Navigating a Career as a Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist at the Department of Veterans Affairs

Are you an experienced supply chain practitioner with a passion for leadership and public service? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), is actively recruiting for a Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. This role presents an exceptional opportunity to manage high-stakes medical logistics while directly impacting the quality of care provided to military Veterans.

Positioned within the GS-11 grade level, this full-time role carries a competitive salary range of $74,678 to $97,087 per year. As a key advisor to the Chief and Assistant Chief Supply Chain Officers, the incumbent assumes broad responsibility over consumable medical supplies, micro-purchase operations, and supervisory oversight of logistics personnel.

About the Agency: Veterans Health Administration

The Veterans Health Administration is the nation's largest integrated healthcare system, serving millions of Veterans across thousands of healthcare facilities. Guided by President Lincoln's historic promise—"To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan"—the VA operates with a profound commitment to compassionate, high-quality care.

The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, serves as a cornerstone of clinical excellence and research within the region. Working for the VHA means joining a mission-driven team dedicated to honoring the service of America’s Veterans by maintaining state-of-the-art medical operations.

Key Job Responsibilities

As a Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist, you will oversee the total lifecycles of expendable assets and medical inventory. The role demands technical supply chain acumen combined with effective leadership skills. Principal duties include:

Inventory Control & Program Governance: Overseeing the management, physical inventory reviews, and quantitative reconciliations of consumable medical assets across the medical center and its supported catchment area.
Strategic Acquisition & Budget Integration: Analyzing supply system performance and historical clinical data (such as patient census and facility expansion) to support annual budget planning and strategic acquisition cycles.
Team Leadership & Administration: Supervising multidisciplinary units (Inventory Management, Distribution, and Purchasing), establishing performance standards, conducting annual reviews, scheduling leave, and addressing workplace grievances.
Safety & Recall Coordination: Collaborating with the Patient Safety Coordinator to ensure rapid compliance with national medical recalls, managing excess consumable disposal, and participating in Root Cause Analyses (RCA) during supply chain disruptions.
Committee Representation: Serving as an active member of the Clinical Product Review Committee (CPRC) and advising executive leadership on major consumable purchases and system activations.

Summary of Qualifications and Pathways

To be considered for this GS-11 position, candidates must meet specific federal eligibility requirements by the closing date of November 12, 2026.

Qualification Options Table

Qualification Pathway	Minimum Requirement	Key Supporting Documentation Required
Specialized Experience	1 full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level. Experience must include supply chain oversight, inventory reconciliation, data analysis, and supervisory duties.	Detailed work history in resume reflecting 35–40 hours per week.
Graduate Education	Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR 3 full years of progressive graduate education, OR an LL.M. degree demonstrating relevant skills.	Unofficial or official college transcripts.
Combination	A qualifying blend of specialized experience below the GS-9 equivalent and graduate education beyond a Master's degree.	Transcripts and documented work history.
Time-in-Grade (Federal)	52 weeks served at the GS-9 level or higher in the Federal service.	Non-award Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) showing 1+ year duration.

Mandatory General Requirements

U.S. Citizenship: Applicants must hold United States citizenship.
Selective Service: Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must be registered with the Selective Service System.
Health Requirements: Mandatory participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program for all VHA healthcare personnel.
Background Checks: Successful completion of background, security, and credentialing investigations.
REAL ID Compliance: Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses used for onboarding verification must be REAL ID compliant.
Probationary Period: Requirement to complete a 1-year supervisory probationary period.

Salary Overview & Federal Compensation

The salary for this GS-11 position ranges from $74,678 to $97,087 per year. Advancement within the General Schedule pay system occurs through step increases based on acceptable performance and tenure. Additional locality considerations or performance-based incentives may apply in accordance with federal personnel policy.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Federal employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs offers a robust, industry-leading compensation package designed to support long-term personal and financial wellness:

Retirement System: Dual-coverage through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching contributions up to 5%.
Health & Life Insurance: Wide selection of health plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, alongside Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), dental, and vision packages.
Paid Time Off: Earning 13 to 26 days of paid annual leave per year based on service length, 13 paid sick days annually, and 11 paid federal holidays.
Prior Service Credit: Newly appointed federal employees may request credit for relevant non-federal or military experience to accelerate their annual leave accrual rate prior to appointment.

Application Tips & Responding to the Merit Hiring Plan

Applying for federal employment requires careful attention to detail. Follow these tips to optimize your application packet:

Obey the Two-Page Resume Limit: Under federal guidelines effective September 27, 2025, resumes must not exceed two pages. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed automatically ineligible. Use clear, concise bullet points focusing on quantifiable achievements.
Format Cleanly: Save your resume as a standard PDF using sans-serif fonts such as Lato, Arial, or Calibri (10pt font for main text, 14pt for headings) with 0.5-inch margins.
Prepare for the Assessment: You will be required to take an untimed, 45-minute Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) evaluating your judgment, conflict management, and resource management capabilities.
Verify Time-in-Grade Documents: Current or former federal employees must attach an SF-50 clearly establishing 52 weeks of service at the GS-9 grade level. Avoid uploading Award SF-50s, as they do not verify time-in-grade eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where is the duty location for this role?

This position is located on-site at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. It is a full-time, non-telework, non-remote position.

What are the daily hours for this position?

The work schedule is standard full-time, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM (0700–1530).

Are recruitment or relocation incentives authorized?

No. Relocation incentives, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses, and Critical Skills Incentives (CSI) are not authorized for this announcement.

When does the job announcement close?

Applications must be fully submitted via USAJobs by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 12, 2026.

Serving as a Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital offers a uniquely fulfilling career path. By steering logistics operations and mentoring supply chain staff, you ensure clinicians have the vital resources required to deliver exemplary healthcare to Veterans. If you possess the leadership drive and inventory management expertise required for this GS-11 post, prepare your two-page resume and apply before the closing deadline.

Why This Supervisory Inventory Management Job Matters

Take your leadership skills to the next level by driving critical healthcare logistics for our nation's heroes at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Supervisory Inventory Management Job Overview

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, is seeking a Supervisory Inventory Management Specialist (GS-11) in Madison, Wisconsin. This full-time leadership position oversees medical consumable inventory systems, micro-purchase programs, and logistics management across the healthcare facility and its surrounding catchment area. Offering a competitive salary range of $74,678 to $97,087 annually, this role plays a pivotal part in maintaining the seamless flow of critical healthcare supplies to support Veteran care.

Requirements for Supervisory Inventory Management

Must be a United States Citizen.
Selective Service registration required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Must successfully pass a background/security investigation.
Participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program is mandatory for VA Health Care Personnel.
Must possess or obtain a REAL ID compliant driver's license or identification card by May 7, 2025.
Completion of a 1-year probationary or 2-year trial period upon appointment.
Completion of the online Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT) assessment.
Submission of a compliant resume limited to a maximum of two pages.

Preferred Qualifications for Supervisory Inventory Management

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level in federal service, focusing on supply chain management, inventory reconciliation, acquisition planning, and staff supervision.
A Ph.D., equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a relevant degree.
Proven experience conducting root cause analysis, managing product recalls, and handling healthcare consumable assets.
Demonstrated ability to mentor staff, resolve workplace grievances, and optimize organizational supply processes.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Competitive salary under the General Schedule (GS) pay scale.
✓Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
✓Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with agency matching.
✓Generous paid annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
✓Potential service credit for prior military or non-federal work experience toward leave accrual.

💡 How to Apply Supervisory Inventory Management Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Supervisory Inventory Management Job

Visit the USAJobs portal and log into or create your federal job applicant account.
Review your resume to ensure it strictly complies with the mandatory two-page limit.
Gather all required supporting documents, including transcripts (if qualifying via education), DD-214/SF-15 (if claiming Veterans' Preference), and time-in-grade SF-50s (for federal employees).
Click 'Apply Online' to access the application questionnaire and upload your document package.
Complete the online Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT), which takes approximately 45 minutes.
Review all answers and submit your completed application prior to 11:59 PM Eastern Time on November 12, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Strictly adhere to the two-page resume rule; resumes exceeding two pages will automatically cause your application to be marked ineligible.
Save your resume as a standard PDF file using a readable sans-serif font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Lato) with 0.5-inch margins to preserve formatting.
Ensure your resume explicitly highlights your experience with inventory reconciliation, supervisory duties, and supply chain analysis.
If claiming time-in-grade as a current or former federal employee, submit an SF-50 that proves at least 52 weeks held at the GS-9 level; do not use Award SF-50s.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this position eligible for telework or remote work?

No, this is an on-site position located at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, WI, and is not a virtual or remote role.

What is the schedule for this job?

The position operates on a full-time standard work schedule, Monday through Friday, from 07:00 to 15:30.

Can I qualify based on education instead of experience?

Yes. Applicants can qualify at the GS-11 level with a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, 3 full years of progressive graduate education, an LL.M. in a related field, or a qualifying combination of education and specialized experience.

What testing is required during the application process?

Applicants must complete the online Supervisory Situational Judgment Test (SSJT), an untimed evaluation designed to measure leadership judgment and decision-making abilities.