements.
• Mandatory Reporter: Child & Dependent Adult Abuse.