Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•San Mateo, CA

8d•$21 - $26

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 and oversees receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, on-shelf availability, planogram accuracy, inventory records, and related store processes. It also reviews and coordinates the use of reports and systems that affect inventory balances and pricing, and maintains asset-protection practices and claims for inventory discrepancies or damaged goods. In designated stores, the Inventory Specialist may open or close the store and serve as leader on duty in the absence of store management. The position engages customers, models strong customer service, coaches team members on inventory and package-delivery activities, and communicates between management and non-management team members. Pharmacy inventory duties are performed under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge. The role attends required training, completes e-learning and safety modules, and obtains and maintains any pharmacy license or certification 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 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.

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 front-end and pharmacy operations.
Support pharmacy inventory activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, and inventory transfers, under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge.
Receive, count, price, and return inventory; champion on-shelf availability; and validate planogram accuracy.
Review and coordinate use of reports and system applications affecting inventory on-hand balances and pricing.
Execute and maintain front-end and pharmacy asset-protection techniques; 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 store management, including required system start-ups, cash handling, cashier duties, and preparing the floor and stockroom for the business day.
Greet customers, offer assistance, resolve customer issues when serving as leader on duty, and model customer-service best practices for 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, verify physical receipt, follow up on missed scheduled receipts, and open tickets to correct inaccurate orders.
Verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify daily posting of pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship orders; conduct tote audits and report shortages or damage.
Complete the end-to-end on-shelf availability process, including scan-outs, disposals, call-ins, and vendor returns before expiration for applicable departments.
Complete pharmacy inventory activities, including recalls, vendor returns, damaged salvage returns, excess inventory returns or transfers where applicable, and verification of pharmacy and prescription claims.
Execute pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, accurate signage, and other required regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items, monitoring pharmacy manual orders for excess, and maintaining and ordering consigned inventory as required.
Update on-hands for designated pull-and-quarantine items and place them in the designated holding area.
Maintain accurate inventory counts and on-hand quantities in basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts.
Ensure compliance with state and local inventory laws for regulated products such as alcohol and tobacco.
Maintain inventory records and systems; organize and retain invoices, receipts, and return authorizations.
Help prepare for physical inventory and support inventory-day activities, including preparing the 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, package returns, and Pickup Program execution.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, operate the POS and handle sales records, scanning errors, price verifications, items not on file, 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 and complete e-learning modules, including safety training; 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 activities and other tasks as assigned.