Inventory Management Specialist

Inventory Management Specialist

The Inventory Management Specialist manages and controls an assigned class of expendable material for a VA HCS and supported catchment area. Recognized as an authority on expendable (EX) commodity management and serves as a subject matter expert to all services and service lines. Inventories managed include a wide variety of expendable items and durable medical equipment (DME) which may or may not be available through the Medical/Surgical Prime Vendor (MSPV) program or other negotiated or Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts. Acts as a central point of contact for the coordination of commodity support and the resolution of logistics problems across organizational lines.

Other major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Conducts short, mid and long-term advanced planning for expendable items and DME, utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools.
• Analyzes data to include demand history, program requirements, VA HCS operations, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact procurement decisions.
• Advanced planning requires significant interaction and coordination with service lines, biomedical engineering, and other stakeholders to balance competing priorities including clinical requirements and budget constraints.
• Computes requirements for supplies and DME.
• Uses a range of well-established and commonly applied inventory principles, standard and nonstandard methodologies, and concepts to determine need to intervene in the supply system in response to fluctuations in rates of usage, cost, availability for established suppliers, alternative sources of supply and other similar conditions.
• Proactively engages customers to make recommendations for product changes, substitutions, and additions to product lines with a focus on increasing supply economy and efficiency.
• Performs analytical work to manage, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over EX supplies.
• Applies knowledge of systems, techniques and underlying management concepts for determining, regulating and controlling the level and flow of supplies from the initial planning stages with service lines, through procurement, storage, issue, utilization and disposal.
• Forecasts short and long range inventory needs considering changes in medical and surgical technologies, clinical scheduling changes and program requirements.
• Participates in VISN and facility strategic planning to support major and minor projects and initiatives, ensuring that supply and DME needs are met while considering cost, policies/procedures, sources of supply and other variables.
• Develops acquisition strategies to acquire and purchase DME, displaying familiarity with contracting laws and regulations with industry practices.
• Supports customers and acquisition personnel in developing requirements, utilizing mandatory sources and standardization of sources. Exercises Ordering Officer Authority in determining best value and contract sourcing.
• Conducts data analysis for acquisition planning associated with DME.
• Assists customers in the creation of Performance Work Statements for procurement.
• Researches alternative sources for procurement.
• Independently determines the best purchasing and payment method to utilize; i.e. purchase card order, contract document, etc. Decisions regarding procurement methods are made in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) for competition and formal advertisement.
• Analyzes and advises the customer on supply/DME purchase recommendations utilizing the "best value" approach, which may include criteria such as special features of the supply that are required in effective program performance that is not provided by a comparable supply; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; and past performance.
• Conducts market research on product pricing and performance.

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: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist / PD99823S and PD99578S

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized.

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.