Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Columbus, AL

14d

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist executes, monitors, and trains inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the store, including the front end and pharmacy. The role supports pharmacy inventory management and oversees receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, planogram accuracy, inventory systems, on-hand balances, and asset protection. In designated stores, the specialist may open or close the store in the absence of store management and may serve as leader on duty, handling assigned operational and customer-service responsibilities. The role also supports customer experience by greeting customers, offering assistance, resolving issues when serving as leader on duty, and modeling customer-service best practices. It involves coordinating inventory processes with team members, vendors, and management; maintaining accurate records and counts; supporting physical inventory; and completing required training. A valid pharmacy license or certification must be obtained and maintained when required by the state.

Requirements

Six months of prior Walgreens work experience for internal candidates or one year of prior retail work experience for external candidates.
Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English, except in Puerto Rico.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to multitask and manage execution.
Experience identifying operational issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems.
Internal candidates must have an “Achieving expectations” rating on their last performance review and no written disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months.
Obtain and maintain a valid pharmacy license or certification if required by the state.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as a shift lead, pharmacy technician, designated hitter, or customer service associate.
Prior Walgreens work experience, with an evaluation on file.

Responsibilities

Execute, monitor, and train inventory best practices and standard operating procedures throughout the store, including front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, shipment posting, recalls, audits, and inventory transfers where applicable.
Receive, count, price, and process returns for merchandise, and carry out in-store inventory processes.
Validate and ensure planogram accuracy; champion On-Shelf Availability and complete related inventory processes, including scan-outs, disposals, call-ins, and vendor returns.
Review and coordinate use of reports and system applications affecting on-hand balances and pricing.
Execute and maintain front-end and pharmacy asset protection practices; file claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs.
In designated stores, open or close the store in the absence of management, complete required system start-ups and cash handling, perform cashier duties, and prepare the floor and stockroom for the business day.
Greet customers, offer assistance, and, when serving as leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Model and share customer-service best practices with team members.
Execute and coach team members on warehouse and vendor inventory processes, including creating, reviewing, and receiving orders.
Scan deliveries while vendors are still in the store, including common carrier deliveries; address undelivered or inaccurate receipts and open tickets as needed.
Under the pharmacist-in-charge’s supervision, verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify pharmacy order postings and tote audits; report shortages or damaged products.
Complete pharmacy inventory activities under the pharmacist-in-charge’s supervision, including recalls, vendor returns, and damaged or non-controlled salvage returns.
Complete pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, accurate signage, and other regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items; monitor pharmacy manual orders for excess and maintain consigned inventory as required.
Update on-hands for designated pull-and-quarantine items and place them in the designated holding area.
Maintain accurate on-hand quantities and inventory counts in basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts under the pharmacist-in-charge’s supervision.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products.
Maintain inventory records and organize invoices, receipts, and return authorizations.
Prepare for physical inventory and support inventory-day activities, including preparation of sales floor, stockroom, and pharmacy and auditing the third-party team.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised; maintain knowledge of store systems and equipment.
Assist and coach the store team on package delivery activities, including package scanning, daily inventory functions, and returns; support the Pickup Program.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, register sales on the point-of-sale system and handle related records, returns, voids, refunds, cash drops, and change requests.
Comply with company policies and procedures and maintain respectful relationships with coworkers.
Attend company training, complete e-learning modules including safety training, and obtain and maintain a state-required pharmacy license or certification.
Coach and develop team members’ capabilities with inventory systems; when serving as leader on duty, communicate assigned tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional assigned activities and tasks.