Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VHA employees only

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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 and responsibilities include but is not limited to the following:

• Responsible for managing, coordinating, controlling, purchasing, distributing, and receiving a variety of supplies and equipment required to support assigned services.
• Performs analytical work to manager, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over supplies and equipment.
• Determines, regulates, and controls the level or flow of expendable and durable supplies or class of material.
• Computes requirements for assigned items.
• Uses a range of well-established and commonly applied supply principles, concepts and methodologies to determine need to intervene in supply system in response to fluctuations in rates of usage, cost, and availability for established suppliers, alternative sources of supply, and other similar conditions.
• Manages the inventory, independently sets initial stock and par levels and reorder points and resolves issues for a complete medical or service category (i.e., surgical, dental, engineering, laboratory or other major commodity).
• Consider recommendations made by customers and/or inventory management supervisor to increase supply economy and efficiency within their areas.
• Employee will be responsible to authorize significant changes in expenditure and stock levels based on usage requirements and budgeting considerations.
• Analyzes stock levels and usage schedules to determine funds required and execution of budget plans for assigned inventory.
• Uses a wide range of well-established and commonly applied supply principles, concepts and methodologies to evaluate status of funds to execute annual supply programs.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Training-Service Agreement and Mobility Agreement required
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

All qualification requirements must be met and application materials submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

In order to qualify for the GS-5 level you must meet one of the following:

Education: A 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree or a bachelor's degree or higher. (Transcripts Required)

-OR-

General Experience: General experience is 3 years of progressively responsible experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, that demonstrates the ability to:

1. Analyze problems to identify significant factors, gather pertinent data, and recognize solutions;
2. Plan and organize work; and
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Such experience may have been gained in administrative, professional, technical, investigative, or other responsible work. Experience in substantive and relevant secretarial, clerical, or other responsible work may be qualifying as long as it provided evidence of the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) necessary to perform the duties of the position to be filled. Experience of a general clerical nature (typing, filing, routine procedural processing, maintaining records, or other nonspecialized tasks) is not creditable. Trades or crafts experience appropriate to the position to be filled may be creditable for some positions.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: An equivalent combination of successfully completed education above high school and general experience as described above to meet the total qualification requirements for this position. (Transcripts Required)

In order to qualify for the GS-7 level you must meet one of the following:

Superior Academic Achievement at the GS-7 level: (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. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor's degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in 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 http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp.For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f.In order to qualify on SAA, you must submit a copy of your transcripts that show a degree has been awarded/conferred.

-OR-

Graduate Education: One full year of graduate level education in an accredited college or university. Education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. (Transcripts Required)

-OR-

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5) in federal service that has equipped me with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is experience applying sound management techniques and principles as they relate to the inventory management system in order to resolve inventory/supply problems including balancing on demand stock, turn and long supply rates, inactive/critical items, and days of supply on hand rates while maintaining supply chain integrity; experience controlling the level and flow of supplies; and experience advising others and making recommendations for enhancing efficiency of supply system.

-OR-

Combination of Education and Experience: An equivalent combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above to meet the total qualification requirements for this position. (Transcripts Required)

Must possess a valid, state driver's license or commercial driver's license (CDL), as applicable, if required to operate a motor vehicle or commercial vehicle.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.