Inventory Management Specialist (EX)

Summary

This position serves as an Inventory Manager Specialist with the Supply Chain Management Department at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) and supported catchment area, with responsibility for the inventory management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment (DME) in the assigned area(s).

Duties

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. Work schedule subject to change due to the needs of the department. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist (EX)/PD99823S

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/12/2026. 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 grade 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 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-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 Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.