Purchasing Agent

Full Job Description

The Purchasing Agent plays a key role in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) at the Ralph H.

Johnson VA Medical Center, directly interacting with Veterans and handling critical patient care activities across inpatient and outpatient settings.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/02/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-06 position, you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service.

An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials.

If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement.

In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-05) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical center professionals and staff; utilizing a variety of databases and computer systems; purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card; and reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service Technical Competence Manages Resources Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.

Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.

Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducing purchasing functions for PSAS, however while conducting inventory management functions, the incumbent may work comfortably in a warehouse environment, sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving and managing inventory.

Prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal is required. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required.

Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds.

Normal safety precautions are adequate. The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office.

At times the employee may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory.

Often, walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

Major duties and responsibilities include: Provides routine and complex technical purchasing support while adhering to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) , Veteran Health Administration (VHA) and Prosthetics directives and handbooks, Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy, and station memorandums, to acquire medical equipment, supplies, and services.

Obtains all necessary procurement information to successfully submit acquisition plans/procurement packages and uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).

Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program.

Analyzes solicitation documents, order forms, reports, and purchasing processes to distinguish among purchasing strategies.

Manages data collection for numerous reports to ensure adequate resource funding and compliance.

Conducts face-to-face and telephone conversations with patients, family members, and private medical staff, contractors, vendors, and co-workers.

Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services Resolves various purchasing problems, such as restrictive specifications, limited supplier base, urgent needs, limited price history, or continually changing requirements/products.

Serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support.

Resolves conflicts in administering purchase orders, such as protests, claims, duplicate billing, and terminations for convenience or default. Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work schedule is subject to change based on agency need. Telework (ad hoc): This position may be authorized for telework.

Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD11378A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.