Inventory Management Specialist

Manages and controls an assigned class of expendable material for a VA HCS and supported catchment area. 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. Other major duties include:

• Conducts short mid and long-term advanced planning for expendable items and DME utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools.
• Uses a range of well-established and commonly applied inventory principles standard and non-standard 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.
• Performs analytical work to manage regulate coordinate or otherwise exercise control over EX supplies.
• 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.
• 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.
• Reviews and reports back to Fiscal on listings of delinquent payments and receipts of purchase orders.
• Conducts wall-to-wall and periodic inventories on own initiative to identify potential shrinkage issues or other supply chain discrepancies.
• Performs other related duties as required.

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 to 4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist/99823-S
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• 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.
• 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 drivers 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 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 your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement 07/27/2026.

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 level. 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 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-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Plans and reviews all inventory processes functions and related systems; Conducts market research on product pricing and performance; Performs analytical work to manage regulate coordinate and exercise control over expendable supplies; Coordinates with property managers for disposal of surplus or excess supplies; Maintains inventory control records in an automated system; Researches and develops solutions to complex and routine problems.

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education or superior academic achievement.

OR

Combination: You must have an combination of specialized experience and education.

For more information on these qualification standards please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at

Required Experience:

IC