Inventory Management Specialist

Inventory Management Specialist

This position serves as an Inventory Management Specialist in the Supply Chain Management Service at the Veteran Affairs Health Care System San Diego. Responsibilities include managing and controlling 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 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. Acts as a focal point for new EX supply procedures. Makes decisions and commitments for the medical center on medical / surgical supplies that materially affect the VA HCS' ability to provide medical care to Veterans. Researches opportunities for and conducts analysis of potential cost savings, efficiencies, and process improvements using quantitative analysis and historical usage patterns. Utilizes performance measures to conduct forecasting and quantitative analysis. Develops Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

Duties include :

• Managing inventory, setting initial stock and par levels and reorder points, and resolving issues for a complete medical or service category.
• Conducting wall-to-wall and periodic inventories on own initiative to identify potential shrinkage issues or other supply chain discrepancies.
• Utilizing automated inventory management system, such as General Inventory Package (GIP) or other equivalent system, to maintain current inventory data.
• Conducting market research on product pricing and performance.
• Analyzing and evaluating work activities related to warehousing operations for compliance with regulations and policies.
• Assurance that site and methods for storage of specialty items are in accordance with established agency directives and procedures.
• Resolving difficult issues and problems involving automated supply processes, work methods, supply data management and day to day operational affairs.

Highly desirable experience includes :

Work Schedule : Full-time, Monday - Friday, 7 : 00 am - 3 : 30 pm. Compressed / Flexible : Not available.

Position Description / PD# : Inventory Management Specialist / PD99809S and PD99823S. Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized.

Requirements :

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background / security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel.

Qualifications :

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02 / 16 / 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. 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.

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 : conducting short, mid and long-term advanced planning for expendable items and durable medical equipment (DME), utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools. Analyze data to include demand history, program requirements, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact procurement decisions.

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

OR, superior academic achievement

Combination : Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond a bachelors degree.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position :

Contracting / Procurement Oral Communication Planning and Evaluating Problem Solving Technical Competence Technology Application

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.

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 handling 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.

Education : A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE NOTE : Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and / or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website : http : / / www.ed.gov / admins / finaid / accred / index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.

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.

Additional Information : Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration : VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and / or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal / VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy.

To be well-qualified : applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job.

Placement Policy : The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.