Lead Purchasing Agent

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Lead Purchasing Agent with responsibility for issuing, reviewing, and procuring prescribed items for Veterans within the Nebraska Western Iowa (NWI) VA Health Care System.

The role leads a procurement team to ensure timely, compliant acquisitions in support of veteran care. The incumbent will manage purchase requests, coordinate with medical staff to determine needs, and oversee open market research while applying FAR/VAAR regulations and

Qualifications

• Procurement experience with supplies, equipment, and services.
• Ability to lead and train purchasing staff.
• Familiarity with procurement laws and policies (FAR/VAAR).

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of at least three Purchasing Agents providing guidance on procurement issues.
• Resolves procurement and purchase order concerns independently; escalates complex issues as needed.
• Distributes workloads to ensure timely completion of assignments.
• Coaches and trains new and current team members in problem-solving methods and procurement procedures.
• Monitors the status and progress of team assignments, making adjustments to meet priorities.
• Reviews, edits, and processes purchase requests for completeness and compliance.
• Uses government purchase cards to procure equipment, supplies, and services under micro-purchase thresholds.
• Prepares and maintains procurement records, reports, contracts, and documentation for audits.
• Advises staff and cardholders on procurement policies and automated purchasing systems.
• Reconciles purchase card statements and monitors for fraud or misuse.
• Communicates with medical staff, customers, vendors and stakeholders to resolve issues and facilitate service delivery.

Skills

Procurement

Team leadership

Vendor negotiations

Open market research

Communication

Job description

Summary

The Lead Purchasing Agent serves in the Logistics Service in a Nebraska Western Iowa (NWI) Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VA HCS) and supported catchment area. The incumbent 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.

Summary

The Lead Purchasing Agent serves in the Logistics Service in a Nebraska Western Iowa (NWI) Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VA HCS) and supported catchment area. The incumbent 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 10/05/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: procuring supplies - equipment - and services using small purchase methods such as purchase cards and delivery orders; reviewing and processing purchase requests working with medical staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving a variety of shipment - payment - or other discrepancies in support of procurement programs and operations; utilizing automated procurement and inventory systems and common office software to complete transactions - create reports - and maintain accurate records; and assisting in training new employees and answering questions on purchasing/procurement procedures - policies - etc. 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/. Physical Demands - Requires some physical effort such as standing - sitting - walking - or bending. There are no special physical demands. You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Work Environment - The work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts. Normal safety precautions are adequate.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Leads a team of at least three Purchasing Agents - providing guidance and direction on procurement issues
• Resolves procurement and purchase order concerns independently - only escalating complex issues to supervisors when needed
• Distributes and balances workloads among Purchasing Agents to ensure timely completion of assignments
• Coaches and trains new and current team members in problem-solving methods and procurement procedures
• Monitors the status and progress of team assignments - making adjustments to meet organizational priorities
• Reviews - edits - and processes purchase requests - ensuring completeness - compliance - and accuracy
• Utilizes government purchase cards to procure equipment - supplies - and services under the micro-purchase threshold
• Maintains current knowledge of and applies Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) - VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) - and other procurement laws
• Conducts open market research for routine and specialized equipment - supplies - and services
• Administers orders and service agreements - representing the VA in negotiations with vendors and contractors
• Prepares and maintains procurement records - reports - contract modifications - and documentation for audit and compliance purposes
• Advises staff and cardholders on procurement policies - procedures - and use of automated purchasing systems
• Reconciles purchase card billing statements - validates transaction accuracy - and monitors for potential fraud or misuse
• Provides clerical and administrative support - including managing records - answering phones - and generating reports for management
• Communicates tactfully with medical staff - customers - vendors - and various stakeholders to resolve procurement-related issues and facilitate service delivery
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm
• 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
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.