Purchasing Agent

Summary

This position is located at the Jack

C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, OK in the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) line. The incumbent performs 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.

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‑6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS‑5. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in Federal service.

An SF‑50 showing your time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with your application. If the most recent SF‑50 has an effective date within the past year, you must provide an additional SF‑50 that clearly demonstrates one‑year time‑in‑grade.

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) appointments.

Specialized experience:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS‑5) in the normal line of progression for the occupation. Examples of specialized experience include knowledge of solicitation and purchasing methods, preparation of detailed written solicitations, tailoring special terms and conditions, price‑analysis techniques, acquisition clauses, post‑award procedures, and ability to analyze specifications for responsiveness and substitutions.

Competencies:

Attention to detail, flexibility, integrity/honesty, interpersonal skills, reading comprehension, self‑management, stress tolerance, teamwork.

Experience may include paid, unpaid, or volunteer work. A full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week. Part‑time experience is credited on the basis of time actually spent. Applicants wishing to receive credit must indicate duties and hours in each position.

Physical requirements:

The work is sedentary with occasional walking, standing, bending, and carrying light items. The incumbent works primarily in an office setting but may perform job‑site visits when necessary.

• Plans work to be accomplished by subordinates.
• Sets and adjusts short‑term priorities and prepares schedules for completion of work based on priorities.
• Advises, counsels, and instructs employees on work and administrative matters.
• Finds and implements ways to eliminate or reduce significant bottlenecks and barriers to production.
• Provides guidance and evaluates work involving new, complex or unusual situations.
• Oversees management and distribution of all supplies and material in the medical center through subordinates, maintaining stock, monitoring expiration dates, rotating stock, resolving inventory differences, and delivering supplies timely.
• Oversees receipt of supplies and material into the medical center.
• Ensures supplies are unpacked and properly stored.
• Analyzes and resolves difficult issues and problems to plan effectively and render equitable decisions.
• Conducts market research on all new products and ensures they are recorded in the automated inventory system.
• Ensures availability of recurring supply items managed and distributed through the computerized inventory management system.
• Analyzes management reports to manage and control the fund control point limitations, identify trends, correct errors, and resolve problems.
• Works with vendors and/or contract community managers, supervisors, and other staff on logistics issues.
• Communicates with subordinate staff and other administrative and clinical staff to coordinate and persuade logistics activities on the implementation of policy or procedural changes.
• Work schedule:
  
  full‑time Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. This is not a virtual position. Telework: ad‑hoc; may be authorized. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
• Position description/PD#:
  Purchasing Agent/PD14574A. Relocation/Recruitment incentives: not authorized. Permanent change of station: not authorized.