The position serves as a Purchasing Agent for the Logistics Service in a Veteran Affairs Health Care System and supported catchment area.

Duties

This position primarily performs Purchasing Agent work to acquire supplies, services, and construction by purchase, rental, or lease through (a) delivery orders and/or (b) small purchase procedures. The work requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases. This work also requires knowledge of commercial supply sources and common business practices related to sales, prices, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stocks, and shipments. This position will become a purchase card holder who fulfills acquisition requests under the federal micro purchase threshold, ensuring these purchases are procured in accordance with Federal and VA regulations, policy and procedures. Maintains responsibility for work leading to the purchase of a wide variety of complex and highly specialized services, supplies, equipment, and systems that support the full range of programs and activities at a VA Health Care System and supported catchment area. This position performs procurement duties such as preparing, controlling, and reviewing procurement documents and reports; verify or abstract information contained in documents and reports; contact vendors to get status of orders and expedite delivery; maintain various procurement files; resolve a variety of shipment, payment, or other discrepancies; or perform other similar work in support of procurement programs and operations. The work requires a practical knowledge of procurement procedures, operations, regulations, and programs.- Conducts purchasing for a VA Medical Center, and supported catchment area.- Reviews and edits purchase requests to ensure the item or service is adequately described based on the requester's need.- Utilizes different ordering, reporting procedures, and purchasing methods depending on the type quantity, dollar value, and urgency of the requirement.- Utilize various web-based portals to order items.- Provides administration and oversight on orders and services.- Represents the VA in discussions with vendors/contractors.- Researches, reviews, develops spreadsheets, and prepares reports for procurement under the micro-threshold to address departmental needs from the Supervisor.- Performs work in support of general management and/or program analysis function.- Coordinates with the using services representatives regarding sources of supplies and acceptable substitutions.- Provides excellent customer service to medical staff, customers, vendors, and contractors and resolves issues in an expeditious manner.- Communicates in a tactful and courteous manner with a variety of individuals with diverse backgrounds and levels of understanding.- Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PD99896A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/01/2024. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of purchase card regulations and policies, socioeconomic goals, and priority sources of supply. Ability to perform purchase card order administration for a variety of procurement transactions. Skill in analyzing descriptions that have unique aspects and many critical characteristics to identify problem areas. Knowledge of price analysis techniques. Knowledge of various acquisition clauses. Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Excel to create, edit and aggregate data. Ability to use Outlook Mail features to respond to Medical Center inquiries and Calendar features to set up meetings. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Decision MakingManages and Organizes InformationManages ResourcesReasoning (Clerical/Technical)Technical CompetenceExperience 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; religions; 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: Requires some physical effort such as standing, sitting, walking, or bending. There are no special physical demands. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Columbia VA Health Care System 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 US
• Name: Phoebe Holloway
• Phone: 6464134168
• Email: [email protected]