Purchasing Agent

Veterans Health Administration; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, is seeking 3 highly qualified candidates to fill Purchasing Agent positions in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS). Recruitment or Relocation Incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

To qualify, applicants must meet all requirements by 09/23/2026. Time-In-Grade rules apply for current federal employees; SF-50 documentation may be required to prove time-in-grade eligibility.

Qualifications

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-04).
• Education: 4 years above high school in any field with transcripts.
• Combination: Equivalent combinations of education and experience.

Education

4 years above high school in any field

Tools

Databases and computer systems

Agency purchase card

Job description

The Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita Kansas is seeking 3 highly qualified candidates to fill Purchasing Agent positions in the Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) in Wichita Kansas. A Recruitment or Relocation Incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/23/2026. 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-05 position you must have served at the GS-03 or GS-04 and there is no time requirement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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:

GS-05 Qualification Requirements:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-04).

• Performing administrative duties in a healthcare setting
• Reviewing and working with patients' medical records
• Completing training or assisting in routine and complex specialized purchases for clinics including medical equipment, prosthetic and orthotic appliances
• Utilizing computer software programs
• Communicating with internal and external customers via various methods

OR; Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 4 years above high school in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education was obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. NOTE: You must provide copies of your transcripts for education to be used as a substitution for experience.

OR; Combination: Possess the equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education beyond two (2) years and specialized experience as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this Purchasing Agent position. NOTE: You must provide copies of your transcripts for education to be used as a substitution for experience.

GS-06 Qualification Requirements:

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-05).

• Interpreting prescriptions and requests for medical equipment and services
• Maintaining regular contact with vendors, contractors, medical center professionals and staff
• Utilizing a variety of databases and computer systems
• Purchasing equipment, supplies and services using an agency/organization purchase card
• Reconciling charges and preparing and submitting reports

As a general rule, education is not creditable above GS-5 for most positions covered by this standard; however, graduate education may be credited in those few instances where the graduate education is directly related to the work of the position Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

Requires some physical effort such as standing, sitting, walking, or bending. There are no special physical demands. The work is performed in an office setting involving everyday risks or discomforts. Normal safety precautions are adequate.

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/.