Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Oak Park, IL

18d

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 is responsible for receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, on-shelf availability, planogram accuracy, inventory records, and related systems and reports. It also supports asset protection, claims for inventory discrepancies or damaged goods, and store opening or closing duties in designated stores when management is absent. The position provides customer service, coaches team members on inventory and operational processes, and may serve as leader on duty in designated stores. Under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge, the specialist performs pharmacy inventory tasks, verifies shipment postings and claims, maintains accurate on-hand quantities, and follows applicable policies for recalls, returns, and regulated products. The role also supports physical inventory, package delivery activities, pickup, pricing, point-of-sale functions when designated, and other assigned tasks. The specialist attends required company training and e-learning, including safety training, and obtains and maintains a state-required pharmacy license or certification. The role serves as a communication link between management and non-management team members, coaching colleagues on inventory systems and escalating disciplinary issues or customer complaints when serving as leader on duty.

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.
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 team members on inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, and maintaining accurate inventory quantities under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and perform inventory processes including receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and planogram validation.
Review and coordinate the proper use of reports and system applications affecting inventory 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 and complete required system start-ups, cash handling, cashier duties, and readiness tasks.
Greet and assist customers, model customer-service best practices, and, when serving as leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Execute and coach team members on warehouse and vendor inventory management, including creating, reviewing, receiving, and scanning deliveries while vendors are present.
Verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify postings for pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform tote audits and report shortages or damage.
Complete the On-Shelf Availability process for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns, and scan-outs and scan-out returns.
Complete pharmacy recalls, vendor returns, damaged salvage returns, and applicable excess inventory returns or interstore transfers in accordance with policy.
Verify pharmacy and prescription claims postings and complete pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, signage, and regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering, order 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 inventory counts and on-hand quantities in departments, stockrooms, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws regarding regulated products, such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Maintain inventory records and organize invoices, receipts, and return authorizations; prepare for physical inventory and support inventory-day activities, including auditing the third-party team.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised, and assist with package delivery and Pickup Program activities.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, operate the assigned point-of-sale system and handle sales records, returns, voids, refunds, cash drops, and change requests.
Follow company policies and procedures, maintain respectful coworker relationships, complete required training, and perform other assigned tasks.
Coach team members on inventory systems and communicate assigned tasks; report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management when serving as leader on duty.