Lead Purchasing Agent

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS) seeks a Lead Purchasing Agent to supervise a team of purchasing agents and oversee procurement of items for Veterans in compliance with VHA guidelines.

Responsibilities include advising approving officials, coordinating the procurement cycle, and ensuring timely purchases under micro-purchase thresholds, with focus on efficiency and accountability across the catchment area.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-06 in procurement/contracting.
• Advises approving officials and purchase card holders on procurement procedures and responsibilities.
• Leads and coaches a team of purchasing agents to ensure timely purchases and workflow balance.
• Familiarity with the Federal Acquisition Regulations and VA Government Purchase Card operations.

Responsibilities

• Advise officials and purchase card holders on procurement procedures.
• Coach and problem-solve with team members.
• Delegate follow-up on undelivered orders and aged purchase card transactions.
• Provide training and written instructions for purchasing tasks.
• Lead coordination for sources of supply and substitutions.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Interpersonal skills

Procurement procedures

Team coaching

Education

GS-07 qualification path

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

This position serves as a Lead Purchasing Agent for the Supply Chain Management Service in The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (VA ECHCS) and supported catchment area. The Lead Purchasing Agent is responsible for issuing - reviewing and or procuring prescribed items to Veterans in compliance with VHA guidelines and directives and leading a team of Purchasing Agents. The work requires knowledge of policies and procedures for delivery orders and small purchases.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/02/2026. 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-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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 as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Advises approving officials and purchase card holders on purchase card program - procurement procedures and responsibilities. Coaches and problem solves with team members. Instructs purchasing agents in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions - and reference materials. Ensures timely purchasing under the micro purchase threshold. Provides procurement support throughout the procurement cycle. Examines incoming procurement requests for completeness. Distributes and balances workload among employees and assure completion of assigned work. Utilizes Microsoft Office to create - edit and aggregate data necessary for expense tracking and supply chain management reporting. Plans and coordinates actions to prevent - correct - or resolve delays or misunderstandings in the purchasing process.

Preferred Experience: Leadership - Influences - motivates - and challenges others. Decision Making - Makes sound - well informed - and objective decisions. Interpersonal Skills - Considers and responds appropriately to the needs - feelings - and capabilities of others. Teaches Others - Helps others learn - identifies training needs - and provides constructive reinforcement. Purchasing Duties - Knowledge and understanding of VA Government Purchase Card operations and the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

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/.

Duties

• Advises approving officials and purchase card holders on purchase card program - procurement procedures and responsibilities
• Coaches and problem solves with team members
• Delegates follow up action on undelivered orders and aged purchase card transactions to close out purchase orders
• Provides advice on work methods - practices and procedures
• Instructs purchasing agents in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions - and reference materials
• Ensures timely purchasing under the micro purchase threshold
• Leads the coordination for sources of supplies and acceptable substitutions
• Provides procurement support throughout the procurement cycle
• Initiates and provides training to acquisition and technical staff on the procurement process
• Makes purchases involving specialized requirements and/or commercial requirements that have unstable price or product characteristics - hard-to-locate sources - or similar complicating factors
• Provides procurement support throughout the procurement cycle
• Conducts open market research for purchases of routine equipment - supplies - and services
• Examines incoming procurement requests for completeness
• Reviews completed work to see that instructions on work sequence - procedures - methods and deadlines have been met
• Distributes and balances workload among employees and assure completion of assigned work
• Maintains accountable procurement records and auditing information
• Monitors purchase requests and active and delinquent invoices - and process receipts
• Utilizes Microsoft Office to create - edit and aggregate data necessary for expense tracking and supply chain management reporting
• Assesses urgency of patient needs and recommends source adjustments to meet patient and medical center needs
• Plans and coordinates actions to prevent - correct - or resolve delays or misunderstandings in the purchasing process
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Lead Purchasing Agent/PD99879S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized