Aarika Burden

Santa Clarita,CA

Summary

Supply Chain and Procurement professional with more than 20 years of experience managing purchasing operations, strategic sourcing, vendor relationships, inventory management, and cross-functional collaboration within healthcare, manufacturing, and distribution environments. Proven ability to negotiate with suppliers, manage purchase orders, maintain inventory levels, improve procurement processes, and resolve purchasing issues while ensuring compliance with organizational policies. Experienced working with technical, specialized, and high-value purchases, supporting internal stakeholders, analyzing vendor performance, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Recognized for building strong supplier partnerships, improving operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional customer service.

Overview

years of professional experience

Work History

Jr. Systems Analyst / Procurement Support

Henry Mayo Hospital

01.2017 - Current

Manage procurement activities for IT and Biomedical departments, issuing purchase orders for hardware, software, equipment, and related services.
Collaborate with project managers to source materials and services at the lowest total cost while meeting project timelines and operational requirements.
Research domestic and international suppliers, evaluate sourcing risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure uninterrupted supply.
Develop and maintain strong vendor relationships while monitoring supplier performance and service quality.
Maintain hospital-wide IT inventory, ensuring appropriate par levels and inventory availability to support uninterrupted clinical operations.
Resolve purchasing and invoice discrepancies by coordinating with vendors, Accounts Payable, and internal stakeholders.
Support purchasing compliance by ensuring requisitions, approvals, and purchasing documentation meet organizational requirements.
Coordinate closely with Procurement, Finance, Accounts Payable, and operational departments to improve purchasing efficiency.
Train and mentor procurement staff on purchasing processes, inventory management, and procurement best practices.
Identify opportunities for process improvements that enhance purchasing efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Provide technical support and security provisioning for hospital staff while supporting organization-wide operational initiatives.

Customer Service / Supply Chain & Logistics Specialist

Pharmavite

01.2008 - 01.2017

Managed supply chain operations for major national retail customers including Walmart, Sam's Club, Safeway, and Kroger.
Managed approximately $260 million in inventory across more than 100 distribution warehouses nationwide.
Analyzed inventory trends, supply risks, and customer demand to maintain product availability while minimizing excess inventory.
Partnered with internal departments including Manufacturing, Planning, Transportation, Sales, and Customer Service to ensure successful product fulfillment.
Identified supply chain risks and implemented corrective actions that reduced customer penalties and improved service levels.
Participated in quarterly business reviews with Walmart leadership to evaluate operational performance and strengthen customer relationships.
Published executive-level inventory and operational performance reports supporting strategic business decisions.
Developed new operational procedures that improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Led onboarding and training initiatives for new employees while serving as subject matter expert for operational processes.

Operations Specialist

Strategic Partners, Inc. – House of Uniforms Division

01.2007 - 01.2008

Managed purchasing, demand planning, forecasting, and inventory replenishment activities.
Evaluated inventory requirements and coordinated purchasing activities to support customer demand.
Prepared financial, inventory, and sales reports for executive leadership.
Coordinated supplier activities to ensure timely product availability and successful product launches.
Partnered with Accounting to reconcile inventory and purchasing activities.

School Division Manager

01.2004 - 01.2007

Managed daily operations of a customer service department supervising 11 employees.
Oversaw high-value customer accounts exceeding $150,000 in annual sales.
Developed and implemented new operational procedures that improved workflow efficiency.
Collaborated with Sales, Operations, and external representatives to ensure timely order fulfillment.
Managed employee training, scheduling, order processing, returns, and customer issue resolution.
Supported executive leadership with operational planning and customer account management.
Trained National Sales Representatives on products, systems, and operational procedures.

Education

High School Diploma -

Canyon High School

Santa Clarita, CA

06-1997

Skills

Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Oracle
ServiceNow
Meditech
Kronos

Microsoft Teams
RetailLink
KBox
Inventory Management Systems
Purchase Order Systems

CORE COMPETENCIES

Procurement & Purchasing
Strategic Sourcing
Purchase Order Management
Vendor & Supplier Relationship Management
Contract Negotiation & Pricing Strategy
Vendor Performance Management
Inventory Management & Replenishment
Supply Chain Operations
Demand Planning & Forecasting
Cost Reduction & Cost Optimization
Market Research & Supplier Evaluation
Procurement Compliance & Policy Adherence
RFQ/RFP Management
Invoice Reconciliation & Discrepancy Resolution
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Stakeholder Relationship Management
Process Improvement & Continuous Improvement
Data Analysis & Reporting

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

20+ years of procurement, purchasing, supply chain, inventory, and operations experience
Extensive vendor relationship management experience
Strong background in purchasing technical and specialized equipment
Experienced negotiating with suppliers and resolving purchasing issues
Proven ability to manage inventory, forecasting, and replenishment
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated leadership, employee training, and cross-functional collaboration experience
Healthcare and manufacturing procurement experience

Timeline