Wave Planner - 2nd Shift

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 23,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation Package Available

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a Wave Planner to allocate orders, release work to the warehouse floor, balance workflow, and ensure timely inbound and outbound truck turns. You will assign and monitor work, including staging, wave times, and pick assignments for teammates.

The role requires 2+ years in warehouse or distribution, experience with WMS/SAP, and strong communication skills. Expect a collaborative team environment with potential for relocation support.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED with 2+ years in warehouse or distribution.
• Experience in a distribution center or warehouse with order processing is preferred.
• Proficient with WMS, MS Office, and SAP.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Allocate orders and monitor staging, wave times, and picks for teammates.
• Balance drop dead times with product availability.
• Ensure proper order allocation by shipment ID or line item.
• Prepare trailer loading reports and organize paperwork for loaders.
• Prioritize inbound loads and notify receivers as needed.
• Close out trucks and resolve discrepancies or special requests.
• Determine doors or yard locations for trailers.
• Manage live-load priorities in the queue.
• Escalate system problems and assist coworkers.

Skills

Multitasking

Communication

Teamwork

Warehouse experience

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

WMS

Microsoft Office

SAP

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

Your Opportunity

The Wave Planner is responsible for allocating orders, releasing work to the warehouse floor, balancing workflow, and ensuring inbound and outbound truck turn times are within acceptable levels to meet customer needs. Assigns and monitors the work including staging, wave times and pick assignments for various teammates.

Core Responsibilities

• Assigns and monitors distribution including staging, wave times and pick assignments for various teammates.
• Balance drop dead times versus product availability.
• Ensures proper order allocation by shipment ID or shipment line depending on the load.
• Prepares trailer loading reports for all outbound loads, organizes/prioritizes the paperwork to each loader as they complete loads.
• Prioritizes any inbound loads, notifying receivers if necessary.
• Receives completed paperwork for both inbounds and outbound loads with discrepancies and finishes appointments.
• Checks for any shorts that can be filled or were cut unnecessarily and any other special requests before closing out the trucks.
• Determines which doors or yard locations trailers should be positioned.
• Observes priorities of all work and manages priorities of live loads, to make sure we have prioritization of work and loads in the queue.
• Responsible for escalating any system problems.
• Assists co-workers with questions regarding picking issues.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work and duties individuals assigned to this job are expected to perform, but they are not an exhaustive list; other duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and 2+ years of warehouse or distribution related experience.
• Previous experience working in a distribution center or warehouse environment where processing of customer orders was completed, preferred.
• Computer skills including experience with a Warehouse Management system, Microsoft Office, SAP and other office equipment.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast paced setting, managing multiple priorities and effectively work in a team environment.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• May be required to work long hours, holidays and weekends.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The working environment will include extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical equipment such as forklifts/hi-lifts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the loading areas. Frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to stand, use hands and/or fingers to grasp, handle, feel, reach and pull; and talk or hear. Occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The expected pay range for this position is $16.83 - $26.44 per hour. Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations.

At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package. Learn more about our benefits package here. Relocation Package Available.

No EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. "Good food. Responsibly.®" is more than just our tagline; it is what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost. These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.