Purchasing Agent - Prosthetics

Full Job Description

The Purchasing Agent - Prosthetics position is located within the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line at the VA Medical Center in Saginaw, MI.

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-6 LEVEL, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENT: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Purchasing Agent, and that is typically in or related to the work of this position.

Specialized experience includes interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services; maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical center professionals and staff; purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card; reconciling charges and preparing reports; managing time and calendars efficiently, organizing tasks, answering phone calls, sending and receiving notifications, and responding to customer inquiries and disputes appropriately through various communication platforms; performing data entry, including updating, evaluating, verification, removal of errors, and combining data from various software systems; ordering and/or dispensing simple and complex items appropriately to the correct service or patient; utilizing office-related technology such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Chrome/Edge, Oracle/Cerner, etc.

and assisting with onboarding and integrating new employees.

NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title; duties; month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

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/.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting 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. The position 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.

There may be frequent walks between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties. Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major duties include but are not limited to: Performs technical level purchasing support adhering to the 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 Veteran specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition.

Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes, bids, invoices, consults, and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).

Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associate all obligations to the individual veteran.

Ensures the services provided are documented not only as the type of service, but the duration.

Complex purchasing requires irregular research, analysis, collaboration and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans.

Routine purchasing includes routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources using regular significant research, analysis or collaboration.

Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved