Inventory Management Specialist

Full Job Description

This position serves as an Inventory Management Specialist in the Commodity Management Division of the Logistics Service in a Portland VA Medical Center and its supported catchment area, with responsibility for the inventory management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment (DME) in the assigned area(s).

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time-in-grade and specialized experience requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 01/26/2026.

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 within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 specialized experience and/or education as described below: 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: managing a variety of expendable items and durable medical equipment; forecasting short and long range inventory needs; analyzing inventory management reports and the effectiveness of various options proposed to provide supply support; utilizing automated inventory management systems to maintain current inventory data; researching and analyzing information to resolve questions and issues, and implementing federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical supplies.

NOTE: 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.

OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 1 year of graduate-level education.

NOTE: Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Please see education section for details.

OR, Superior Academic Achievement: In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled.

S.A.A. is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership.

This provision recognizes students who have achieved superior academic standing as evidenced by one of the three methods described below.

It is to be used to determine eligibility for applicable GS-7 level positions of persons who have completed (or expect to complete within 9 months) all the requirements for a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

In order to be creditable under this provision, superior academic achievement must have been gained in a curriculum related to the position. S.A.A.

is based on (1) class standing, (2) grade-point average, or (3) honor society membership. NOTE: Transcripts required. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Class standing -- Applicants must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the College of Liberal Arts or the School of Business Administration, based on completed courses.

Grade-point average (G.P.A.)-- Applicants must have a grade-point average of: 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) as recorded on their official transcript, or as computed based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B+" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum.

Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society -- Applicants can be considered eligible based on membership in one of the national scholastic honor societies listed below.

These honor societies are listed by the Association of College Honor Societies (external link). Membership in a freshman honor society cannot be used to meet the requirements of this provision.

OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level.

You must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education with a major appropriate to the position (in excess of a bachelor's degree) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements.

For example, 6 months of experience at GS-5 plus 20 semester credits of graduate-level education may qualify you for this GS. NOTE: Transcripts required.

Education cannot be credited without documentation.

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.

Work is primarily performed in normal office surroundings involving everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions.

Is required to use safe work practices with office equipment, avoid trips or falls and observe fire regulations and traffic signs.

Frequent trips outside are required for visits to the other areas of the Medical Center; such as the warehouse and some patient care areas, in order to provide services, cover for other members in the unit, attend meetings and training.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

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 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; and complies with special requirements for firearms, ammunition, and sensitive equipment.

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.

Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm, PST Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist/PD99823S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized