Supervisory Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration•Johnson City, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Supervisory Purchasing Agent works in the Prosthetics Service within the VA Health Care System and supported catchment area. The role issues, reviews, and procures prescribed items for Veterans in compliance with VHA guidelines and directives, and leads a team of Purchasing Agents. It requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases, as well as commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales, prices, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stocks, and shipments. As a purchase card holder, the position fulfills acquisition requests under the federal micro-purchase threshold and is responsible for purchases made in accordance with federal and VA regulations, policies, and procedures. The role supports procurement of a wide variety of complex and specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal service, typically in or related to purchasing or procurement work.
Experience procuring supplies and services to meet an organization’s purchase, rental, or lease needs.
Experience assisting with training new employees and answering questions about purchasing and procurement procedures and 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 related to 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.
Current Federal employees and certain former Federal employees applying for a GS-7 position must meet the 52-week time-in-grade requirement at GS-6, as applicable.
Must be a U.S. Citizen.
Must complete the required application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
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 VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
No educational substitution is available at this grade level.

Responsibilities

Supervise 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, independently resolving issues when possible and escalating unresolvable issues.
Distribute and balance employees’ workload, 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 Purchasing Agents.
Conduct purchasing for the VA Health Care System and supported catchment area under the micro-purchase threshold.
Purchase equipment, supplies, and services using the government purchase card for micro-purchases.
Use ordering, reporting procedures, and purchasing methods appropriate to the type, quantity, dollar value, and urgency of requirements.
Provide administration and oversight of orders and services.
Advise approving officials and purchase card holders on the purchase card program, procurement procedures, and responsibilities.
Serve as the first line 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 briefing and presentation purposes.
Perform other related duties as assigned.