Procurement & Resources Specialist

Summary
The purpose of this position is to serve as the Purchase Card Program Coordinator within the Network Contracting Office (NCO). Provides a variety of administrative management services essential to the operation and direction of the Government Purchase Card Program.
This job is open to

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
  Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This position is open for current permanent Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and CTAP applicants.
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Duties
Major duties and responsibilities include: Serves as Procurement and Resource Specialist within the Network Contracting Office (NCO). Administers the assigned facility Purchase Card Program(s), to include Government Purchase Cards and Convenience Checks. Implements and maintains an integrated Purchase Card Program within assigned facility(s) based on guidance and direction from the Purchase Card Program Manager (PCPM). Provides purchase card program oversight necessary to support acquisition accountability, reviewing purchase card activities to ensure compliance with Federal, Agency, Bureau, and local acquisition regulations, policies, Directives, Information Letters, handbooks, and other guidance. Makes recommendations to the Service Line regarding the issuance and revocation of purchase cards and the modifications of processes. Monitors and reports on the status of outstanding purchase card operations and procurements and progress of transaction life cycles (i.e., from purchase to closure) to ensure internal controls, deadlines, and quality controls have been met. Provides advice and assistance on financial-related transactions (e.g., related to whether transactions are appropriate for purchase card use), areas of managerial discretion, and methods to achieve VHA program objectives. Assesses effect on organizational and/or Agency programs (e.g., related to equipment acquisitions, supply and logistic operations, purchase-card limit changes, etc.) and makes recommendations for procedural changes or implementation of process improvements to the supervisor. Establishes guidelines for purchase card users and approving officials and communicates them to facility Directors and other executive management staff. Creates and maintains records and prepares reports on cardholder and approving official actions, as required. Coordinates and monitors disputed procurements, billing errors, payments and credits that are not resolved with the vendor within the required number of days of receipt of the statement and assist or intercede when the dispute cannot be resolved in the normal method; this involves contacting the issuing bank and/or vendors for billing/credit information, matching invoices to Integrated Funds Distribution, Control Point Activity, Accounting and Procurement (IFCAP) transactions and performing follow-ups on delinquent actions. Produce comprehensive, data driven reports, applying analytical tools to identify trends, problems and to recommend and formulate specific resolutions to complex issues. Develops and standardizes training curriculum and materials for purchase card holders, approving officials, and other stakeholders. Performs other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Tour of Duty is 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible Schedules: Available
Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.
Remote: This is a remote position. (Remote refers to work performed on full-time basis anywhere other than a VA facility or using VA-leased space.)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position. (Virtual refers to work performed on full-time basis using VA-leased space or at a VA facility other than the facility that hired the employee.)
**For this position, telework (up to 80% per pay period) or remote work (100% off site) may be authorized upon supervisor approval if within the local commuting distance of the advertised duty station.
Position Description/PD#:Procurement & Resources Specialist/PD56703A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary in nature. There are no special physical requirements. The work is performed primarily in office areas or conference rooms and similar environments. However, it may require some traveling and visits to Government and/or contractor's facilities and other contract-related performance sites.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 2 months of the closing date of this announcement, 12/05/2023.
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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks as a GS-07. 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.
Specialized Experience GS-09: Applicants must meet the specialized experience requirement for the GS-09 grade. You may qualify based on your experience described below for the GS-09 Procurement and Resources Specialist:
Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade (GS-07) in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience includes experience with: Possessing knowledge of commonly used purchase card practices, standard regulations and procedures for atypical purchases of supplies and equipment. Experience sufficient to review and interpret purchase card regulations and review purchase card documentation, validate information and data within the documents, evaluate purchase card authorization and termination procedures, provide training on new procedures and changes in regulation. Experience serving as a point of contact relating to Government Purchase Card Program for the assigned regions and the ability to ensure the Government Purchase Card is used for official government purchases. Experience conducting detailed reviews of procedures and processes and reviewing factual matters to validate and verify information. Ability to monitor the provision and termination of purchase card authorization; monitor and coordination of all training requirements needed to achieve program goals and objectives. Experience communicating regulatory changes to purchase card procedures and for providing training to staff on procedures.
Quality Ranking Factor: Applicant possesses previous experience as a Purchase Card Program Coordinator.
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.
For more information on these qualification standards, visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Education
There is no education substitute for this position.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

• Benefits
  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
You will be rated on the following competencies based on your application for this position:

• Knowledge of Financial Regulations: Knowledge of financial and acquisition credit card regulations, principles, policies and procedures.
• Work Environment: Ability to effectively work individually or as a team member to perform independent duties involving auditing, training and developing new procedures when needed.
• Communication: Skill in communication and techniques to conduct regular audits, training and resultant actions stemming from violations of regulations and policy.
• Teamwork: Experience working with different of levels of staff and management on a one-on-one basis by telephone, in writing, in person, or in a small group to resolve program issues.
• Knowledge of Software Applications: Knowledge of variety of computer software programs such as IFCAP, FileMan, Excel, Word, Access, SharePoint, etc, to conduct data gathering and data analysis in support of program operations and produce a variety of documents such as letters, reports, spreadsheets, and databases.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.
Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.
Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for ...