Inventory Management Specialist

Full Job Description

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).

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/24/2026.

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-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: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-7 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Inventory management systems, data processing, ability to search for and analyze information; trace sequences of inventory management transactions to resolve questions; prepare entries for records systems; provide supply information, reports and services; and recommend actions to eliminate problems involved in delivering services to inventory customers or in implementing policies.

Knowledge of lean/six sigma principles or other performance improvement techniques.

Comprehensive understanding of supply principles, lifecycle management, planning, property inventory and accounting methods are required to properly manage the property management program and determine the means and methods to resolve issues and improve operations.

Knowledge of records management policies and directives to maintain and retain equipment records. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience.

To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree.

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 the first year (18 semester hours) of graduate level education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level.

NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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).

Other duties may be assigned. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist/PD55059A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized