Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•Aurora, IL

21d•$18 - $23

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 and oversees receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, on-shelf availability, planogram accuracy, inventory records, and related systems and reports. It also supports asset protection and the filing of claims for merchandise overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods. The position provides customer service and models service best practices for team members. In designated stores, the Inventory Specialist may act as leader on duty, resolve customer issues, and open or close the store in the absence of store management. The role coaches coworkers on inventory, delivery, and store processes; maintains compliance with applicable policies and laws; completes required training; and obtains and maintains pharmacy credentials when required by the state.

Requirements

At least six months of prior Walgreens work experience for internal candidates, or one year of prior retail work experience for external candidates.
Fluent 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 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 store-wide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures for the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory management, including receiving, counting, ordering, and returns.
Manage on-shelf availability and in-store inventory processes, including receiving, counting, pricing, returns, and validating planograms.
Review and coordinate the use of reports and system applications that affect inventory on-hand balances and pricing accuracy.
Maintain front-end and pharmacy asset protection practices and file claims for overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods.
In designated stores, open or close the store in the absence of store management and complete required system start-ups, cash handling, cashier tasks, and readiness activities.
Greet customers, offer assistance, and, when serving as leader on duty in designated stores, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Model customer service best practices and coach team members in delivering a positive customer experience.
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; take appropriate steps for received or missing deliveries and correct inaccurate orders.
Under pharmacist-in-charge supervision, verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify posting of pharmacy orders, audit totes as needed, 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 and returns, facilitate excess inventory returns or applicable interstore transfers, and verify pharmacy claim postings.
Execute pricing activities, including price changes and markdowns, and maintain accurate pricing, signage, and completion of regulatory pricing tasks.
Support ordering by ordering expense items, monitoring pharmacy manual orders for excess, and maintaining and ordering consigned inventory as required.
Update and place designated pull-and-quarantine items in the assigned holding area.
Maintain accurate inventory counts and on-hand quantities across departments, stockrooms, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts as applicable.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws for regulated products.
Maintain inventory records and systems, and organize and retain invoices, receipts, and return authorizations.
Help 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 activities, package scanning and returns, daily inventory functions, and the Pickup Program.
When serving as leader on duty in designated stores, operate the point-of-sale system and handle sales records, returns, voids, refunds, cash drops, and change requests.
Comply with company policies and procedures and maintain respectful coworker relationships.
Complete additional assigned activities and tasks.
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.
Serve as a liaison between management and non-management team members by coaching and developing inventory-system capabilities; when leader on duty, communicate tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.