Remote Purchasing Agent Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This announcement has been extended. Applicants who have applied, do not need to re-apply. However, application materials must clearly support the qualifications requirements to receive consideration.
Employee will serve as a Purchasing Agent within Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service located at the Veterans Healthcare System in Livermore, CA and Marina, CA.
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Duties
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***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***
This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of Gs-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.
The purpose of this position will perform direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA. Duties will include but may not be limited to the following:

• Deduces from written prescriptions and oral requests what items or services are needed and/or conduct follow up information requests to the initiator to clarify the medical need or device specifications, based on the patient's medical evaluation.
• Triages consults based on urgency of the need.
• Selects the most appropriate cost-effective source to deliver the items/service in the most reliable manner.
• Obligates purchase orders for equipment and/or supplies, or the rental of services in a timely manner.
• Manages and monitors the List Open Purchase Card Transactions by Initiator (LPCI) report for unreconciled orders on a regular basis and in accordance with local guidelines and supervisory direction, ensuring vendors receive purchase orders, items were shipped, purchase orders were charged, and items were received.
• Utilizes multiple levels of micro purchase threshold authority, and these micro purchase thresholds uniquely influence the major duties and responsibilities in this position, particularly the complex purchasing major duty.
• Performs independent technical level purchasing support adhering to the FAR, VAAR, VHA, and Prosthetics Directives and Handbooks, VISN policy and station memorandums to acquire patient-specific medical equipment, supplies and services based on a medical providers clinical assessment and evaluation of the patient's medical condition.
• Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associates all obligations to the individual patient. They ensure the services provided are documented as the type of service and duration.
• Verifies adherence to training and other contractual agreements. Follow up action on the status of all these orders is required weekly until purchased and direct patient care is completed.
• Monitors, receives, tracks, interprets, and analyzes Prosthetic Consults, and prescriptions for items, services and home medical equipment from physicians, therapists, medical center personnel, patients, or their representatives.
• Examines clinical health records and claims folders to determine eligibility and entitlement for items and services based on adopted criteria and advises patient of the same.
• Reconciles invoices for certification of payment by reviewing patient records against invoice presented to ensure that accurate cost is being charged for service/item rendered.
• Trains new Purchasing Agents on the latest Prosthetics/Medical purchasing software packages as they relate to the Patient Services.
• Ensures accountability of all stock equipment issued, linking to individual patient. Independently documents issued equipment to alert for replenishment.
• Accounts for and balances expenditures in both the purchase card and prosthetics inventory program.
• Prepares item descriptions for new items entering supply channels, performing work involved in the publication of stock lists for both the Prosthetics Program and the Purchase Card Menu.
• Performs other similar or related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
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 identification 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Qualifications
To qualify for this Purchasing Agent position, applicant(s) must meet the following qualification requirements.
GS-5 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes performing purchasing functions in support of administrative and/or clinical supplies and equipment; utilizing various computer software programs and databases to enter data, compose correspondence, and maintain documentation. OR
GS-5 EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully completed 4 years of education above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. OR
GS-5 COMBINATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (in excess of 2 years) and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.
GS-6 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service. Specialized experience includes performing purchasing functions in support of administrative and/or clinical supplies and equipment; utilizing various computer software programs and databases to enter data and maintain purchasing and inventory documentation; and reconciling purchasing card invoices to account for, verify, and balance expenditures. There is no education substitution for the specialized experience at the GS-6 grade.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: work is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions. However, while performing inventory management function, may work comfortably in a warehouse environment, sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, carrying, retrieving and managing inventory. Prolongs periods of working at a computer terminal is required. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required. Climbing associated with stocking equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. May carry/lift items weighing up to 25 pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate. Work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office. At times, may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory. Often, walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties.
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
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
There is no educational substitution at the GS-6 grade level.
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
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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.
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.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 80 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. 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.