Compounding Lab Inventory Control Specialist

The Inventory Control Specialist is responsible for supporting the operations of Curexa Pharmacy's compounding lab by managing and maintaining all lab inventory-related activities. This role ensures accurate organization, tracking, cleanliness, and availability of chemicals, excipients, packaging materials, and other inventory items critical to production. The Inventory Control Specialist collaborates with the Operations Manager, Production Manager, Purchasing Manager, I&P Supervisor, and Lab Operations team to maintain compliance with Curexa policies, SOPs, regulatory requirements, and safety standards, contributing to the efficient and effective operation of the pharmacy.

Key responsibilities include establishing and maintaining accurate inventory tracking by maintaining bin locations, labeling, and scanning systems, conducting cycle counts, and auditing storage areas for compliance and cleanliness. This role tracks waste, manages expired inventory, verifies physical inventory counts, and reports discrepancies. Additionally, they maintain Lab inventory documentation and ensure adherence to standardized naming conventions for raw materials and devices per procurement guidelines.

This role directly supports a safe, organized, and sanitary work environment, ensuring adherence to NJ State Board of Pharmacy regulations, federal laws, and USP <795> and USP <800> standards

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES, DUTIES, AND TASKS:

Conduct Cycle Counts: Perform daily cycle counts (raw materials, devices, intermediates, and lab designated finished goods) to verify inventory levels, address discrepancies, and ensure accuracy in inventory records; Record quantity of item(s) into the designated electronic inventory system.

• Establish Tare Weight Processes: Develop and implement a standardized process for capturing and documenting the tare weight of API and excipient containers to improve inventory accuracy and minimize discrepancies.

• Audit Receiving Check in Process: Audit and review chemical inventory in Labs and warehouses are labeled appropriately, containing required signoffs, information, and auxiliary labeling.

• Organize and Maintain Inventory Locations: Design and maintain standardized bin locations for all lab inventory items, ensuring proper storage, organization, and identification.

• Label and Track Inventory Containers: Print and apply accurate bin location labels that are in alignment with container scan tag bin location identifiers, ensuring efficient inventory tracking, retrieval, and return.

• Monitor and Document Inventory Adjustments: Track and record waste, scrap materials, verify out of stock (OOS) items, and make and review inventory adjustments to maintain accurate records.

• Develop and Manage Inventory Records: Create and maintain comprehensive physical inventory sheets for chemicals, APIs, excipients, and devices, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.

• Audit and Maintain Storage Areas: Regularly inspect Lab storage areas to ensure cleanliness, organization, and compliance with safety and regulatory protocols; Clean and inspect chemical and device containers.

• Manage Expired Inventory: Monitor Lab inventory for outdated items and remove them, in timely fashion, according to regulatory and safety requirements.

• Inventory Alignment & Standardization Oversight: Collaborate with the Procurement Manager, I&P Supervisor, or designate to ensure physical and cycle counts align with inventory systems. Oversee adherence to standardized naming conventions for raw materials and devices within the ERP (or similar) system to maintain accuracy and consistency across procurement and inventory processes.

• Coordinate Inventory Availability: Collaborate with the Production Manager and Lab Operations team to ensure timely availability of materials and supplies for production; Collaborate and communicate with Warehouse and Procurement personnel as warranted.

• Lab Performance Scorecard ? Generate weekly and monthly performance summaries to highlight lab efficiency in inventory management by reporting on key metrics, including inventory accuracy trends, tare weight compliance, cycle count accuracy, and scrap & waste vs. goal, highlighting successes and areas for improvement.

• Issue Escalation of Inventory Concerns: Promptly notify the Lab Manager and Production Manager of any inventory shortages, discrepancies, or quality concerns to address issues efficiently.

• Ensure Quality and Safety Compliance: Monitor adherence to quality standards and safety protocols during direct visual observations, promptly addressing any deviations.

• Collaborate with Training Personnel: Review and recommend updates to current policies, SOP?s, training aides/modules to Training Personnel on proper procedures for recording and accurately performing physical inventory counts; focus on emphasizing consistency and accuracy.

• Adhere to Pharmacy Policies and SOPs: Support and comply with the goals, policies, and standard operating procedures of the pharmacy.

• Assist in Implementing Process Changes: Collaborate with the Lab Operations Manager and Supervisors to implement improvements to existing inventory policies and procedures and address inventory deficiencies identified through internal audits.

• Recommend Process Improvements: Proactively suggest workflow or inventory process improvements to the Operations Manager in writing or via email.

• Maintain Confidentiality: Safeguard company information and ensure that support personnel exercise equal discretion.

• Ethical and Regulatory Compliance: Operate in compliance with all federal, state board of pharmacy regulations, accreditation standards, and USP 795 and USP 800 guidelines for an FDA 503a pharmacy.

• Manage and assist with Physical Inventory: Manage and Participate in quarterly or annual physical inventory, which may require working beyond scheduled hours, including overtime.

• Maintain a Safe and Clean Work Environment: Ensure the work area is consistently maintained in a safe, clean, and sanitary condition.