Pharmacy Buyer

Play a key role in the delivery of world-class patient care. Continuously elevate quality of care within an award winning health system. Leverage your expertise to make a life changing difference. At UCLA Health pharmacy, you can do all this and more.

As a Buyer Technician, you will assist the Lead Buyer and Pharmacy Management team in providing daily procurement support for inpatient, outpatient, and clinic services. You will play a key role in ensuring that drugs, supplies, and equipment are efficiently purchased, rented, or returned as needed.

Responsibilities include:

• Assist the Lead Buyer in the daily procurement of drugs, supplies, and equipment through various accounts and software systems (e.g., drug wholesalers, EMPAC system).
• Support the maintenance of 340b purchasing and accumulations, secure controlled substances, and assist with the annual physical Pharmacy inventory count.
• Engage in efficient inventory management and collaborate with Pharmacy Business Office (PBO) and other buyers to identify cost-saving opportunities, shortage alternatives, and NDC switches.
• Communicate frequently and effectively with the Lead Buyer, Pharmacy Managers/Director, multiple departments, vendors, and staff to manage high-cost and non-formulary purchases.
• Under the supervision of the Lead Buyer, assist with drug recalls, reporting via RASMAS, loan/borrow accountability, and attending departmental meetings, including staff and Pharmacy Drug Shortage meetings.
• Work closely with the Pharmacy team to perform drug distribution, pre-packaging, inventory management in storerooms and Pyxis medstations, and maintain records (e.g., refrigerator temperature logs, hood cleaning).
• Handle billing, departmental recharge, and ensure compliance through regular area inspections, housekeeping, and security functions.

Schedule: Monday - Friday, varied shifts, depending on department needs

Hourly Salary Range: $26.55 - $38.13 (Union represented, step based salary depending on years of experience)

Bargaining Unit: EX - AFSCME

Pharmacy Technician I (9283): Less than 2 years of experience

Pharmacy Technician II (9282): Equal to or more than 2 years of experience

• CA Pharmacy Technician license - Required.
• 2 years of inpatient pharmacy experience - Highly preferred.
• Ability to accurately perform pharmaceutical calculations.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical generic and trade names and their dosage forms, and the ability to cross-reference the most common drugs from memory.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and pharmaceutical abbreviations.
• Skill in preparing intravenous solutions using aseptic technique.
• Ability to work independently and follow-through on assignments with minimal supervision.
• Skill in computer order entry of medication orders as well as other related computer entry tasks and computer report generation.
• Telephone and verbal skills required to communicate clearly and effectively with pharmacists, nurses, physicians and other allied health professionals.
• Ability to compound chemotherapy solution utilizing departmental guidelines for the preparation/distribution of cytotoxic agents.
• Ability to lift 25 lbs and push 50 lbs