Purchasing Manager

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Purchase Manager to manage procurement activities in a hospital setting. The role involves sourcing medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and hospital supplies while ensuring cost efficiency, quality standards, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate should have strong negotiation skills, supply chain knowledge, and a proven track record of success in the healthcare industry. You will be responsible for developing and executing strategic procurement plans, building strong relationships with vendors, and ensuring the timely availability of high-quality supplies at optimal costs.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement Planning: Develop, implement, and refine comprehensive procurement strategies for medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, consumables, and other hospital supplies, aligned with the hospital's operational needs and budgetary constraints.
• Vendor Management: Identify, evaluate, pre-qualify, and negotiate contracts with reliable suppliers and vendors, ensuring favorable terms and conditions, including pricing, payment terms, and service level agreements.
• Compliance and Regulatory Adherence: Ensure all purchases strictly comply with hospital policies, relevant industry standards (e.g., NABH, JCI), and government guidelines, including drug regulations and medical device regulations.
• Inventory Management Liaison: Monitor inventory levels closely and collaborate with relevant departments (e.g., Pharmacy, Stores, Biomedical Engineering) to forecast demand and coordinate timely procurement to prevent shortages of critical supplies and minimize excess stock.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with medical staff (doctors, nurses), finance, administration, and other departments to understand their purchasing needs, specifications, and timelines.
• Cost Optimization: Analyze market trends, identify potential cost-saving opportunities through strategic sourcing, bulk purchasing, value engineering, and vendor consolidation, without compromising quality or patient safety.
• Record Keeping and Documentation: Maintain accurate and up-to-date procurement records, contracts, supplier databases, purchase orders, and other relevant documentation in compliance with audit requirements.
• Vendor Performance Evaluation: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) for vendors and conduct regular performance evaluations based on delivery timelines, product quality, service efficiency, and adherence to contractual obligations.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Manage and nurture strong, collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure a reliable and consistent supply chain, address any issues promptly, and explore opportunities for mutual benefit.
• Issue Resolution and Corrective Action: Proactively identify and address any procurement-related issues, such as quality discrepancies, delivery delays, or contractual disputes, and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Budget Management: Assist in the development of the procurement budget and ensure adherence to budgetary allocations.
• Market Research: Stay abreast of market trends, new products, and technological advancements in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals to inform procurement decisions.
• Negotiation and Contract Management: Lead negotiation processes for high-value purchases and ensure all contracts are legally sound and protect the hospital's interests.
• Team Collaboration (if applicable): Potentially lead and mentor a small procurement team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work & Skills:
• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Materials Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of proven and progressive experience as a Purchase Manager, preferably with significant experience within a hospital or healthcare setting.
• In-depth understanding of hospital procurement processes, medical equipment (including capital equipment), pharmaceutical supply chains (including cold chain management), and general hospital supplies.
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to achieve cost savings and favorable contract terms.
• Strong familiarity with procurement software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and inventory management systems.
• Excellent communication (both written and verbal), interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
• Strong ethical standards and a commitment to transparency and accountability in procurement practices.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Operations or Supply Chain Management.
• Certification in procurement or supply chain management (e.g., CPSM - Certified Professional in Supply Management, CPP - Certified Purchasing Professional, or equivalent).
• Comprehensive knowledge of hospital compliance standards, regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA regulations, drug control laws), and accreditation processes (e.g., NABH, JCI).
• Experience in implementing and managing e-procurement systems.
• Familiarity with import/export regulations related to medical supplies and equipment.
  
  

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