Inventory Management Specialist

Summary

This position serves as an Inventory Manager in the Commodity Management Division of the Logistics Service in a Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VA HCS) and supported catchment area, with responsibility for the inventory management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment (DME) in the assigned area(s).

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Duties

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This position serves as an Inventory Manager in the Commodity Management Division of the Logistics Service in the VA Health Care System responsible for the inventory and management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment in the assigned area(s). Major duties and responsibilities include:

- Inventory Management and Control: responsible for the management and control of an assigned class of expendable material; serves as the point of contact for the coordination of material support and resolution of logistic problems; conducts forecasting and quantitative analysis; conducts spot checks;

- Returns, Recalls, and Reutilization: implements federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical supplies; coordinates disposal of surplus or excess supplies; makes emergent procurement decisions; and participates in root cause analysis process;

- Manages inventory, independently sets initial stock and par levels and reorder points and resolves issues for a complete medical or service category (i.e., surgical, dental, imaging, engineering, prosthetics, laboratory or other major commodity).

- Authorizes significant changes in expenditure and stock levels based on usage requirements and budgeting considerations.

- Utilizes best practices, principles and tools, concepts and methodologies to determine and evaluate supply system performance. Analyzes, coordinates and controls management of stock items to support preparation of long-range forecasts necessary to support new requirements.

- Reviews and reports back to Fiscal on listings of delinquent payments and receipts of purchase orders. Corresponds with procurement officials, vendors, project engineers and other stakeholders to resolve inventory issues.

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.

Work Schedule: M - F 7:00 - 3:30

Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist / PD99828S and PD99578S

Requirements

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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
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/25/2026.

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-5 . For a GS-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-7 . 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-07

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: .broad knowledge and experience in medical, reusable and durable supply inventory management and distribution in health care environment. A subject matter expert to all services and service lines in managing expendable items and durable medical equipment which may or may not be available through the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) program or negotiated Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts. Experience in researching opportunities and conducting analysis of potential cost savings, efficiencies, and process improvement using quantitative analysis and historical usage patterns. Has thorough knowledge of VA and or Federal Regulations, Directives, Handbooks, bulletins, policies to conduct research. Knowledge of lean/six sigma principles and other performance improvement techniques.
  OR,
• Education: 1 full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement. Applicants may substitute education for the required experience in education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the work. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must submit your transcripts to support your education. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond

. GS-09

• 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 would typically include, but are not limited to: .broad knowledge and experience in medical, reusable and durable supply inventory management and distribution in health care environment. A subject matter expert to all services and service lines in managing expendable items and durable medical equipment which may or may not be available through the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) program or negotiated Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts. Experience in researching opportunities and conducting analysis of potential cost savings, efficiencies, and process improvement using quantitative analysis and historical usage patterns. Has thorough knowledge of VA and or Federal Regulations, Directives, Handbooks, bulletins, policies to conduct research. Knowledge of lean/six sigma principles and other performance improvement techniques.
  OR,
• Education: Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B or J.D., if related. Applicants may substitute education for the required experience in education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to do the work. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must submit your transcripts to support your education. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond .

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Communication
• Contracting/Procurement
• Planning and Evaluating
• Problem Solving
• Technical Competence
• 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: Work is normally accomplished in an office setting; however, due to the nature of the position and duties, may be called upon to assist in the receipt, storage and distribution of various supplies, primarily consisting of lifting light boxes generally less than 40 pounds, utilizing appropriate material handing devices, and placing items on shelves or carrying them elsewhere on station or within the catchment area. Must maintain applicable training and licensing to operate assigned equipment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Education

There is educational substitution at this grade level.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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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.