The Wave Planner decides what work hits the distribution center floor and when. You release orders for the entire Jay Group network, build and run waves in our Manhattan warehouse management system (WMS), and make sure every package leaving the LCO facility is labeled correctly and out the door before the carrier cutoff. You are also the person who takes on order research when something does not look right, and gets it resolved.
This is a high-visibility role for someone who is organized, precise, and genuinely enjoys solving problems. You will work side by side with Client Services, Shipping, and Operations, and you will become one of the most capable WMS users in the building. Prior wave planning experience is a plus, but attention to detail, comfort with systems, and the drive to learn matter most.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (other duties may be assigned as business needs change)
Wave Planning and Order Release:
• Build, run, and release waves daily in the WMS so work reaches the DC floor on time and in the right sequence.
• Perform order research: investigate orders that need attention, determine the root cause, and get them moving.
• Reconcile every wave for the ship day to confirm all waves are manifested and invoiced.
• Escalate any manifest that cannot be closed to the Team Lead and Shipping Supervisor, with the detail needed to resolve it.
• Assist with general inventory and order reconciliation efforts.
Shipping, Manifesting, and Carrier Compliance
• Process outgoing small parcel shipments using the Manhattan WMS, FedEx Ship Manager, UPS WorldShip, and other carrier systems.
• Ensure the LCO operation meets every daily carrier cutoff.
• Prepare bills of lading and other documentation required for LTL shipments, following established carrier relationships and client specifications.
• Examine outgoing shipments to confirm they meet client and carrier specifications.
• Identify and sort small parcel shipping labels by carrier, and attach packing lists to carton picks staged at shipping.
• Read collates to determine the quantity and type of transportation required, and load trucks as needed.
• Troubleshoot and maintain the printers used in the waving and labeling process.
Communication and Problem Solving
• Communicate daily with the Client Services team on issues and risks so customer service levels stay high.
• Partner with other departments to ensure client requirements and expectations are met.
• Identify problems, determine root cause, and drive them to resolution rather than passing them along.
• Provide an end-of-day summary of shipments and open issues that will carry over to the oncoming shift.
Safety and Work Area
• Operate material handling equipment safely: complete required training, follow prescribed safety regulations, and maintain safety inspection logs.
• Maintain 5S standards in the shipping department.
What Success Looks Like:
• First 30 days: running standard daily waves independently and consistently meeting carrier cutoffs.
• First 60 days: handling order research, label problems, and printer issues without escalation.
• First 90 days: recognized as a WMS power user - the person the floor comes to when something does not look right.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Required
- Working understanding of distribution center and warehouse operations, and how client requirements drive them.
- Strong PC skills, including Microsoft Office (Excel in particular).
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to write clear routine reports and correspondence, and to speak effectively in front of coworkers, supervisors, and client representatives.
- Practical math skills: counts, case and unit quantities, percentages, weights, and dimensions, applied to verify order and shipment accuracy.
- Ability to follow instructions delivered in written, verbal, or diagram form, and to work through problems involving several variables at once.
- Ability to regularly lift and move up to 40 pounds.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Preferred
- Two or more years of distribution or warehouse wave planning, expediting, or shipping experience.
- Hands-on experience with a warehouse management system and wave structure - Manhattan / PkMS especially.
- Experience with FedEx Ship Manager, UPS WorldShip, or comparable carrier shipping software.
- Experience preparing bills of lading and LTL shipping documentation.
- College or technical school degree.
About Jay Group:
Jay Group is an industry-leading provider of warehouse inventory management, ecommerce fulfillment, transportation, and specialty packaging services. For over 55 years, some of the world’s most trusted and well-known brands have relied on Jay Group to ensure their product is delivered accurately and on time. Jay Group manages the back-end details of parcel and B2B fulfillment so that clients can focus on growing their brands and businesses.
Benefits:
- 401K with company discretionary match
- Dental Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability insurance
- Paid Holiday Hours
- Paid Time-Off
- Plum Benefits
- Short Term Disability Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Weekly Pay
What does it take to be a Jay Group Team Member?
- Uphold Jay Group Core Values
- Make it Possible: We happily and skillfully remove barriers to success for our clients and our employees.
- Drive to Innovate: We have a relentless drive to innovate, simplify and continually improve.
- We Win Together: We recognize that our success depends on our collective genius and that we succeed when our clients succeed.
- Built on Trust: We live our legacy of being open, honest, ethical, and genuine.
- Have a proactive and self-motivated work style. Enjoy working independently with strong attention to detail.
- Must be willing to submit a background check.
- Ability to work legally in the United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
Join our team!