This position serves as an Operating Room Inventory Manager Specialist in the Commodity Management Division with specialized focus on the Medical/Surgical Supplies of the Logistics Service in a Veteran Affairs Health Care System (VA HCS) and supported catchment area, with responsibility for the inventory management of all expendable supplies and durable medical equipment (DME) and with oversight of implant inventory in the assigned area(s).
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/15/2025. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 for the GS-09 grade level 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-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: managing a variety of expendable items and durable medical equipment; developing and supporting the creation of acquisition strategies to acquire and purchase durable medical equipment; implementing federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical supplies; utilizing best practices, principles and tools, concepts and methodologies to determine and evaluate supply system performance; and serving as a point of contact for the coordination of material support and the resolution of logistics problems. 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. Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. of J.D., if related that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience directly related to the work of the position as outlined above that meets the requirements of the position. Only education in excess of the first year (18 semester hours) may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-09 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Contracting and Procurement Planning and Evaluating Technical Competence Customer Service Problem Solving 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: The work requires moderate standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing and carrying of assorted items. There is a certain mobility factor associated with this position in physically visiting clinic, operative and administrative areas for picking up and delivery of medical/surgical supplies. 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. Must maintain applicable training and licensing to operate assigned equipment. The position must be able to deal with emergency situations and function calmly under stress in both public and private settings. Work Environment: Work is equally performed in an administrative setting and a clinical/operative setting where surgical scrubs, show covers and face masks (standard precautions) are required and must be changed when leaving and entering the area. The areas are adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. Possible limited exposure to communicable disease and appropriate safety precautions may be necessary. Position is subject to stress due to extended periods of intense mental concentration, alertness to emergency requirements and the critical nature of expeditious response to situations and patient requirements. Required to use safe work practices with office equipment, avoid trips or falls and observe fire regulations and traffic signs. Frequent trips outside are required for visits to the other areas of the Medical Center; such as the warehouse and some Veteran care areas, in order to resolve problems, cover for other members in the unit, attend meetings and training. 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/.
Major duties include, but are not limited to: The position has the responsibility for analyzing, managing, coordinating, controlling, monitoring, and accounting for and ensuring compliance of a variety of operating room general and/or medical surgical items. The position serves as the subject matter expert and the central point of contact for customers relative to any OR acquisition need. Manages and controls this assigned class of expendable material for a VA HCS. Recognized as an authority on OR expendable (EX) commodity management and serves as a subject matter expert to all surgery service, prosthetics, nursing and SPS. Inventories managed include a wide variety of OR 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 OR commodity support and the resolution of logistics problems across organizational lines. Acts as a focal point for new OR EX supply procedures. Makes decisions and commitments for the medical center on medical/surgical supplies that materially affect the VA HCS' ability to provide surgical 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 (SOPs). Conducts short, mid and long-term advanced planning for OR expendable items and DME, utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools. Analyzes data to include demand history, surgery program requirements, VA HCS operations, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact procurement decisions. Uses a range of well-established and commonly applied inventory principles, standard and nonstandard 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. Proactively engages customers to make recommendations for product changes, substitutions, and additions to product lines with a focus on increasing supply economy and efficiency. Performs analytical work to manage, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over OR EX supplies. Applies 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 surgery services and SPS, 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. 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. Analyzes and advises the customer on supply/DME purchase recommendations utilizing the "best value" approach, which may include criteria such as special features of the supply that are required in effective program performance that is not provided by a comparable supply; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; and past performance. Conducts market research on product pricing and performance. Responsible for reviewing the OR schedules and anticipating the needs of the OR in advance. Coordinates and collaborates with scheduling personnel for resolution of conflict regarding equipment and instrumentation in consideration of scheduling surgical cases. Communicates to leadership team and staff all upcoming product trials, backorders and conversions on product in the OR. Manages inventory, independently sets initial stock and par levels and reorder points and resolves issues for surgical services. Authorizes significant changes in expenditure and stock levels based on usage requirements and budgeting considerations. Analyzes, coordinates and controls management of stock items to support preparation of long-range forecasts necessary to support new requirements. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 0700-1530 Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Inventory Management Specialist/PD99809S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized