Buyer

J  o  b    D  e  s  c  r  i  p  t  i  o  n

JOB INFORMATION

Effective Date:

8/12/2026

Entity:

Wisconsin

Job Code:

420014

Job Title:

Buyer

FLSA Exemption Status:

Non-Exempt

Management Level:

Individual Contributor

JOB SUMMARY

The Buyer is responsible for the accurate processing of purchase orders and providing assistance to level department staff. It is essential that this individual learns and follows the fundamentals of UW Health's practices, procedures, and policies as they relate to the procurement function.

Customer service is the focus of the Buyer role, providing consultation to internal customers in Purchasing Operations and Oracle Cloud ERP system policies and processes.  Our success is our customer's success, we exist because of them. 

Responsibilities include facilitating procurement of goods and services for multiple UW Health Departments. This position requires critical thinking, accuracy and promptness in handling requests for department needs, as well as a proficient knowledge of purchasing operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

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Provide premier customer service to internal customers, other Support Service departments and supplier representatives.

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Manage Purchasing activities to include requisitions, workflow monitoring, Purchase Orders, quotations, match exception resolution, order acknowledgments, order expediting, phone orders, and order processing in a timely and accurate manner.

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Perform routine pricing negotiations, with existing suppliers, for the purchase of goods.

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Expedite or alternate source urgently needed products that do not meet agreed upon delivery dates. Update purchase orders with accurate arrive dates, product availability and backorder status.

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Advise suppliers and internal customers of lead times, shipping errors and back orders.

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Seek cost reduction opportunities with new and existing suppliers.

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Resolve pricing, unit of measure, quantity and other issues to ensure order accuracy and timely payment of supplier invoices

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Identify Items as candidates for addition to inventory or the Oracle Cloud item master and coordinate item additions and updates with Supply Chain Informatics team.

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Assist in the development of bid specifications and analysis of bid results.

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Verify prices through Group Purchase Organization contracts, local contracts, price lists, written and verbal quotes. Communicate item and supplier master additions, updates, and corrections to Supply Chain Informatics team.

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Train and mentor other Buyers in Oracle Cloud and Purchasing practices and processes.

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Participate in process improvement projects and initiatives. Take ownership of departmental processes.

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Other tasks as assigned.

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Guide and assist customer departments to adhere to UW Health Purchasing Policies, Procedures and processes. Assist in training departmental requestors.

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Participate in process improvement projects and initiatives. Take ownership of departmental processes

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Assist departments in utilizing existing contracts, locating sources for supplies and finding alternative products.

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Professionally handle correspondence with vendors and customer departments. Resolve disputes between UWHC and suppliers to the satisfaction of both.

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Collaborate within category management structure to provide premier customer service to colleagues and internal customers.

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Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and professional interactive skills. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from suppliers, customers, management and inter-department staff. Capable of working with internal staff from other departments in a proactive and constructive manner.

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Customer Service – Provide proactive customer service in anticipation of needs. Respond promptly to requests for service and assistance as needed. Follow up as needed. Go the extra mile for internal customers, ensuring the customer has a firm understanding of Purchasing process and has required information

As needed, additional responsibilities reasonably within the scope of duties and physical requirements may be assigned.  ALL DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS MUST BE PERFORMED CONSISTENT WITH THE UW HEALTH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE COMMITTMENTS.

X

Clinical

Will provide all patients age and culturally appropriate assessment/screening and interpretation of clinical and laboratory data. Develops and implements age appropriate interventional plans of care including education within the parameters of their position responsibilities and licensure

JOB REQUIREMENTS

No minimum education required.

High School Diploma

Preferred

Bachelor's Degree

In Business or related field

Preferred

2 years

Purchasing related experience

Required

Healthcare experience.

Required

Work experience in a Health Care Procurement setting

Preferred

Enterprise Resource Planning System

Preferred

Certified Materials Resource Professional (CMRP)

Preferred

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED PER UW HEALTH POLICY. 

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Understanding of policies and procedures related to procurement activity

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Understanding of sound business practices and principles

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Excellent verbal and written communication skills

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Portray a professional demeanor with procurement team members, customers and vendors alike

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Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with a variety of professionals

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Ability to work with all levels of UW Health staff interacts primarily with staff and managers

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Excellent organizational skills

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Ability to work independently with little supervision

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Planning / Organization - Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities/deadlines and shift priorities as necessary. Uses time effectively

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Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner. Gathers and analyzes information skillfully. Develops alternative solutions

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Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions. Exhibits sound and accurate judgment. Makes timely decisions

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Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner. Reacts well under pressure. Follows through on commitments

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Team player attitude with the ability to work independently

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Detail Oriented – Attention to details and accuracy

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Proficient use of MS Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS

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Sedentary: Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Up to 10#

Negligible

Negligible

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Light: Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all of these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that they can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

up to 20#

Up to 10# or requires significant walking or standing or requires pushing/pulling of arm/leg controls.

Negligible or constant push/pull of items of negligible weight

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Medium: Medium work involves lifting no more than 50 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. If someone can do medium work, we determine that they can also do sedentary and light work.

20-50#

10-25#

Negligible-10#

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Heavy: Heavy work involves lifting no more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. If someone can do heavy work, we determine that they can also do medium, light, and sedentary work.

50-100#

25-50#

10-20#

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Very Heavy: Very heavy work involves lifting objects weighing more than 100 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing 50 pounds or more. If someone can do very heavy work, we determine that they can also do heavy, medium, light, and sedentary work.

Over 100#

Over 50#

Over 20#

Other - list any other physical requirements or bona fide occupational qualifications not indicated above:

Over 50 lbs.

UW Health does not require, nor does it expect that its employees lift more than 50 lbs unassisted. Objects in excess of 50 lbs should be lifted or moved with mechanical means or through a team lift. Employees in patient care areas are expected to utilize mechanical lifts and adhere to the "Use of Mechanical Lifts (Liko)" policy in the Patient Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.

THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB WITH OR WITHOUT AN APPROVED ACCOMODATION. Note: The purpose of this document is to describe the general nature and level of work performed by personnel so classified; it is not intended to serve as an inclusive list of all responsibilities associated with this position.