Pharmaceutical Purchasing Officer

Role Overview

The Pharmaceutical Purchasing Officer oversees the comprehensive procurement cycle of pharmaceuticals, clinical supplies, and medications within a hospital setting. This position guarantees timely acquisition from accredited suppliers, compliance with quality and SFDA regulatory mandates, cost-effective negotiations, and continuous availability of essential medicines for patient treatment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Transform purchase requisitions into purchase orders for drugs, vaccines, and IV fluids prompted by automated restock alerts and pharmacy demands.
• Develop and sustain relationships with pharmaceutical distributors, agents, and manufacturers; follow up on pending orders to ensure prompt delivery.
• Conduct price and payment terms negotiations within authorized limits to optimize cost savings without sacrificing quality.
• Confirm all procured pharmaceuticals, APIs, and vendors align with Saudi Food and Drug Authority regulations, registration requirements, and hospital formulary criteria.
• Manage urgent procurement for non-formulary, lifesaving, or out-of-stock medications through alternative certified sources or emergency local transfers.
• Collaborate with receiving, warehousing, and finance departments to settle discrepancies in pricing, quantities, batch integrity, or damaged goods.
• Monitor drug shortages, pricing fluctuations, regulatory changes, and market supply trends to avert interruptions in the supply chain.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, contract documentation, and supplier evaluation data for audits and accreditation processes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Possess a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy (preferred), Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related disciplines.
• Bring 2 to 4 years of procurement experience involving pharmaceutical products within hospitals, pharmacies, or healthcare environments.
• Knowledgeable about SFDA drug clearance processes, cold chain handling, and hospital formulary systems.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficient in Hospital Information Systems and ERP purchasing platforms such as SAP, Oracle, TrackCare, alongside advanced MS Excel abilities.
• Strong abilities in vendor relations, negotiation, and contract management.
• Meticulous attention to detail in verifying drug names, dosages, packaging, and batch details to avoid clinical errors.
• Fluent in business English and Arabic, including terminologies relevant to pharmaceuticals, both orally and in writing.