Lead Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration•Memphis, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service Lead Purchasing Agent for the VA Health Care System and its supported catchment area. The role is responsible for procurement functions for the Prosthetic Patient Services section and for ensuring patient prosthetic orders are procured within the time established by VACO. The agent issues, reviews, and procures prescribed items for Veterans in accordance with VHA guidelines and directives. As a government purchase card holder, the incumbent fulfills acquisition requests under the federal micro-purchase threshold and ensures purchases comply with federal and VA regulations, policies, and procedures. The work involves a wide variety of complex and highly specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems. The position leads three or more Purchasing Agents performing work at or below the GS-6 level. It distributes and balances workloads, monitors timely completion and compliance, resolves staff procurement concerns, instructs employees in work techniques, identifies training needs, and provides on-the-job training to new agents. The incumbent conducts purchasing using the government purchase card, applying ordering, reporting, and purchasing methods appropriate to the type, quantity, dollar value, and urgency of requirements. The role also provides administration and oversight of orders and services and advises approving officials and purchase card holders on program responsibilities and procurement procedures. As administrative support, the incumbent is the first point of contact for medical staff and customers regarding procured items, coordinates clerical support for approving officials and administrators, and uses automated systems to enter, update, organize, and calculate data. The position develops reports and spreadsheets and obtains, organizes, files, and retrieves reports for briefings and presentations. Other related duties may be assigned. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is not eligible for telework and is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives, critical skills incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
Selected applicants must undergo a background/security investigation and complete online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Health Care Personnel.
Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
For current or former federal employees subject to time-in-grade requirements, have 52 weeks at GS-6 for this GS-7 position and submit documentation demonstrating eligibility.
Have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-6, such as procuring supplies and services; assisting with training and answering procurement questions; using a purchase card; working with medical staff on procurement needs and priorities; resolving shipment, payment, or other discrepancies; and preparing reports using automated supply or inventory systems and Microsoft Word and Excel.
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Nice To Haves

Experience reviewing and editing purchase requests and resolving issues so requests and bills are processed accurately and promptly.
Experience identifying procurement needs or problems and determining corrective action.
Experience using federal and agency acquisition regulations to identify potential sources and other information relevant to purchases.
Experience tracking obligations and commitments and monitoring expenditures for recurring budget forecasts and identifying potential fraud, waste, or abuse from procurement history and purchasing trends.
Experience procuring supplies and services to meet purchase, rental, or lease needs and developing selection criteria for individual purchases.
Experience preparing and issuing contract modifications for delivery schedule changes and corresponding with customers, inventory management specialists, service-line contacts, and contracting officers for auditing documents, receiving reports, and payments.
Experience conducting open-market research and sole-source small purchases for highly specialized medical items with critical product requirements.
Experience serving as a first point of contact for medical staff and customers, developing reports and spreadsheets, organizing files for briefings, and performing receptionist, timekeeping, or recordkeeping duties in a medical facility.

Responsibilities

Lead three or more Purchasing Agents performing work at or below the GS-6 level.
Serve as the first respondent to staff concerns related to procurement or purchase orders, resolving issues independently when possible and escalating only unresolved issues.
Distribute and balance employee workloads, ensure timely completion of assignments, and review completed work for compliance.
Instruct Purchasing Agents in specific tasks and job techniques, identify training needs, and provide on-the-job training to new agents.
Conduct purchasing for the VA Health Care System and supported catchment area under the federal micro-purchase threshold.
Purchase equipment, supplies, and services using the government purchase card and applicable federal and VA regulations, policies, and procedures.
Select ordering, reporting, and purchasing methods based on the type, quantity, value, and urgency of each requirement.
Provide administration and oversight for orders and services.
Advise approving officials and purchase card holders on purchase card program responsibilities and procurement procedures.
Act as the first point of contact for medical staff and customers regarding procured items.
Provide clerical support and coordination to approving officials and administrators.
Use automated systems to enter, update, revise, sort, and calculate data.
Develop reports and spreadsheets; obtain, organize, file, and retrieve reports for briefings and presentations.
Perform other related duties as assigned.