This position serves as an Inventory Manager for Prosthetics Service in the VA Pittsburgh HCS and supported catchment area, with responsibility for the inventory management of all durable medical equipment (DME). Responsible to assure equipment is available to be issued directly to veterans to assure no delay in patient care.

Duties

Inventory Management and Control: Manages and controls multiple Prosthetics inventory. Inventories managed include a wide variety of expendable items and durable medical equipment (DME). Acts as a central point of contact for the resolution of prosthetic inventory problems. Makes decisions and commitments for the medical center on medical/surgical implants and supplies. 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). Other major duties include: Conducts short, mid and long-term advanced planning for expendable items and DME, utilizing enterprise-wide computerized planning tools. Analyzes data, VA HCS operations, procurement lead-time, current stock levels and other factors which impact procurement decisions. Uses a range of 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. 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 service lines. This includes reconciling charges for equipment issued and delivered to veterans. Forecasts short and long-range inventory needs. Participates in VISN and facility strategic planning to support major and minor projects and initiatives. Develops acquisition strategies to acquire and purchase DME, familiarity with contracting laws and regulations with industry practices. Places high cost items into FORCE initiating all supporting documentation. Conducts data analysis for acquisition planning. Assists customers in identifying products and provides options for appropriate procurement packages. Determines the best purchasing and payment method to utilize. Decisions regarding procurement methods are made in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the VA Acquisition Regulations (VAAR)for competition and formal advertisement. Analyzes and advises the customer on supply/DME purchase recommendations utilizing the "best value". Authorizes significant changes in expenditure and stock levels based on usage requirements and budgeting considerations. Reviews and reports back to Program Manager on listings of delinquent payments and receipts of purchase orders. Corresponds with procurement officials, vendors, clinicians and other stakeholders to resolve inventory issues. Functions as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) in order to monitor supply and/or equipment contractor performance. Utilizes automated inventory management system, such as General Inventory Package (GIP) or other equivalent system (PIP), to maintain current inventory data. Analyzes inventory management reports. Coordinates with various program managers of using activities and/or their representatives regarding sources of supply and acceptable substitutions when the standard items are too costly or unavailable. Coordinates with stakeholders to ensure new or replacement item requests are submitted to the Clinical Product Review Committee (CPRC). Supports other elements of the organization and performs other duties as assigned. Returns, Recalls and Reutilization: Implements federal and agency programs for the return and reutilization of medical equipment. Uses well established and commonly applied supply methods to maintain a standardized inventory. Coordinates with managers for disposal of surplus or excess supplies in accordance with specific agency directives and procedures. Implements procurement decisions in coordination with stakeholders based on back order issues created by national recalls. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Compressed/Flexible: not authorized Telework: not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Inventory Mgt Specialist/PD00952A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/01/2024. 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 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-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: review inventory processes, conduct market research on product pricing and performance, conduct analysis review inventory processes, conduct market research on product pricing and performance, conduct analysis of cost savings, efficiencies and process improvement, develops creation of acquisition strategies and standardization initiatives, performs analytical work to manage, regulate, coordinate and control expendable supplies. Expert level customer service, communication and problem solving along with utilizing enterprise wide computerized planning tools. OR Successfully completed a masters 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 the position. NOTE; Transcripts must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. - OR- Combination of successfully completed education and specialized experience You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationContracting/ProcurementPlanning and EvaluatingProblem SolvingTechnical CompetenceTechnology 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. 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: 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/.

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/.

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Christene Ammoscato
• Phone: (570) 824-3521 X24536
• Email: [email protected]