Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Champaign, IL

13d•$18 - $23

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 is responsible for receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, in-store inventory processes, and planogram accuracy. It also reviews and coordinates the use of reports and system applications that affect on-hand balances and pricing, maintains asset protection practices, and files claims for warehouse and vendor overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs. In designated stores, the Inventory Specialist may open or close the store in the absence of store management, complete required system start-ups and cash-handling and cashier duties, and ensure the floor and stockroom are ready for business. The position engages customers, models customer-service practices, and may resolve customer issues when serving as leader on duty. The role executes and coaches inventory processes, scans and verifies deliveries, completes On-Shelf Availability processes, maintains accurate inventory counts and pricing, supports pharmacy inventory activities under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, prepares for physical inventory, and helps maintain clean, well-merchandised counters and shelves. It also supports package delivery and pickup activities, complies with company policies, completes assigned training, and communicates tasks and issues between management and team members.

Requirements

Internal candidates: six months of prior Walgreens work experience; external candidates: one year of prior retail work experience.
Fluency in reading, writing, and speaking English, except in Puerto Rico.
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Internal candidates must have an “Achieving expectations” rating on their last performance review and no written disciplinary actions in the previous 12 months.
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 and 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, returns, and related inventory activities.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and perform receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and other in-store inventory processes.
Validate and ensure planogram accuracy.
Review and coordinate the use of reports and system applications affecting 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.
In designated stores, open or close the store in the absence of management and complete required start-up, cash-handling, cashier, floor, and stockroom readiness activities.
Greet customers, offer assistance, model customer-service best practices, and, when leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
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; investigate undelivered or inaccurate receipts, contact vendors, and open tickets as needed.
Under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, verify and post pharmacy shipments and orders, conduct necessary tote audits, and report shortages or damaged products.
Complete the On-Shelf Availability process for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns, and scan-outs and scan-out returns.
Under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, complete pharmacy recalls, returns, transfers, inventory counts, smart counts, and verification of prescription claims.
Complete pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, accurate signage, and other regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items, monitoring pharmacy manual orders for excess, and maintaining consigned inventory.
Update and place designated pull-and-quarantine items in the holding area.
Maintain accurate on-hand inventory quantities in departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Maintain inventory records and systems; organize and retain 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.
Learn and use store systems and equipment; assist and coach the store team on package delivery, package returns, daily inventory functions, and Pickup Program execution.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, process sales and related point-of-sale transactions, including returns, voids, refunds, cash drops, and change requests, and document scanning errors and price-related exceptions.
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 valid pharmacy license or certification as required by the state.
Coach and develop team members on inventory systems; when leader on duty, communicate assigned tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional activities and other assigned tasks.