Temporary Agent Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Summary
We love our jobs. Do you? Join our team as a Purchasing Agent located in the esteemed Architect of the Capitol, Office of the Chief Engineer. As a Purchasing Agent you will perform a variety of tasks related to the acquisition of supplies, materials, equipment and services for the Office of the Chief Engineer.
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Duties
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*** This position is temporary in nature and is not to exceed 24 months. This is strictly a temporary appointment where there is no permanent need or permanent funding available for the work involved. This position is subject to the project needs of the Agency. Therefore, the appointment could be terminated at any time due to shortage of work or shortage of funds without any advance notice. If project work continues however, it could be extended beyond the 24-month time frame at the sole discretion of the Agency. As a non-permanent employee, you may also be separated for failure to meet management's expectations, with no advance notice. ***
The Purchasing Agent is responsible for procuring supplies, services, equipment and other resources through a variety of purchasing methods and procedures.
As a Purchasing Agent you will:

• Screen and review purchasing requests for completeness and accuracy, ensuring available funds
• Determine the appropriate purchase method (existing contact, open market, Federal Supply schedules, etc.) in accordance with AOC policies and consistent with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
• Develop Request for Quotation (RFQ) packages that include all necessary clauses, terms and conditions
• Evaluate quotes received in accordance with criteria; determine price reasonableness for items not recently or previously purchased; and select the vendor, negotiating price with sole-source vendors
• Prepare purchase orders including specifications, packing and shipping requirements, inspection, instruction and all other special and standard clauses
• Monitor delivery, inspection and acceptance of purchases, keeping the customer informed of any problems
• Confer with contractors regarding invoices and payments ensuring that contractors are paid either by credit card or funds transfer
• Reconcile credit card accounts monthly and resolve discrepancies
• Use Financial Management System (FMS) and Maximo operating systems to perform purchasing duties
• Produce a variety and reports and creates specialized databases

Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• You must be able to pass a drug test.
• You must meet the definition of specialized experience.

"To be employed by the Architect of the Capitol in a paid position, an individual must meet
one of the categories below:

• A citizen of the United States;
• A person who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence and is seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B);
• A person who is admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or is granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1158 and has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and then a citizen when eligible;
• A person who owes allegiance to the United States (nationals of American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationals who meet other requirements described in 8 U.S.C. 1408); or
• A person who is currently an officer or employee of the Government of the United States."

Qualifications
You must meet the United States Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the advertised position. You must meet all eligibility and qualifications requirements by the closing date of the job announcement. Additional information on the qualification requirements is outlined in the OPM Qualifications Standards Handbook of General Schedule Positions. It is available for your review on the OPM web site at OPM Qualification Standards
Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities 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.
To qualify at the GS-08 level, your resume must clearly demonstrate that you have one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience comparable in difficulty and responsibility to at least the GS-07 level in the federal service.
Specialized experience is defined as:

• Procuring supplies, materials, and services using a Government Purchase Card or company purchase card;
• Utilizing automated computerized supply/inventory management systems and Microsoft Office software programs to create reports;
• Utilizing a financial management system to reconcile credit card accounts on a recurring basis to resolve discrepancies; and
• Resolving routine purchasing disputes with stakeholders through oral and written communication using cooperative negotiation.

Education
There is no educational requirement for this position.
Additional information
Welcome Veterans. The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) gives veterans' preference rights in the legislative branch to certain veterans as applied by the Congressional Accountability Act. Veterans' preference is applied on this vacancy announcement. If you are a veteran and have been separated under honorable conditions, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility; SF-15, if applicable; and Department of Veterans Affairs documentation of disability, if applicable. For more information, please visit http://www.opm.gov/veterans/html/vetguide.asp#6.
If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.
DRUG TESTING: The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is a Drug Free Workplace. As part of the AOC's suitability assessment, a candidate tentatively selected for a position who is not currently an AOC employee is required to submit to screening for illegal drug use. Satisfactory completion of a drug test is a condition of employment with the Agency. A candidate must test negative prior to being eligible for appointment into a position. We will schedule, provide and cover the cost for the drug test.
The selectee(s) under the vacancy announcement for this position is subject to a criminal record check by the U.S. Capitol Police and satisfactory adjudication to be eligible for employment at the Architect of the Capitol.
The Architect of the Capitol is an E-VERIFY Participant. E-VERIFY is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment authorization in the United States. If you are selected for this position, the documentation that you present for purposes of completing the DHS Form I-9 will be verified through the DHS "E-VERIFY" electronic system. For more information on E-Verify, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1185221678150.shtm
The Architect of the Capitol is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information and/or disability.
This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Moving expenses are not authorized.
Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Probationary Period - A newly appointed selectee is subject to the completion of a one-year trial/probationary period, regardless of whether or not a trial/probationary period has been completed previously with the Architect of the Capitol or another Federal agency.
This vacancy announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies in any of the jurisdictions of the Architect of the Capitol.
All application materials become the property of the Architect of the Capitol.
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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.
A variety of health insurance plans; retirement system with investment options; paid holidays; paid sick and annual (vacation) leave; life insurance; incentive systems; subsidized transportation; training and development opportunities, etc.
Selected applicant(s) may be eligible to earn a higher annual leave accrual rate credit towards annual leave accrual based on prior non-Federal or uniformed service work experience. The amount of service credit will be based on specialized experience or qualifying experience that is provided on the applicant profile submitted. As such, if you are a new employee to the Federal Government or a rehire, it is important that you provide a work history that lists all directly related positions held, and it must include the dates of employment (month/day/year).
The Architect of the Capitol offers eligible employees opportunity to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program.
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.