Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Columbia, SC

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist executes, monitors, and trains inventory best practices and standard operating procedures throughout the store, including the front end and pharmacy. The role supports pharmacy inventory management, champions On-Shelf Availability, and handles receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, planogram accuracy, inventory reporting, and asset protection. In designated stores, the role may open or close the store in the absence of management and serve as leader on duty, including handling customer issues and point-of-sale responsibilities. The position performs warehouse, vendor, and pharmacy inventory processes; maintains accurate on-hand quantities and inventory records; processes claims, returns, recalls, pricing changes, and regulated-product compliance; and helps prepare for physical inventory. It also supports package delivery activities and the Pickup Program, keeps counters and shelves clean and well merchandised, and coaches team members on inventory systems and procedures. The Inventory Specialist attends required training, completes e-learning, and obtains and maintains any pharmacy license or certification required by the state. Candidates must have six months of prior Walgreens work experience if applying internally, or one year of prior retail work experience if applying externally. They must be fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English except in Puerto Rico, and willing to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and weekends. Attention to detail, multitasking, execution management, and the ability to identify and resolve operational issues are required. Previous experience as a shift lead, pharmacy technician, designated hitter, or customer service associate is preferred, as is prior Walgreens experience with an evaluation on file. Compensation depends on factors including geography, skills, education, and experience. The role remains open until filled.

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 evening and weekend hours.
Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to multitask and manage execution.
Experience identifying operational issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems.
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 store-wide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, and inventory transfers where applicable.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and perform receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and other in-store inventory processes.
Validate planograms and review and coordinate the use of reports and system applications affecting inventory balances and pricing.
Execute front-end and pharmacy asset-protection practices and file claims for warehouse or vendor 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 responsibilities, and prepare the sales floor and stockroom for the business day.
Engage customers, offer assistance, model customer-service practices, and, when serving as leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Execute and coach team members on warehouse and vendor inventory processes, including creating, reviewing, receiving, and scanning deliveries while vendors are still in the store.
Verify pharmacy shipments and post pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary-vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform tote audits and report shortages or damaged products.
Complete the On-Shelf Availability process for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns before expiration, scan outs, and scan-out returns.
Complete pharmacy inventory activities under the pharmacist-in-charge's supervision, including recalls, vendor returns, damaged salvage returns, and non-controlled returns.
Facilitate excess inventory returns or interstore pharmacy transfers where applicable, and verify posting of pharmacy and prescription claims.
Execute pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, correct signage, and additional regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items, monitoring pharmacy manual orders for excess orders, and maintaining consigned inventory.
Update on-hand quantities for designated pull-and-quarantine items and place those items in the designated holding area.
Maintain accurate inventory counts and on-hand quantities across basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products such as alcohol and tobacco.
Maintain inventory records and organize invoices, receipts, and return authorizations; help prepare for and support physical inventory, including auditing the third-party inventory team.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised; remain knowledgeable about store systems and equipment.
Assist and coach the store team on package delivery activities, including package scanning, daily inventory functions, and package returns; support the Pickup Program.
In designated stores, when serving as leader on duty, register sales on the point-of-sale system and handle scanning errors, price verifications, price modifications, voids, returns, refunds, cash drops, and change requests.
Comply with company policies and procedures and maintain respectful relationships with coworkers.
Attend company training, complete e-learning and safety training, and obtain and maintain any 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 activities and tasks as assigned.