Purchasing Officer | Burwood Hospital

• Christchurch - Burwood Hospital – Operating Theatre
• Permanent Full-time position working 40 hours per week (Start date 11/01/2027)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

Make a difference behind the scenes

Are you highly organised, commercially minded and someone who takes pride in getting the details right?

We are looking for a Purchasing Officer to join our Operating Theatre team. This is a busy and important role where your purchasing, inventory and problem-solving skills will help ensure our clinical teams have the medical equipment, instruments and implants they need, when they need them.

You will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of purchase orders, receipting and stock management, while working closely with suppliers, Procurement teams and clinical staff.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, can manage competing priorities and has a strong eye for detail.

About the role

As our Purchasing Officer, you will:

Purchase Orders and receipting

• Raise accurate purchase orders with the correct coding, pricing and product information.
• Consolidate orders where appropriate to improve efficiency and minimise transaction costs.
• Purchase against Te Whatu Ora catalogue numbers wherever possible.
• Use i-Procurement and FPIM systems for inventory and expense purchasing.
• Accurately match and receipt goods against purchase orders.
• Ensure serial and lot numbers are correctly recorded and barcode labels are applied where required.
• Sort and distribute goods to the correct internal locations.

Supporting our internal customers

• Provide responsive and high-quality purchasing support to clinical and operational teams.
• Ensure internal customers' purchasing needs and deadlines are met.
• Provide advice and support to staff using i-Procurement, including assistance and training where required.
• Build positive working relationships with clinical, Procurement and other internal teams.

Managing outstanding orders and solving problems

• Regularly review outstanding and overdue purchase orders.
• Liaise with suppliers and internal customers to resolve delivery issues.
• Identify and resolve problems relating to pricing, units of measure, product codes and other purchase order discrepancies.
• Work closely with Procurement to share information that supports effective supplier relationships, pricing and contract management.

FPIM and inventory maintenance

• Maintain purchasing sub-inventories in partnership with clinical staff.
• Manage units of measure and update inventory information as required.
• Add, remove and update items within sub-inventories.
• Assist with appropriate minimum and maximum stock level management.
• Ensure purchasing and inventory information remains accurate and up to date.

Stock management

• Manage stock within sub-inventories in accordance with purchasing and financial processes.
• Process FPIM transactions for consignment stock being returned to suppliers.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies involving lot- and serial-tracked stock.
• Ensure physical stock and inventory system records are accurately aligned.

About you

We are looking for someone who is accurate, organised and proactive, with the ability to work confidently in a busy environment where priorities can change.

You will bring:

• Strong technical and administrative skills relevant to purchasing and stock management.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with people at all levels.
• A practical and balanced approach to problem-solving, including when working under pressure or through change.
• A proactive, focused and goal-oriented approach.
• Exceptional attention to detail while maintaining an understanding of the wider service and organisational priorities.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• High levels of integrity and accountability.
• Confidence working with computer systems, ideally including Microsoft Office and FPIM.
• The ability to work accurately with high volumes of information and transactions.
• Previous experience in the health sector would be an advantage, although significant commercial or purchasing experience will also be highly valued.

It would be an advantage if you have:

• Previous experience in purchasing, stock management or goods receipting.
• Experience working with medical equipment, clinical supplies or inventory systems.
• Experience using FPIM and/or i-Procurement.
• An understanding of stock control, consignment inventory, serial numbers and lot tracking.
• Experience working within a hospital, healthcare or other complex operational environment.

Why this role matters

Although you won't be providing direct patient care, your work will have a direct impact on the delivery of safe and effective healthcare.

By ensuring the right equipment, instruments, implants and supplies are available when required, you'll be helping our Operating Theatre teams provide the best possible care for patients.

If you are a highly organised purchasing professional who enjoys problem-solving, working with people and making sure the details are right, we'd love to hear from you. 

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kerri McCarthy at Kerri.McCarthy@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert

you.

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