The Department of Laboratory Medicine serves as a regional resource for clinical laboratory services required for patient care, research, and educational programs in laboratory medicine. The department now employs 1400 people who work at the award-winning University of Washington Medical Center (ranked among the top medical centers in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report), Harborview Medical Center (the region's only Level I Trauma center, known for innovations and excellence in trauma care and its centers of emphasis: Trauma, Burn, Neurosciences, AIDS/STD CARER, and mentally- and medically- vulnerable populations.), and many other clinical and research facilities in the area. The University of Washington (UW) is proud to be one of the nation’s premier educational and research institutions. Our people are the most important asset in our pursuit of achieving excellence in education, research, and community service. Our staff not only enjoys outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities, but also an environment noted for diversity, community involvement, intellectual excitement, and natural beauty.

Our Laboratory Medicine Department has an outstanding opportunity for a full-time, day shift, BUYER 2. Under the direction of the operations manager, this position will procure equipment, supplies and services to meet departmental needs; conduct purchasing projects involving unique services and/or technical commodities; utilize a variety of procurement methods for multi-commodity purchases and/or procurement of products to develop specifications for large procurement projects for which specifications involve unique or customized material requirements where features or performance standards must be defined.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Coordinate requirements with clients/end-users; participating in the drafting of technical specifications; recommending technical assistance; and proposing standardization of goods when appropriate

Submit orders to vendors; prepare electronic purchase orders that are procedurally and grammatically correct; assuring contract and/or specification compliance; devise evaluation tools to assist clients/end-users in selection of alternate products

Provide prompt, courteous response to inquiries, requests and appointments

Monitor purchasing queue on a daily basis and review purchase requests for compliance; assist requestors with completing procurement process (e.g. obtaining official quotes, sole-source justification statement)

Advise clients/end-users of existing or potential policies and/or procedures that may impact their purchase requests

Monitor purchase orders and communicating status to relevant divisions on a consistent basis

Make regularly assigned visitations to the Labs or participating as required in departmental presentations aimed at increasing communication/education goals

Resolve any vendor performance problems

Exhibit a willingness to handle a fair share of the departmental workload as identified by management; participate as required in back-up and fill-in plans

Survey and analyze procedures and procurement processes; prepare findings, report and recommend improvements to management

Participate in routine departmental operations in a timely and productive manner, i.e. management reports, public bid openings, contract maintenance

Actively participate in long-term planning

Perform other duties as required

This position provides opportunities to work in a fast-paced, challenging, diverse and rewarding environment. As an employee you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.

REQUIREMENTS:
One year of experience as a professional level buyer AND either an Associate of Arts Degree in purchasing management or a Bachelor's Degree; OR an equivalent combination of work experience and college level training.