Purchasing Agent

Summary

The position is a member of Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) within the Prosthetic Service Line under the medical center. Position is assigned to the VA Medical Center and has an active inpatient implant care coordination and outpatient treatment program and inventory responsibility. Performs direct medical supply Purchasing and Inventory Management support to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services, to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans.

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Duties

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The position is assigned to the VA Medical Center and has an active inpatient implant care coordination and outpatient treatment program and inventory responsibility which includes, but is not limited to: Prosthetic and Sensory Aids, Fabrication Lab for Orthotic and Prosthetics, Audiology & Speech Pathology, Visual Impairment Services Team, Spinal Cord Injury, Cochlear Implant Team, Polytrauma Amputee Network Center, Rehabilitation Medicine, Medicine Service, Surgical Service, Ophthalmology, Dental Service, Podiatry, Women's Clinic and Orthopedic Services.

Duties include but not limited to:

• The position performs independent technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR), all applicable Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Directives and Memorandums, Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks, VISN policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran-specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical providers clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition. Functions include but are not limited to; rentals to meet the outpatient medical needs of the services, all outpatient durable medical equipment and supplies, rehabilitation equipment, mobility, and daily living aids, neuro-sensory, home oxygen, inpatient surgical implants, and supplies.
• The position performs the process of vetting and vendorizing following Veteran Health Administration (VHA) Prosthetics guidelines to complete purchases for items that aren't available through established vendor networks.
• Independently using guidance, direction, and direct use of policies and guidelines, position provides patient care and support services to an adult population and serves as the point of contact for external customer service inventory needs and support.
• The position must tailor the patient care/support services to meet the specialized need(s) of the individual patient and the clinical service it supports.
• Independently, using guidance, direction and direct use of policies and guidelines, the incumbent reviews for discrepancies or loopholes in lengthy specifications or statements of work that are very detailed, or otherwise difficult to understand.
• The position must evaluate many different specifications or statements of work and work with the vendor on corrections to ensure the proper piece of medical equipment is purchased.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Total Rewards Brochure: Purchasing Agent

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:30am-4:00pm; Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.

Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Purchasing Agent/PDS0101A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/01/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: For a GS-05 position Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to position is up to GS-05 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: assisting in reviewing or interpreting requests, prescriptions, or orders for medical equipment, supplies, or services; communicating with vendors, contractors, clinical staff, or administrative personnel to gather information, clarify needs, or support simple procurement actions; using computer systems, databases, or electronic tracking tools to enter, update, or retrieve purchase information or requests; assisting in preparing purchase card documentation, small procurement packets, or similar administrative purchasing documents; reconciling simple purchase card charges, maintaining logs, or helping prepare basic reports; supporting purchasing, logistics, prosthetics, or supply functions in a clinical, retail, customer service, or administrative environment; performing general administrative tasks such as maintaining files, organizing documents, scheduling appointments, or tracking information to support office operations; and providing customer service in person, by phone, or through email to gather information, answer questions, or route requests to the appropriate staff. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in a field related to this position that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. (Transcript required). OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements. This must be computed by first determining the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determining the applicant's education as a percentage of the education required; and then adding the two percentages. (Transcript required).

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Computer Skills
• Contracting/Procurement
• Customer Service
• Problem Solving

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

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.