Product & Project Specialist

To support the mission of the Northwest Region through the sourcing and procurement of quality equipment, services, and supplies. To support the customers in a way that reduces cost and/or improves their ability to serve our members. This position is responsible for implementing national contracts. Will identify opportunities for savings and support the customer base in sourcing requests to national and regional product standards. Will assist with the development of a purchasing strategy consistent with the overall sourcing strategy to ensure KPNW receives best value for dollars spent on products and services. Assist with the five-step contract process (opportunity analysis, assessment, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and implementation) and develop summaries/reports to standardization. This position does minimal contracting targeted at smaller dollar value spend; the focus is on sourcing, standardization, implementation, contract compliance, conversions, and trend analysis. Works as self-directed member of the Strategic Sourcing team. Essential Functions: – Supports customer base in sourcing all requests to most appropriate national standard, pricing agreement or regional contract. Contribute to the effectiveness of operations in the Northwest Region through standardization of products, services and equipment. – Builds and sustains customer service relationships with key clients across the region; gains thorough understanding of business requirements and needs to successfully advocate for key clients and worst with them to take costs out of the supply chain. – Builds and manages business relationships with key suppliers that create opportunities for both companies: maximize value added services to KPNW. Has knowledge and understanding of contracts so as to enable terms and conditions to be met. – Develops and performs project activity related to cost savings targets and initiatives. Takes the lead role in the development and maintenance of a purchasing strategy consistent with overall national sourcing strategy to insure best value for dollar spent. Provides summaries/reports and trend analysis based on contract or product utilization to support national or regional product standardization efforts. Analyzes utilization patterns across the region e.g. spend by physician/surgeon, top ten procedure spend, opportunities to move from inventory to consignment or other innovations, practices in other regions, opportunities to move from OEM to private label, etc. – Manages region wide product conversions and implementation including communication plans, MOB, ASC or hospital training, timelines, samples to vendors, and issue identification, tracking and resolution. Manages product evaluations from National Product Council, Local Product Council or National Procurement & Supply. Advocates for clients and publishes evaluation results. – Serve on national sourcing/standards teams, national teleconference and NW Local Product Council as a sourcing expert. Actively seek Small, Minority, and Women-Owned businesses. Use National Business Diversity web-site to source for opportunities. Seek ways to invest in and grow SMWBE suppliers. Performs other duties as requested.

Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications: Experience – Minimum three (3) years of experience in procurement and sourcing. Education – Bachelor’s degree OR four (4) years of experience in a directly related field. – High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required. License, Certification, Registration – N/A Additional Requirements: – Customer focused, forward thinking. – Outstanding verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills. – Able to interact equally well with all levels of an organization from front-line staff to high-level managers and physicians. – Proficient in a variety of software applications with the ability to produce complex spreadsheets. Preferred Qualifications: – Minimum five (5) years of experience in a combination of purchasing, contracting, materials management or other related areas. – Experience as a Buyer with contracting responsibilities. – Experience in a health care environment. – Bachelor’s degree in business administration, logistics or materials management, finance or other related field. – Professional certification e.g CPM or APICS. – Electronic data base. – Commodity specific product knowledge. – Business and contract law.