Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Fair Lawn, NJ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Inventory Specialist executes, monitors, and trains team members on inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the store, including the front end and pharmacy. The role supports pharmacy inventory management and champions On-Shelf Availability, handling receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, planogram accuracy, inventory records, and related systems and reports. It also supports asset protection and files claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs. In designated stores, the specialist may open or close the store when management is absent and may serve as leader on duty. These duties can include preparing the store for the business day, handling cash and point-of-sale transactions, responding to customer issues, and communicating assigned tasks and concerns to management. The role includes extensive front-end and pharmacy inventory processes, such as receiving and verifying deliveries and pharmacy shipments, processing returns and claims, maintaining accurate on-hand quantities, completing pricing activities, supporting physical inventory, and retaining relevant records. Pharmacy work is performed under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge. The specialist also assists with package delivery and Pickup Program activities, maintains clean and well-merchandised counters and shelves, and coaches team members on inventory systems and processes. The specialist attends company trainings and completes e-learning and safety modules. A valid pharmacy license or certification must be obtained and maintained when required by the state. The position requires prior relevant experience, English fluency except in Puerto Rico, attention to detail, multitasking, problem-solving, and willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings and weekends. Compensation depends on factors including geography, skills, education, and experience. The role remains open until filled.

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 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 store team members on inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for front-end and pharmacy operations.
Support pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, and transfers under the supervision of the pharmacist-in-charge.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and complete end-to-end inventory processes, including receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and planogram validation.
Review and coordinate use of reports and system applications that affect inventory on-hand balances and pricing accuracy.
Execute and maintain front-end and pharmacy asset-protection practices, and file claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods, including prescription drugs.
In designated stores, open or close the store when management is absent, complete required system start-ups and cash-handling duties, and prepare the sales 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.
Create, review, receive, and scan warehouse and vendor orders and deliveries while the vendor is still in the store; address undelivered or inaccurate scheduled receipts as needed.
Verify pharmacy shipments and post pharmacy warehouse, ABC prescription and OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform tote audits and report shortages or damaged products.
Complete On-Shelf Availability processes for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns before expiration, and scan-outs and scan-out returns for subscribed and vendor/DSD departments and pharmacy.
Complete pharmacy recalls, vendor returns, non-controlled and damaged salvage returns, excess inventory returns, and applicable interstore pharmacy transfers.
Verify posting of pharmacy and prescription claims.
Complete pricing activities, including price changes and markdowns; maintain accurate pricing, signage, and timely completion of 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 across basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products such as alcohol and tobacco.
Maintain inventory records and organize invoices, receipts, and return authorizations; help prepare for and support physical inventory, including auditing the third-party inventory team on inventory day.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised, and remain knowledgeable about store systems and equipment.
Assist and coach the store team on package delivery activities, including package scanning, daily inventory functions, and package returns; support the Pickup Program.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, register sales on the assigned 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 relationships with coworkers.
Attend company training, complete e-learning and safety modules, and obtain and maintain a state-required pharmacy license or certification.
Coach and develop team members' capabilities with 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.