Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Hines, IL

9d • Onsite

About The Position

This position primarily performs Purchasing Agent work to acquire supplies, services, and construction by purchase, rental, or lease through (a) delivery order and/or (b) small purchase procedures. The work requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases. The work also requires knowledge of commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales, prices, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stocks, and shipments.

Requirements

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply.
• Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
• Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5.
• 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.
• 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
• Reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports
• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Nice To Haves

• performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting
• reviewing and working with patients' medical records
• completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic appliances
• utilizing computer software programs
• communicating with internal and external customers via various methods

Responsibilities

• Conducts purchasing for a VA Medical Center, and supported catchment area, under the micro purchase threshold and must have knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) other federal procurement laws.
• Purchases various equipment, supplies, and services through the use of the government purchase card for micro purchases.
• Reviews and edits purchase requests to ensure the item or service is adequately described based on the requester's need.
• Ensures all information has been provided and the request is consistent with legal requirements.
• Obtains necessary product information, price information and procedures for written or verbal purchase orders.
• Utilize different ordering, reporting procedures, and purchasing methods depending on the type quantity, dollar value, and urgency of the requirement.
• Procures supplies and services to meet the purchase, rental, or ease needs of the organization.
• Examines incoming requests for completeness including presence of purchase request number, accounting codes, item description estimated cost, and quantity.
• Ensures all critical information is included in the solicitation package and develops unique selection criteria for each purchase.
• Conducts open market research for purchases of routine equipment, supplies, and services.
• Serves as the first line of contact for medical staff and customers in regard to procured items.
• Provides clerical support and coordination to approving officials and administrators.
• Performs a variety of receptionist, timekeeping, record keeping, and miscellaneous duties in medical facility.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree