Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Oak Park, IL

10d•$18 - $23

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist executes, monitors, and trains storewide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the front end and pharmacy. The role supports pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, and returns; champions On-Shelf Availability; performs in-store inventory processes; and validates planogram accuracy. The specialist reviews and coordinates the use of reports and systems that affect inventory balances and pricing, maintains asset-protection practices, and files claims for discrepancies and damaged goods. In designated stores, the specialist may open or close the store in the absence of store management and perform associated system start-ups, cash handling, cashiering, and store-readiness duties. The role also provides customer service, coaches team members on inventory processes, supports package delivery and pickup activities, and may serve as leader on duty. Pharmacy duties are performed under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge where specified. The position requires attendance at company training and completion of e-learning and safety modules. A valid pharmacy license or certification must be obtained and maintained when required by the state. The position remains open until filled.

Requirements

At least 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 when 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 storewide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, and facilitating returns.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and perform receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and other in-store inventory processes.
Validate and ensure the accuracy of planograms.
Review and coordinate appropriate 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 warehouse and vendor overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs.
When designated and in the absence of store management, open and close the store and complete required system start-ups, cash handling, cashier responsibilities, and floor and stockroom readiness.
Greet customers, offer assistance, and, when serving as leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Model and share customer-service practices with team members to provide a positive customer experience.
Execute and coach team members on warehouse and vendor inventory management processes, including creating, reviewing, and receiving orders.
Scan deliveries while vendors are still in the store, take appropriate action on delivered or missed receipts, contact vendors, and open tickets to correct inaccurate orders.
Under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, verify pharmacy shipments and post pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary-vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform necessary 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, and scan-outs and scan-out returns for subscribed departments and pharmacy.
Under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, complete pharmacy recalls, vendor returns, non-controlled and damaged salvage returns, excess inventory returns or applicable interstore transfers, and verify pharmacy or prescription claims postings.
Complete pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletes, signage, and additional 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 across departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts under pharmacist-in-charge supervision.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products, such as alcohol and tobacco.
Maintain inventory records by receiving and posting products in inventory systems; organize and retain invoices, receipts, and return authorizations.
Help prepare for physical inventory and support inventory-day activities, including preparation of the sales floor, stockroom, and pharmacy and auditing the third-party team.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised.
Learn and use store systems and equipment.
Assist and coach the store team on package delivery activities, including package scanning, daily inventory functions, returns, and Pickup Program execution.
When designated as leader on duty, register sales on the POS system and document scanning errors, price verifications, items not on file, price modifications, and voids; complete returns, order voids, refunds, cash drops, and change requests.
Comply with company policies and procedures and maintain respectful coworker relationships.
Attend company training, complete e-learning and safety training, and obtain and maintain state-required pharmacy license or certification.
Coach and develop team members in inventory systems; when leader on duty, communicate assigned tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional activities and tasks as assigned.