Operations Associate

Company Overview

Mercury Allegiant Partners (MAP Medical) is an early-stage medical supplies distributor focused on revolutionizing healthcare supply chains. With a vast inventory of over 500,000 consumable SKUs, partnerships with more than 3,000 manufacturers, and a growing distribution network nationwide, MAP Medical provides tech-enabled sourcing and distribution solutions to healthcare providers aiming for efficient and resilient supply chains.

Role Significance

This position is foundational in shaping the company’s culture and operations during its early growth phase. The Operations Associate plays a critical role beyond order fulfillment and customer service by helping lay the groundwork for a durable and effective organization dedicated to improving healthcare delivery.

Role Summary

The Operations Associate drives the daily operations of MAP Medical's healthcare distribution business. Responsibilities blend purchasing, customer service, vendor liaison, and distribution support. This position requires multitasking across procurement, customer interaction, and supplier communication to maintain smooth operations. The role is based at the Chicagoland office and warehouse with some work-from-home flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Procure medical and surgical products by placing purchase orders based on demand, inventory, and forecasts.
• Source products and identify alternative suppliers or products when primary sources face constraints.
• Monitor and verify purchase orders, resolving vendor discrepancies related to shortages, damages, or pricing errors.
• Track purchase order acknowledgments, expected shipping dates, and delivery confirmations.
• Serve as the main point of contact for customers regarding order status, product availability, and delivery timelines.
• Respond promptly to customer inquiries through phone and email, providing accurate updates by coordinating with internal systems and vendors.
• Proactively inform customers about delays, backorders, or substitutions, offering suitable alternatives.
• Set realistic expectations for lead times and product availability amid supply chain disruptions.
• Document all customer interactions thoroughly, maintaining records of inquiries and resolutions.
• Manage relationships with vendors by following up on orders, expediting shipments, and addressing fulfillment issues.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with supplier representatives and account managers.
• Negotiate shipping priorities, returns, and credit adjustments as needed.
• Communicate product recalls and supply chain changes internally to keep teams and customers informed.
• Informally track vendor performance to identify reliable and challenging suppliers.
• Support daily distribution operations by coordinating with warehouse teams to maintain inventory accuracy and stock monitoring.
• Identify inventory imbalances such as low stock or overstocks and flag for corrective action.
• Generate and prepare recurring operational reports using ERP and other data sources.
• Contribute to process improvements by spotting bottlenecks in the order-to-delivery workflow and suggesting solutions.
• Maintain organized records of transactions, communications, and metrics.
• Cross-train across operational areas to ensure flexible coverage as the company expands.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of experience in healthcare operations, supply chain, purchasing, sourcing, or procurement, ideally within hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, or urgent care settings; experience in healthcare distribution or manufacturing is also considered.
• Familiarity with medical and surgical products, healthcare supply categories, and procurement processes.
• Ability to multitask, adapt, and juggle various responsibilities efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills with vendors, comfortable initiating calls and resolving order issues.
• High degree of organization and attention to detail, managing multiple orders, inquiries, and vendor communications simultaneously.
• Proficient in standard business tools including Excel, email, and ERP or procurement platforms.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent educational and experiential background.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with vendor and stakeholder management within healthcare supply chains.
• Understanding of distribution workflows such as receiving, putaway, picking, packing, and shipping.
• Familiarity with ERP systems commonly used in healthcare supply chain management like PeopleSoft, Workday, Epic, Coupa, or NetSuite.
• Knowledge of medical product regulations and traceability including UDI, lot tracking, and expiration management.
• Experience working with GPO platforms or knowledge of contract pricing structures (e.g., Vizient, Premier, HealthTrust).

Personal Attributes

• Strong customer-centric attitude, genuinely committed to meeting customer needs even when challenges arise.
• Proactive with a bias for action, ensuring follow-ups and issue resolution rather than passively waiting for information.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a dynamic, evolving role within a growing company.
• Curious about healthcare domain knowledge including products, clinical contexts, and supply chain dynamics.
• Committed to building sustainable, long-term value with a focus on impactful goals and teamwork.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range between $70,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience.
• Paid time off (PTO) and 11 paid public holidays.
• Health care premium reimbursement support.

Equal Opportunity Statement

MAP Medical is committed to equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or other protected factors.