Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Columbus, MS

11d•$18 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist executes, monitors, and trains store-wide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across both the front end and pharmacy. The role supports pharmacy inventory management, champions On-Shelf Availability (OSA), and handles receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, planogram accuracy, and other in-store inventory processes. It also reviews and coordinates use of reports and system applications that affect on-hand balances and pricing, maintains asset-protection practices, and files claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods. In designated stores, the Inventory Specialist may open or close the store when management is absent, completing required system start-ups, cash-handling and cashier duties, and preparing the floor and stockroom for the business day. The role engages customers, models customer-service practices, and may resolve customer issues when serving as leader on duty. The role executes and coaches team members on warehouse and vendor inventory processes; scans deliveries; verifies pharmacy shipments and orders under the pharmacist-in-charge’s supervision; completes OSA processes, returns, pricing activities, inventory counts, records, and physical-inventory preparation; and supports package delivery and the Pickup Program. It maintains compliance with applicable state and local requirements for regulated products, keeps counters and shelves clean and merchandised, and uses store systems and equipment. The Inventory Specialist attends company training and e-learning, maintains any pharmacy license or certification required by the state, and communicates tasks and relevant issues to management when serving as leader on duty.

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 evening and weekend hours.
Internal candidates must have an “Achieving expectations” rating on the 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 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 store-wide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, and inventory transfers, under the pharmacist-in-charge’s supervision where applicable.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and complete inventory processes including receiving, counting, pricing, returns, scan-outs, and planogram validation.
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 techniques, and file claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods.
When designated and management is absent, open or close the store, complete required system start-ups and cash-handling duties, and prepare the floor and stockroom for the business day.
Greet customers, offer assistance, model customer-service practices, and, when serving as leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Execute and coach warehouse and vendor inventory processes, including creating, reviewing, and receiving orders.
Scan deliveries while vendors are still in the store, take action on delivered or undelivered receipts, and open tickets to correct inaccurate orders as needed.
Verify pharmacy shipment postings and complete or verify pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship order postings; audit totes and report shortages or damage as needed.
Complete OSA processes for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns before expiration, and scan-outs and scan-out returns.
Complete pharmacy recalls, vendor returns, non-controlled and damaged salvage returns, excess inventory returns or applicable interstore transfers, and verification of pharmacy and prescription claims.
Complete pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletes, accurate signage, and applicable regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items, monitoring pharmacy manual orders for excess, and maintaining consigned inventory.
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, the stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts.
Ensure compliance with state and local inventory requirements for regulated products such as alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Maintain inventory records and systems for received products; 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, and returns; support the Pickup Program.
When designated as leader on duty, register sales on the assigned POS system and handle related records, returns, voids, 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 valid pharmacy license or certification when required by the state.
Coach and develop team members’ capabilities with inventory systems, communicate assigned tasks when serving as leader on duty, and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional activities and tasks as assigned.