Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent works in the Logistics Service at the Togus Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Augusta, Maine. The role acquires supplies, services, and construction through purchase, rental, or lease, primarily using delivery orders and small-purchase procedures. It applies knowledge of acquisition policies and procedures, commercial supply sources, and business practices involving sales, pricing, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stock, and shipments. The position is responsible for purchases of a wide variety of complex and specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems supporting the facility’s programs and activities.

The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is not virtual; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location. Ad-hoc telework may be authorized, with eligibility discussed during the interview process. The work is performed in an office setting with everyday risks or discomforts and normal safety precautions. Some standing, sitting, walking, or bending is required; there are no special physical demands.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and, to qualify at the GS-6 level, must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in the Federal service. The experience must relate to purchasing or procurement support, including procuring supplies or services, coordinating with medical staff on needs and priorities, resolving procurement discrepancies, using a purchase card, and preparing reports with automated supply or inventory systems and Microsoft Office. There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Requirements

• At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-5 in the Federal service, involving knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the Purchasing Agent duties.
• Experience performing clerical or assistant duties supporting purchasing and procurement.
• Experience procuring supplies and services through purchase, rental, or lease.
• Experience working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities.
• Experience resolving shipment, payment, or other discrepancies in procurement programs and operations.
• Experience purchasing equipment, supplies, and services using a purchase card.
• 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.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Selected applicants are subject to a background/security investigation and must complete online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel.
• A one-year probationary period is required.
• The employee must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location.

Responsibilities

• Conduct purchases under the micro-purchase threshold; review and edit purchase requests; and resolve issues so requests and bills are processed accurately and promptly.
• Identify purchasing needs or problems and determine corrective action.
• Use federal and agency acquisition regulations to identify potential sources and other information relevant to purchases.
• Track obligations and commitments, monitor expenditures for recurring budget forecasts, and identify potential fraud, waste, or abuse using procurement history and purchase trends.
• Procure supplies and services through purchase, rental, or lease to meet organizational needs.
• Develop selection criteria for individual purchases.
• Prepare and issue contract modifications for delivery-schedule changes and send formal correspondence to customers, inventory management specialists, service-line contacts, and contracting officers as appropriate.
• Conduct open-market research and sole-source small purchases for highly specialized medical items with critical product requirements.
• Serve as the first point of contact for medical staff and customers regarding procured items.
• Develop reports and spreadsheets and obtain, organize, file, and retrieve reports for briefings and presentations.
• Perform receptionist, timekeeping, record-keeping, and other miscellaneous duties in the medical facility.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• Prior federal or military service may be credited toward annual leave accrual, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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