Expendable Inventory Management Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Indianapolis, IN

25d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The specialist serves as an Inventory Manager in the Commodity Management Division of Logistics Service, responsible for managing expendable supplies and durable medical equipment (DME) in assigned areas. The position includes short-, mid-, and long-term planning using enterprise-wide computerized tools; analyzing demand, program requirements, operations, lead times, stock levels, and other procurement factors; and coordinating with service lines, biomedical engineering, and other stakeholders to balance clinical needs and budget constraints.

The specialist applies inventory management principles and methodologies to determine supply needs and respond to changes in usage, cost, supplier availability, and other conditions. The role includes advising customers on product changes, substitutions, additions, and best-value purchases; developing DME acquisition strategies; supporting customers and acquisition staff in defining requirements and using mandatory sources and standardized sources; exercising Ordering Officer Authority; and conducting market research on product pricing and performance.

The work is normally performed in an office, with frequent trips to warehouse and patient care areas. The employee may assist with receiving, storing, and distributing supplies, primarily lifting light boxes generally under 40 pounds and using material-handling devices. A valid driver's license is required. The work schedule is 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; compressed or flexible scheduling, telework, relocation incentives, and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

• Valid driver's license.
• For GS-07 qualification through experience: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-05, including managing expendable items and DME; forecasting inventory needs; analyzing inventory reports and supply-support options; using automated inventory systems; researching information to resolve issues; and implementing return and reutilization programs. Alternatively, qualifying graduate education or superior academic achievement may be used as described in the announcement.
• For GS-09 qualification through experience: one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-07, including managing expendable items and DME; developing or supporting DME acquisition strategies; implementing return and reutilization programs; applying supply-system performance principles and methods; and coordinating material support and resolving logistics problems. Alternatively, a related master's or equivalent graduate degree, two years of progressively higher graduate education leading to such a degree, or a related LL.B. or J.D. may qualify.
• Applicants relying on education must submit transcripts. Education must be from an appropriately accredited institution; foreign education requires a certificate of foreign equivalency.
• Current or former federal employees subject to time-in-grade requirements must document eligibility; the announcement specifies 52 weeks at GS-05 for GS-07 and 52 weeks at GS-07 for GS-09.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens and, when applicable, meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Applicants must complete the application, questionnaire, and online assessment; selected applicants must complete onboarding and a background/security investigation.
• Employees must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program or qualify for an exemption; employees with an exemption must wear a face mask as specified.
• The position requires serving a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Work may involve lifting light boxes generally under 40 pounds, using material-handling devices, and placing or carrying supplies; applicable training and licensing for assigned equipment must be maintained.
• Applicants must provide qualifying experience periods in mm/yyyy format and identify full-time or part-time status and weekly hours; federal positions must include grade level on the resume.

Responsibilities

• Manage and control an assigned class of expendable material and durable medical equipment.
• Coordinate material support and resolve logistics problems as a point of contact.
• Conduct forecasting, quantitative analysis, spot checks, and short-, mid-, and long-term inventory planning using computerized planning tools.
• Analyze demand history, program requirements, VA health care operations, procurement lead times, stock levels, and other factors affecting purchasing decisions.
• Compute supply and DME requirements and determine when to intervene in the supply system in response to changing usage, costs, availability, or other conditions.
• Coordinate with service lines, biomedical engineering, and stakeholders to balance clinical requirements and budget constraints.
• Recommend product changes, substitutions, and additions to product lines to improve supply economy and efficiency.
• Manage and control expendable supplies throughout planning, procurement, storage, issue, utilization, and disposal.
• Forecast inventory needs while considering changes in medical and surgical technologies, clinical scheduling, and program requirements.
• Develop acquisition strategies to acquire and purchase DME; support customers and acquisition personnel in developing requirements and using mandatory and standardized sources.
• Exercise Ordering Officer Authority to determine best value and contract sourcing.
• Advise customers on supply and DME purchases using best-value considerations, including required features, expected useful life, warranties, and past performance.
• Conduct market research on product pricing and performance.
• Implement federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical supplies; coordinate disposal of surplus or excess supplies; make emergent procurement decisions; and participate in root cause analysis.
• Comply with special requirements for firearms, ammunition, and sensitive equipment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package.
• VA may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed