Pharmacy Purchasing Senior Specialist

SUMMARY

Reports to the Manager, Pharmacy Supply Chain. Under the supervision of the Pharmacy Purchasing Supervisor, is responsible for supervising pharmacy purchasing specialists, pharmacy technicians, and support staff. Oversees the coordination of workflow and services related to medication and supplies procurement processes.

Monitors and is responsible for purchasing, inventory, distribution, and record keeping for medications for the Pharmacy Department. Oversees the initiation of purchase orders for medications and supplies, receiving and distribution of supplies, and processing of purchase requisitions. Authorizes payment for wholesaler invoices.

Collaborates with Supply Chain leadership to manage shortages, backorders, and recalls; identifies sources of selected alternate products. Collaborates with Pharmacy Information Systems (IST) and Brown University Health Information Services (IS) to maintain the Charge Description Master (CDM). Collaborates with the 340B Coordinator and Pharmacy IST teams to maintain 340B computerized systems and split-billing software programs.

Serves as a primary resource for product and vendor information, and group purchasing contracting.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers, and one another.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversees medication and pharmaceutical supply purchasing processes, including but not limited to, drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement operations, stock receiving operations, and inventory management to ensure critical drug availability, accurate inventory value assessment, optimized inventory turns, minimized drug expirations, and compliance with 340B Program policies and procedures, the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), United States Pharmacopeia Chapter 800, Hazardous Drugs - Handling in Healthcare Settings, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommendations for hazardous drug handling.

• Prepares, secures authorized signatures, and processes purchase orders, as necessary. Provides expertise and assists with training, education, and communication to new pharmacy supply chain members, hospital pharmacy staff, and external departments regarding updates to pharmacy supply chain policies and procedures. Collaborates with Pharmacy IST and Brown University Health IS teams to establish and maintain a standard approach for updating the CDM for new products, product changes, and product removals to ensure the accuracy of utilization reports and the efficiency and accuracy of the charge process.

• Collaborates with necessary teams to maintain pharmacy information systems, automated drug dispensing technology (e.g., Omnicell), and other computerized or automated hardware and software used in the procurement or distribution of medication and related supplies. Identifies and coordinates management of backorders and secures acceptable product alternatives when necessary using purchasing reports and resources such as Out of Stock (OOS) reports, Alternate Distribution Center requests, the Novaplus Enhanced Supply Portal, and MedShorts.

• Reports known, expected, or suspected supply disruptions to the Clinical Pharmacist, Drug Shortage Management, in a timely manner and collaborates with the Drug Shortage Committee to mitigate supply disruptions. Continually generates, assesses, and leverages pharmacy supply chain-related reports to optimize drug spend and minimize drug waste, including 340B/Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) activity, price changes, Average Wholesale Price (AWP) updates, drug utilization to adjust stockroom par levels, pharmacy own-use reporting, breakage, waste, contract utilization, and generic compliance. Continually leverages pharmacy supply chain resources to optimize drug spend and minimize drug waste, including CostCheck and Vizient.

• Collaborates with the 340B Coordinator and Pharmacy IST teams to maintain computerized systems, split-billing software programs, and technologies utilized in purchasing operations related to the 340B Program. Generates reports related to pharmacy supply chain operations as requested by departmental leadership.

• Oversees and manages purchasing contracts including, but not limited to, vendor or manufacturer outreach, initiating purchase requisitions, market share requirements, and attending quarterly business reviews. Oversees the maintenance of purchase records, invoices, receipts, and inventory control records. Coordinates and maintains timely flow of purchasing receipts to Accounts Payable. Escalates credit holds immediately to facilitate timely resolution and prevent stockouts.

• Oversees and maintains responsibility for tracking credits, rebates, and drug replacement. Oversees and maintains responsibility for documentation and reconciliation of the borrowed and loaned medication system. Collaborates with the Pharmacy Purchasing Supervisor to develop, document, and execute action plans to identify all locations where recalled drugs reside and ensure they are removed and quarantined in a timely manner. Collaborates with the Pharmacy Purchasing Supervisor to develop, document, and execute action plans for new initiatives and changes in purchasing operations.

• Participates in the planning and coordination of the annual pharmacy medication inventory process for Brown University Health. Manages State of Rhode Island vaccine supplies, including required continuous temperature monitoring and perpetual inventory logs. Communicates with the Rhode Island Department of Health regarding vaccine supplies, as needed.

• Oversees and takes action to mitigate low inventory levels of emergency medications stocked in code kits. Supervises, orients, trains, schedules, provides functional guidance to, and evaluates the performance of newly hired technicians and support staff. Collaborates with the Pharmacy Purchasing Supervisor and Manager to continually increase pharmacy operations efficiency by reviewing, analyzing, recommending, and implementing operational changes.

• Participates in recruitment, retention, performance compliance, and performance enhancement of support staff related to pharmacy supply chain operations. Develops improvement activities in collaboration with Pharmacy Supply Chain leadership including, but not limited to, quality assessment and improvement, medication safety, and performance improvement initiatives. Develops and prepares assigned content and presents during monthly system-wide buyers calls.

• Identifies and evaluates new technologies to enhance workflows related to pharmacy supply chain operations. Oversees and evaluates the results of monthly quality assurance inspections and initiates corrective actions for non-compliance. Serves as a primary point of contact for drug and pharmaceutical supply procurement and for pharmacy supply chain-related communications via in person, telephone, email, and/or facsimile.

• Provides effective and accurate verbal and written communication to management, support staff, and customers to facilitate pharmacy supply chain operations and continuous quality improvement in a timely manner. Performs all pharmacy technician duties relating to pharmacy supply chain, as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BASIC KNOWLEDGE

• High school graduate or equivalent required. One to two years of college preferred.

• Maintains current unrestricted Rhode Island Pharmacy Technician II licensure.

• Holds and maintains current National Pharmacy Technician Certification (CPhT).

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience as a pharmacy technician, preferably with an emphasis on purchasing and supply chain, gained in a similarly diverse and operationally complex healthcare environment.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.

• Familiar with purchasing and interdependent software information systems and can navigate appropriately, including RxStrategies, PharmNotes, PeopleSoft, and ConsortiEX.

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Extended periods of time spent standing and walking.

• Ability to push and pull a loaded flatbed, bend, and lift up to 30 pounds.

• Requires the visual acuity and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer.

INDEPENDENT ACTION

• Highly self-motivated and independently accountable.

• Refers specific complex problems to the Manager when clarification of departmental policies and procedures may be required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• Supervises up to eight (8) FTE Pharmacy Technicians and support staff.

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EEO Statement:

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

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