Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Northport, NY

15d • Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent serves in the Logistics Service of a Veteran Affairs Health Care System and its supported catchment area. The position acquires supplies, services, and construction through delivery orders and small purchase procedures, including purchases made with a government purchase card under the federal micro-purchase threshold. The role requires knowledge of procurement procedures, commercial supply sources, common business practices, and applicable federal and VA regulations, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR).

The Purchasing Agent supports procurement programs and operations for a VA Medical Center by handling a broad range of specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems. Work includes reviewing and editing purchase requests to ensure items or services are adequately described, preparing and reviewing procurement documents and reports, contacting vendors about order status and delivery, maintaining procurement files, and resolving shipment, payment, and other discrepancies.

The position has a Monday through Friday schedule, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Compressed or flexible scheduling is not authorized. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview; this is not a virtual position. Relocation, recruitment incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• For GS-06 specialized experience: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-05 in the normal line of progression.
• Specialized experience in clerical or assistant duties supporting purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services; working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving shipment, payment, or other discrepancies; using a purchase card; and assembling or summarizing information for reports using automated supply or inventory management systems and Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel.
• Knowledge of procurement procedures, operations, regulations, and programs, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR), and other federal procurement laws.
• Current federal employees and certain former federal employees must meet the GS-06 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-05 and provide supporting SF-50 documentation.
• Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with Selective Service.
• Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.

Responsibilities

• Acquire supplies, services, and construction through delivery orders and small purchase procedures.
• Use a government purchase card to make micro-purchases in accordance with Federal and VA regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Purchase equipment, supplies, and services for a VA Medical Center and its supported catchment area.
• Review and edit purchase requests to ensure items or services are adequately described based on the requester's needs.
• Prepare, control, and review procurement documents and reports; verify or abstract information in them.
• Contact vendors to obtain order status and expedite deliveries.
• Maintain procurement files.
• Resolve shipment, payment, and other discrepancies in support of procurement programs and operations.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to employees and their families; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Annual leave accrual may be credited for approved job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

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