Buyer Associate - Brighton Center Specialty Care Operating Rooms

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Purpose of Position

Provide purchasing, inventory management, and supply chain support for the Brighton Center for Specialty Care Operating Room and Medical Procedures Unit, with additional coverage responsibilities across Michigan Medicine ambulatory care locations as assigned. Independently coordinate routine purchasing, replenishment, inventory accuracy, and supply availability activities in accordance with established departmental procedures. Collaborate with clinical and operational stakeholders to ensure the right products are available in the right quantities, at the right locations, and at the right times to support safe, efficient patient care.

Organization Relationships

Reports to the Supply Chain Manager and interacts regularly with OR Nursing Leaders, Lead CRNA, Charge Nurses, and other clinical staff

Inventory Management and Replenishment

Independently manage daily inventory and replenishment activities for assigned clinical areas to ensure supplies are available in the appropriate quantities, locations, and time frames to support patient care.

Monitor inventory levels, utilization patterns, and procedural requirements to identify purchasing and replenishment needs.

Establish, evaluate, and adjust inventory par levels and stocking practices in collaboration with clinical stakeholders and in accordance with established departmental procedures.

Perform routine cycle counts, reconcile physical inventory with system records, investigate discrepancies, and implement appropriate corrective actions.

Receive, verify, stock, and organize supplies while maintaining accurate inventory records and appropriate product rotation.

Monitor product expiration dates, excess inventory, and obsolete supplies to minimize waste and support responsible resource utilization.

Purchasing and Supply Continuity

Independently coordinate routine purchasing activities, including identifying supply needs, placing orders through approved procurement channels, and monitoring order fulfillment.

Evaluate product availability, cost, delivery timelines, and clinical requirements when determining appropriate purchasing and replenishment actions.

Identify and coordinate clinically appropriate product substitutions during backorders, shortages, and other supply disruptions in collaboration with applicable clinical and Supply Chain stakeholders.

Track outstanding orders, backorders, and delivery delays; proactively communicate potential supply disruptions and facilitate timely resolution.

Investigate and resolve purchasing, receiving, and inventory discrepancies with suppliers and internal support teams.

Support product conversions, new product introductions, and changes in clinical supply requirements.

Clinical and Operational Collaboration

Serve as a primary supply chain resource for assigned clinical areas, maintaining effective working relationships with nursing leadership, clinical staff, and operational partners.

Independently prioritize daily supply requests, troubleshoot inventory-related concerns, and escalations that may affect patient care or procedural readiness.

Communicate product availability, supply changes, and anticipated shortages to clinical and operational stakeholders.

Coordinate specialty-specific inventory needs and operational changes across assigned procedural areas.

Data Integrity and Process Improvement

Maintain accurate purchasing, product, and inventory information within applicable supply chain systems.

Utilize purchasing and inventory reports to monitor utilization, identify discrepancies, and support replenishment decisions.

Monitor assigned supply chain performance indicators, including inventory accuracy, product availability, and replenishment effectiveness.

Identify and recommend opportunities to improve inventory processes, reduce waste, control supply expenditures, and enhance operational efficiency.

Participate in departmental initiatives, inventory optimization activities, and process improvement projects as…