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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · 11 hours ago

Program Assistant (Purchaser)

Milwaukee, WI

Full-time

Onsite

Entry, Mid Level

1+ years exp

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is dedicated to serving and honoring America's Veterans. The Program Assistant (Purchaser) will provide program support and system management services to the Facility Management Division, focusing on purchasing supplies and maintaining budgetary accounts.

GovernmentMedicalNational SecurityPublic Safety

Comp. & Benefits

No H1B

Responsibilities

This developmental position is located at the Clement J Zablocki

VA Medical Center (VAMC) - Milwaukee - WI

(695) - a Level 1a Complexity VAMC Facility - and is organizationally aligned under the Facility Management Division in the Administrative Support Section

The Facility Management Division includes the following program areas: Projects Planning & Design - Energy Management and Engineering operations - and Maintenance and Operations - which includes Plumbing and Electrical - Preventative Maintenance and Repair - Utilities (Boiler - Air Conditioning and Graphics) - Grounds and Transportation and Architectural

Advancement through the developmental level to the full performance level will be recommended only after it has been determined that the incumbent meets all regulatory and statutory requirements - is satisfactorily progressing in the training - is successfully performing the currently assigned range of duties as outlined in the target position of Program Assistant - GS-0344-07 - Position Number (03059O) - and is capable of taking on expanded duties and responsibilities with greater independence

The purpose of this position is to provide program support and system management services to the Facility Management Division as well as to purchase standard and complex supplies and services for Facility Management Division using various purchasing methods and to maintain the budgetary accounts within the established ceilings

The Facility Management Division Manager and Program Managers rely on the incumbent to ensure effective and accurate support to the Division

This position directly impacts the quality and timeliness of support the Division gives to its customers

Work consists of different and unrelated processes and methods relative to Facility Management program requirements - purchasing accounting functions

The tasks include making decisions concerning analysis of procurement actions - complexity of the items - sources of supply - historical data and budgetary consideration and the chosen course of action may have to be selected from many alternatives

Decisions are based largely on the employee's experience - precedent actions and priority assigned for resolving a particular problem

Decisions on how to accomplish work are also based upon knowledge of inter-relationships of the objectives of the Facility Management Division - the procurement process and effective management of available funds

The Facility Management Division provides support to the medical center - VA Regional Office - Great Lakes Acquisition Center (consisting of the Contract Service Center and the Small Purchase Center) - Vets Center - and Vets Place Central and includes a consolidated laundry on the grounds

This support includes but is not limited to maintenance - operations - renovations - housekeeping and laundry services

The incumbent must have extensive knowledge of procurement and accounting methods to effectively render reliable decisions

Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday-Friday - 7 AM-3:30 PM - this position is NOT eligible for telework - alternate work schedules - or remote work

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met

Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level

Position Description/PD#: Program Assistant (Purchaser)/03059O

Qualification

Facility Management knowledgeProcurement methodsCost analysisAccounting proceduresDatabase managementFederal acquisition regulationsVendor proposal analysisInformation managementTechnology applicationCommunication

Required

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

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

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

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 National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social)

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience

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: The work is primarily sedentary at a desk and workstation area

However - there may be some walking - standing - bending - and carrying of light items like papers - reports - files - or possibly moving computer equipment

May stand to greet visitors and escort people to meeting areas

No special physical demands are required to perform the work