The position serves as a Lead Purchasing Agent for the Supply Chain Management Service in a Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VA HCS) and supported catchment area.

Duties

The Lead Purchasing Agent is responsible for issuing, reviewing and or procuring prescribed items to Veterans in compliance with VHA guidelines and directives and leading a team of Purchasing Agents. 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. Leads three or more Purchasing Agents performing work at the GS-6 level. Serves as first respondent to any staff concerns related to procurement and purchase orders; works independently to resolve those issues. Facilitates, coordinates, coaches, and problem solves with team members. Explains assignments, projects, problems to be solved, etc.as well as deadlines. Maintains awareness of the status and progress of work, makes day-to-day adjustments to align with established priorities and goals. Instructs Purchasing Agents in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, and reference materials. Maintains current knowledge of Purchasing Agents on procedures, policies, directives, or other guidelines. Reviews completed work to see that supervisor instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods and deadlines have been met. Reports to supervisor on performance, progress and training needs of Purchasing Agents, and on behavior problems or issues. Recommends team members for projects. Conducts purchasing for the VA HCS and supported catchment area. Provides administration and oversight on orders and services. Represents the VA in discussions with vendors/contractors to obtain agreement on micro purchases and vendor/contractor compliance. Tracks obligations/commitments and monitors expenditures to support the budget. Communicates in a tactful and courteous manner with a variety of individuals. Procures supplies and services to meet the purchase, rental, or lease needs of the organization. Advises approving officials and purchase card holders on purchase card program, procurement procedures and responsibilities Provides information to supervisor as requested. 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#: Lead Purchasing Agent/PD99879A 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 10/01/2024 . Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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 VA and Federal Acquisition Regulations, Public Laws, published guides, directives, and procedures. Working knowledge of Fiscal Fund Control Points and budget balances to ensure procurement obligations are complete. Knowledge of purchase card regulations and policies, socioeconomic goals, and priority sources of supply. 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 to include Microsoft Excel to create, edit and aggregate data necessary for expense. Ability to lead a team of Purchasing Agents. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Decision MakingManages and Organizes InformationManages ResourcesReasoning (Clerical/Technical)Technical Competence 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; 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. The work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts. Normal safety precautions are adequate. 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: Lois Auge
• Phone: 706-002-0094 X20094
• Email: [email protected]