The Inventory Management Specialist Technical Career Field (TCF) Trainee is located at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center, in the Logistics Department. The position will include instruction, coaching, mentoring, and supervision by an approved preceptor. *Please note the position will be filled at the GS-7 level with promotion potential to the GS-9 level*
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/01/2025. 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. 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. You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: Specialized Experience: Ability to manage a variety of expendable items and medical equipment; forecast short and long range inventory needs; analyzing inventory management reports and the effectiveness of various options proposed to provide supply support; utilizing automated inventory management systems to maintain current inventory data; researching and analyzing information to resolve questions and issues, and implementing federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical supplies. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education or 18 semester hours in courses that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Inventory Management Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Inventory Management Specialist position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Superior Academic Achievement:(SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. You must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the Inventory Management Specialist position and meet one of the following:1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision. Class is defined as the college, university, or major subdivision.2. A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.3. A grade point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit https://www.achshonor.org/ 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements and Work Environment: 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. 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/.
The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati, OH and Fort Thomas, KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue, KY; Florence, KY; Lawrenceburg, IN; Hamilton, OH; Clermont County, OH, and Georgetown, OH. The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division. The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location. *Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements. This is a developmental position leading to a GS-9, performing assignments intended to broaden skills and provide practical experience leading to progressively more complex assignments performed under progressively less supervision. 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. Major Duties: This position serves as an Inventory Manager in the Commodity Management Division of the Logistics Service in the VA Health Care System responsible for the inventory and management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment in the assigned area(s). Major duties and responsibilities include: Conducts planning for expendable items and DME, utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools. Reviews data to include demand history, program requirements, VA HCS operations, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact procurement decisions and makes recommendations to the supervisor. While in the training capacity, planning requires structured interaction and coordination with service lines, biomedical engineering, and other stakeholders to balance competing priorities including clinical requirements and budget constraints. As the trainee becomes experienced within the program the communication becomes less structured. Computes requirements for supplies and DME. Performs basic analytical work to manage, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over EX supplies. Applies practical 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 and while in development, provides to the supervisor or higher graded specialist for consideration and review. Works with the supervisor and/or higher graded specialist to develop acquisition strategies to acquire and purchase DME and obtaining familiarity with contracting laws and regulations with industry practices. Supports customers and acquisition personnel in developing requirements, utilizing mandatory sources and standardization of sources. Obtains and exercises Ordering Officer Authority in determining best value and contract sourcing. Conducts basic data analysis for acquisition planning associated with DME. Assists customers in the creation of Performance Work Statements for procurement. Researches alternative sources for procurement. Determines the best purchasing and payment method to utilize, i.e., purchase card order, contract document, etc. Ensures procurement methods are made in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) for competition and formal advertisement. Reviews and reports back to Fiscal on listings of delinquent payments and receipts of purchase orders. In highly structured and reviewed situations - corresponds with procurement officials, vendors, project engineers and other stakeholders to help resolve inventory issues. Performs other related inventory management duties as assigned. 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, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: AD-HOC telework may be available based on agency policy Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist (TCF) Trainee/PD99354TS