Inventory Specialist

Walgreens•West Babylon, NY

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 is responsible for receiving, counting, ordering, pricing, returns, planogram accuracy, and other in-store inventory processes. The specialist reviews and coordinates the use of reports and system applications affecting inventory balances and pricing, maintains asset protection practices, and files claims for vendor and warehouse discrepancies or damaged goods, including prescription drugs. In designated stores, the specialist may open or close the store in the absence of store management and perform related start-up, cash-handling, cashier, and store-readiness responsibilities. When serving as leader on duty, the specialist may resolve customer issues, communicate tasks, and handle assigned point-of-sale activities. The role engages customers and models customer-service practices. The position includes receiving and posting deliveries; processing pharmacy and front-end inventory activities; completing On-Shelf Availability processes, scan outs, returns, pricing tasks, and inventory counts; maintaining inventory records and documentation; and helping prepare for physical inventory. The specialist also supports package delivery activities and the Pickup Program, keeps counters and shelves clean and merchandised, and assists and coaches team members on inventory systems and store processes. The specialist attends company training and completes required e-learning, including safety training. A valid pharmacy license or certification must be obtained and maintained when required by the state. The role serves as a liaison between management and non-management team members by coaching and developing inventory-system capabilities.

Requirements

Internal candidates must have six months of prior work experience with Walgreens, or external candidates must have 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.
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 work experience with Walgreens; an evaluation on file is preferred.

Responsibilities

Execute, monitor, and train store-wide inventory best practices and standard operating procedures across the front end and pharmacy.
Support pharmacy inventory activities, including receiving, counting, ordering, returns, recalls, damaged salvage, and inventory transfers as applicable, under pharmacist-in-charge supervision.
Champion On-Shelf Availability and complete related processes for planogrammed departments, including disposals, call-ins, vendor returns, and scan outs.
Receive, count, price, and process returns for store inventory; validate planogram accuracy and maintain accurate on-hand quantities.
Review and coordinate reports and system applications that affect on-hand balances and pricing.
Maintain front-end and pharmacy asset protection practices and file claims for warehouse or vendor overages, shortages, order errors, and damaged goods.
In designated stores, open or close the store when management is absent, 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 practices, and, when leader on duty, resolve customer issues and answer questions.
Create, review, and receive warehouse and vendor orders; scan deliveries while vendors are present; investigate missed or inaccurate deliveries and open tickets as needed.
Verify pharmacy shipments and complete or verify postings of pharmacy warehouse, prescription, OTC, secondary vendor, flu, and dropship orders; perform tote audits and report shortages or damage.
Complete pharmacy and front-end returns, pricing changes, markdowns, markdown deletions, and other required pricing tasks; maintain accurate pricing and signage.
Support ordering of expense items, monitor pharmacy manual orders for excess, maintain consigned inventory, and update and secure designated pull-and-quarantine items.
Maintain accurate inventory counts and on-hand quantities across basic departments, stockroom, overstock locations, and pharmacy; complete pharmacy smart counts under pharmacist-in-charge supervision.
Ensure inventory compliance with state and local laws governing regulated products.
Maintain inventory records and organize invoices, receipts, and return authorizations; help prepare for and support physical inventory, including auditing the third-party inventory team.
Keep counters and shelves clean and well merchandised; remain knowledgeable about store systems and equipment.
Assist and coach the store team on package delivery activities, package scanning and returns, and daily inventory functions; support the Pickup Program.
When leader on duty in designated stores, register sales and handle point-of-sale 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 required e-learning modules, including safety training; obtain and maintain a state-required pharmacy license or certification.
Coach and develop team members' capabilities with inventory systems; when leader on duty, communicate assigned tasks and report disciplinary issues and customer complaints to management.
Complete additional activities and tasks as assigned.