Lead Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Northport, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a Lead Purchasing Agent within Logistics Service at the Northport VA Medical Center and supports the VA Health Care System and its catchment area. The incumbent leads Purchasing Agents responsible for procuring supplies, services, and equipment to support Veteran care and Medical Center operations. The role includes issuing, reviewing, and procuring prescribed items for Veterans in compliance with VHA guidelines and directives. As a government purchase card holder, the incumbent fulfills acquisition requests under the federal micro-purchase threshold and is responsible for work leading to purchases of a wide variety of complex and specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems.

The Lead Purchasing Agent leads three or more Purchasing Agents performing work at or below the GS-6 level. The position distributes and balances workload, monitors progress and timeliness, reviews completed work for compliance, provides job instruction and on-the-job training, identifies training needs, and responds to staff procurement concerns. The incumbent conducts purchases using the government purchase card, selects appropriate purchasing and ordering methods based on requirements, and provides order administration and oversight. The role also advises approving officials and purchase card holders on program responsibilities and procedures.

The position serves as a first point of contact for medical staff and customers regarding procured items and provides clerical support and coordination to approving officials and administrators. It uses automated systems to enter, update, revise, sort, and calculate data, and develops reports and spreadsheets for briefing and presentation purposes. The work schedule is full time, Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. Some physical effort, such as standing, sitting, walking, or bending, is required; there are no special physical demands.

Requirements

• At least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal service, related to the work of the position.
• Specialized experience procuring supplies and services to meet an organization's purchase, rental, or lease needs.
• Experience assisting in training new employees and answering questions about purchasing and procurement procedures or policies.
• Experience purchasing equipment, supplies, and services using a purchase card.
• Experience working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities.
• Experience resolving shipment, payment, or other discrepancies in procurement programs and operations.
• Experience assembling or summarizing information from files and documents to create reports using automated computerized supply or inventory management systems and Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel.
• For current or former Federal employees subject to the time-in-grade requirement, 52 weeks at GS-6 for a GS-7 position.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel employee.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Competencies assessed include attention to detail, customer service, decision making, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, reading comprehension, self-management, stress tolerance, and teamwork.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving as a Government Purchase Card (GPC) holder, including purchasing supplies and services, maintaining required documentation, and ensuring compliance with applicable purchasing policies and procedures.

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 unresolvable issues.
• Distribute and balance workload among employees, assure 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 purchases 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 select purchasing methods based on requirement type, quantity, value, and urgency.
• Provide administration and oversight for orders and services.
• Advise approving officials and purchase card holders on the purchase card program, procurement procedures, and responsibilities.
• Serve 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, and obtain, organize, file, and retrieve reports for briefings and presentations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed