Wave Planner

Jay Group; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with company discretionary match

Employee Assistance Program

Long Term Disability insurance

Short Term Disability Insurance

Weekly Pay

Job summary

Jay Group is seeking a detail‑oriented Wave Planner to decide daily distribution floor work, release orders, and manage waves in Manhattan WMS. You will collaborate with Client Services, Shipping, and Operations to ensure on‑time, accurate shipments and become a go‑to WMS expert on the floor.

The role emphasizes problem solving, system comfort, and a proactive approach. Prior wave planning helps, but a sharp eye for detail and readiness to learn are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Warehouse/DC operations knowledge and ability to support client requirements.
• Ability to read safety rules and manuals.
• Clear routine reporting and effective spoken communication.
• Practical math to verify orders and shipments.
• Capable of lifting up to 40 pounds and following written or verbal instructions.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Build, run, and release waves daily in the WMS.
• Perform order research to move delayed orders.
• Reconcile waves for ship day and ensure invoicing.
• Escalate unclosed manifests with required detail.
• Assist with general inventory and order reconciliation.
• Process outgoing shipments and ensure carrier cutoffs.
• Prepare bills of lading and LTL docs.
• Read collates to determine shipping needs and load trucks.
• Troubleshoot printers used in waving and labeling.
• Communicate with Client Services to manage issues.

Skills

Warehouse operations

Read & interpret documents

Written communication

Math skills

Lifting 40 lbs

Safety awareness

Education

High school diploma

College degree

Tools

Manhattan WMS

PkMS

FedEx Ship Manager

UPS WorldShip

Job description

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

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.
• 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.

401K with company discretionary match

Employee Assistance Program

Long Term Disability insurance

Short Term Disability Insurance

Weekly Pay

What does it take to be a Jay Group Team Member?

Uphold Jay Group Core Values

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