Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Tucson, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist is responsible for executing, monitoring, and training inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the entire store, encompassing both the front end and pharmacy operations. This role involves supporting pharmacy inventory management activities such as receiving, counting, ordering, and facilitating returns. A key focus is championing On-Shelf Availability, which includes managing receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and all in-store inventory processes. The specialist is tasked with validating planogram accuracy and reviewing reports and system applications that impact the accuracy of on-hand balances and pricing for both front end and pharmacy. They also execute asset protection techniques and file claims for warehouse and vendor discrepancies like overages, shortages, order errors, or damaged goods, including prescription drugs. In designated stores, the Inventory Specialist may be responsible for opening and closing the store in the absence of management, handling cash, and performing cashier duties. Customer engagement is also a part of the role, involving greeting customers, offering assistance, and, when acting as leader on duty, resolving customer issues and modeling customer service best practices. Operationally, the specialist coaches team members on inventory management processes, handles all deliveries, manages pharmacy shipments, completes end-to-end On-Shelf Availability processes, and executes pharmacy inventory activities including recalls and returns. They are responsible for all pricing activities, supporting ordering of expense items, maintaining consigned inventory, and ensuring accurate inventory counts across all departments and locations. Compliance with state and local laws for regulated products, maintenance of inventory records, and preparation for physical inventory are also key duties. The role requires knowledge of all store systems and equipment, assisting with package delivery activities, and supporting the Pickup Program. When serving as leader on duty, they are accountable for POS sales, returns, and cash handling. Continuous training, obtaining required pharmacy licenses, and acting as a liaison for inventory systems coaching are also part of the role.

Requirements

Six months of prior work experience with Walgreens (internal candidates) or one year of prior retail work experience (external candidates).
Must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English (except in Puerto Rico).
Must have a willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours.
“Achieving expectations” rating on last performance review and no written disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months (internal candidates only).
Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to multi task and manage execution.
Experience in identifying operational issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems.
Obtain and maintain a valid pharmacy license/certification as required by the state.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Executing, monitoring, and training inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for the entire store, including both front end and pharmacy.
Supporting pharmacy inventory management activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, and facilitating returns.
Championing On-Shelf Availability and being responsible for receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and all in-store inventory processes.
Validating and ensuring accuracy of planograms.
Reviewing and coordinating the proper use of reports and system applications, which have an impact on the accuracy of front end and pharmacy on-hand balances and pricing.
Executing and maintaining front end and pharmacy asset protection techniques.
Filing claims for warehouse and vendor overages, shortages, order errors or damaged goods including prescription drugs.
Opening and closing the store in the absence of store management (in designated stores), including all required systems start-ups, required cash handling and cashier responsibilities, and ensuring the floor and stock room are ready for the business day.
Engaging customers by greeting them and offering assistance with products and services.
Resolving customer issues and answering questions to ensure a positive customer experience (when serving as the leader on duty in designated stores).
Modeling and sharing customer service best practices with all team members.
Executing and coaching team members on warehouse and vendor inventory management processes including but not limited to creating, reviewing, and receiving orders.
Scanning in all deliveries while the vendor is still in the store, including common carrier deliveries.
Focusing on One Box receiving.
Taking the appropriate action marking delivery as received if the product was physically delivered, contacting vendor for past undelivered scheduled receipts, and opening tickets as needed to correct inaccurate orders.
Verifying all pharmacy shipments are posted for products physically received at the store (under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge).
Completing or verifying postings of all pharmacy warehouse orders, ABC prescription and OTC orders daily, secondary vendor orders, flu and dropship orders performing any necessary tote audits, and accurately reporting any shortages or damaged product.
Completing On-Shelf Availability (OSA) end-to-end process including warehouse and direct store delivery (DSD) for planogrammed departments, executing disposals, call-ins, and vendor returns before expiration.
Completing scan outs/scan outs returns on all subscribed departments including vendor/DSD departments and pharmacy scan outs.
Completing pharmacy inventory activities including but not limited to pharmacy recalls following Pharmacy Hazardous Waste Policy, vendor returns, non-controlled, and damaged salvage returns (under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge).
Facilitating excess inventory returns or interstore pharmacy transfers where applicable for non-returnable ABC overstock.
Verifying posting of all pharmacy/prescription claims.
Completing execution of all pricing activities including price changes, markdowns, and markdowns deletes.
Being responsible for basic department pricing, including daily price changes, accurate pricing with correct signage, and reliable and timely completion of any additional regulatory pricing tasks.
Supporting front end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items.
Monitoring pharmacy manual orders to identify excess orders.
Maintaining consigned inventory and orders as required.
Ensuring all designated pull & quarantine item on-hands are updated and placed in the designated holding area.
Maintaining accurate inventory counts.
Maintaining the accuracy of on-hand quantities including but not limited to basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations.
Maintaining accurate inventory counts and accuracy of on-hand quantities in pharmacy and completing pharmacy smart counts (under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge).
Ensuring the store maintains inventory compliance with state and local laws regarding regulated products (e.g., alcoholic beverages and tobacco products).
Assisting in the maintenance of inventory records, including receiving and posting of all products (in the front-end) received at the store in all inventory systems.
Organizing files and retaining all invoices/receipts/return authorizations necessary for all inventory activities.
Helping to prepare for physical inventory and supporting the physical inventory day activities, including but not limited to preparing sales floor, stockroom, and pharmacy for inventory and auditing the third party team on the day of inventory.
Supporting keeping all counters and shelves clean and well merchandised.
Being knowledgeable of all store systems and equipment.
Assisting and coaching store team on all package delivery activities, including scanning in and out of packages, completing all daily inventory functions and, package returns at Walgreens.
Supporting execution of Pickup Program.
Registering all related sales on assigned point-of-sale system (POS), including records of scanning errors, price verifications, items not on file, price modifications, and voids (in designated stores, when serving as the leader on duty).
Completing product returns, order voids, customer refunds, cash drops to safe, and providing change as requested for point of sale (in designated stores, when serving as the leader on duty).
Complying with all company policies and procedures; maintaining respectful relationships with coworkers.
Completing any additional activities and other tasks as assigned.
Attending company-based trainings for continuous development and completing all e-learning modules including safety training requirements.
Obtaining and maintaining a valid pharmacy license/certification as required by the state.
Serving as a liaison between management and non-management team members by coaching and developing other capabilities with inventory systems.
Communicating assigned tasks to team members and reporting disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management (when serving as the leader on duty).