Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Cincinnati, OH

10d

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, champions On-Shelf Availability, and oversees receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and other in-store inventory processes. It validates planogram accuracy and coordinates use of reports and system applications that affect inventory balances and pricing. The role also maintains asset-protection practices and files claims for 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 and serve as leader on duty. In that capacity, the role may handle store start-up systems, cash and cashier responsibilities, customer issues, point-of-sale activities, and readiness of the sales floor and stockroom. The specialist engages customers, models customer-service practices, and coaches team members on inventory processes and systems. The position includes front-end and pharmacy receiving, ordering, inventory counts, claims and returns, pricing activities, records retention, and preparation for physical inventory. Pharmacy activities are performed under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge. The specialist also supports package delivery activities and the Pickup Program, attends company trainings and e-learning, 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.
Valid pharmacy license or certification as 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 inventory best practices and standard operating procedures throughout the store, including the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, and returns, under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge where specified.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and complete receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and related in-store inventory processes.
Validate planograms and coordinate use of reports and system applications affecting on-hand balances and pricing.
Maintain front-end and pharmacy asset-protection practices; file claims for warehouse and vendor overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs.
In designated stores, open or close the store in the absence of management, complete required system start-ups and cash-handling duties, and ensure the floor and stockroom are ready for business.
Engage customers, offer assistance, 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 processes, including creating, reviewing, and receiving orders.
Scan deliveries while vendors are still in the store; verify receipt, follow up on undelivered scheduled receipts, and open tickets to correct inaccurate orders.
Verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify daily postings for pharmacy warehouse, prescription and OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform 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 for subscribed departments, vendor/DSD departments, and pharmacy.
Complete pharmacy recalls, vendor returns, non-controlled and damaged salvage returns, and applicable excess-inventory returns or interstore transfers; follow the Pharmacy Hazardous Waste Policy.
Verify posting of pharmacy and prescription claims.
Execute pricing activities, including price changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, accurate signage, and additional regulatory pricing tasks.
Support front-end and pharmacy ordering by ordering expense items; monitor pharmacy manual orders for excess orders; maintain consigned inventory and order as required.
Update on-hands and place designated pull-and-quarantine items in the assigned holding area.
Maintain accurate inventory counts and on-hand quantities in basic departments, stockroom, 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 by receiving and posting front-end products in inventory 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, and returns; support the Pickup Program.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, register sales on the POS and handle 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 coworker relationships.
Attend company trainings, complete e-learning modules including safety training, and obtain and maintain a state-required pharmacy license or certification.
Coach and develop team members in inventory systems; when serving as leader on duty, communicate assigned tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional activities and tasks as assigned.