Purchasing Agent

About the role

This developmental position is located in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aid Service within the Prosthetic Service Line under the VISN or medical center. The purpose of this position is to perform direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services - to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans.

Responsibilities

• Purchase and manage inventory of medical supplies and equipment for the VA, ensuring they align with the clinical needs of Veterans.
• Initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services to Veterans.
• Interpret prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services, and maintain regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical center professionals, and staff.
• Utilize a variety of databases and computer systems to purchase equipment, supplies, and services using an agency/organization purchase card.
• Reconcile charges and prepare and submit reports related to prosthetics expenditures.
• Upload quotes, bids, invoices, and other important documents to the Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS).
• Verify data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information, ensuring each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with.
• Ensure accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program, associating all obligations to the individual veteran.
• Perform complex purchasing assignments, requiring irregular research, analysis, collaboration, and ensuring both best value and appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans.
• Manage routine purchasing tasks, involving routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources, using regular significant research, analysis, or collaboration.
• Document services provided not only by the type of service but also by the duration, especially in complex purchasing scenarios.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/01/2026. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 and/or education.

• GS-5: This position is a developmental position leading to higher graded work at the GS-06 grade level. This position will perform assignments similar in comparison to the full performance GS-06 grade level Purchasing Agent position. However, the incumbent will receive closer supervision when performing complex purchasing assignments.
• 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 that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting; reviewing and working with patients' medical records; completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic appliances; utilizing computer software programs; and communicating with internal and external customers via various methods.
• OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 4 years above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university.
• OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first 2 years) and specialized experience as described above to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of this position.

Skills

The successful candidate should possess the following skills:

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

Benefits

N/A

Pay

N/A

Schedule

Monday-Friday - 8:00 a.m- 4:30 p.m CST

Telework

Ad-hoc Only

Virtual

This is not a virtual position

Position Description/PD#:

Purchasing Agent/PD10312A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives

Not Authorized