Job opening: Purchasing Agent
Salary: $37 696 - 60 703 per year
Published at: Nov 14 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located within Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction, CO. The primary purpose of this position is to provide coordination, inventory management, and administrative support for all phases of purchasing activities.
Duties
***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***
This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-7. At the lower grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-7. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of funds.
The major duties include but are not limited to:
Performs direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA;
Initiates procurement of all outpatient medical requirements to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans;
Places purchase orders for needed medical and inventory supplies;
Receives and analyzes prescriptions from clinicians;
Examines health records and claims to determine eligibility/entitlement for items and services;
Researches the use of different solicitation methods, ordering or reporting procedures in both purchasing card menu and prosthetics program;
Purchases specialized equipment or services that have an unstable price or product characteristic, hard-to-locate sources, or similar complicating factors;
Provides in-services and support to providers on prosthetic ordering;
Ensures that all contract terms and conditions are met;
Exchanges information with patients, clinicians and vendors;
Assists with control, storage and distribution of prosthetic inventory;
Prepares letters and correspondence and maintains all required documentation;
Adheres to all purchasing and fiscal regulations; and
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Qualifications
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.
In addition to the language proficiency requirement, applicants must meet the following qualification requirements:
GS-5 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience includes experience performing clerical/administrative functions. -OR-
GS-5 SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): At least four (4) years of successfully completed education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Copy of transcript(s) required. -OR-
GS-5 COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): An equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience as described above may be used to meet the total qualification requirements for this position. NOTE: Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours (i.e., beyond the second year) is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. One full academic year of study (30 semester hours) beyond the second year is equivalent to six months of specialized experience. Copy of transcript(s) required.
GS-6 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience includes experience performing clerical/administrative functions in a medical setting and experience procuring and/or purchasing supplies, equipment and/or services.
GS-7 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal service. Qualifying specialized experience includes experience performing clerical/administrative functions in a medical setting; experience procuring and/or purchasing medical supplies, equipment and/or services; and experience examining health records and/or claims to determine eligibility and/or entitlement for items and/or services.
You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:
Attention to DetailCommunicationComputer SkillsContracting/ProcurementControl of FundsCustomer ServiceManages and Organizes Information
IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Requirements: Work of this position is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions. May work comfortably in a warehouse conducting inventory, may involve sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving and managing inventory; Prolonged periods of sitting at a computer terminal is required. Retrieves equipment from storage room and requires climbing to stock equipment and other items. May carry/lift items weighing up to 25 pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate and may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prostheti8c and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory.
For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
There is no educational substitution for the specialized experience at the GS-6/7 grade levels.
NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here:
http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Contacts
- Address White River Junction VA Medical Center
215 North Main St.
White River Jct., VT 05009
US
- Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
- Phone: (844)456-5208
- Email: [email protected]
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