Program Assistant; Purchaser

Summary

OUR MISSION:
To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families - caregivers - and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate whole health care to Veterans? Beginning September 27 - 2025 - Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan.

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 01/28/2026. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 level & for a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6 level.

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 full year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level (to be considered eligible for consideration at a GS-6) OR one full year at the GS-6 level (to be considered eligible for consideration at a GS-7). Examples of specialized experience include - but are not limited to:
Extensive knowledge of Facility Management Division programs - work functions - organizational data - supplies - materials - equipment needs in order to provide management officials with detailed analyses of purchasing needs - funding requirements - status of control points and purchasing projections collateral to availability of funds;
Detailed knowledge of system management procedures in order to design - prepare and maintain extensive database files relating to Facility Management materials - supplies - purchase history - sources of supply - and specifications necessary to support mission requirements and to analyze - review and improve program activities through increased economy and efficiency of operations;
Extensive knowledge of price/cost analysis and product search techniques to evaluate/finalize unpriced orders - approve prices or costs for requirement with inadequate price history - and /or approve allowable charges for requirement involving special cost feature for buys that include special handling and transportation rates for emergency orders - long lead times - customization of products; extensive knowledge of all acquisition regulations - methods - procedures - and business practices to make purchases - at times involving specialized requirements that are complex because of factors such as critical product characteristics - specialty items - unstable price - or hard to locate sources;
Skill in analyzing vendor proposals to assist in identifying the highest quality product at the best price;
Extensive knowledge needed in accounting procedures to balance budgetary accounts; maintains records accurately for seven fund control points ranging in annual budgets from $1
-000 into the millions; ability to locate and correct discrepancies due to system errors;
Thorough knowledge and understanding of established cost accounting procedures related to appropriation funding - allotments - obligation and disbursement - and the ability to analyze the interrelationship of accounts that are affected by varied transactions;
Extensive knowledge of Fiscal cost centers and budget object codes related to Facility Management work items;
Thorough knowledge of Federal (FAR) and VA acquisition regulations (VAAR) and accounting procedures;
Extensive knowledge of IFCAP and IDCU is necessary to complete the work process. Extensive knowledge of the Federal Supply Classification Codes for classifying all supplies purchased into correct categories for federal reporting; knowledge and skill to review transactions - investigate data - and make independent decisions regarding outstanding transactions and discrepancies that may be present; and skill in using a calculator - computer - and the Internet.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
Administration and Management Communication Information Management Technology Application Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through…