Wave Planning Specialist

Waring Lab; Glendale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Waring Lab in Glendale, AZ is seeking a Wave/Batch Planner to orchestrate the flow from the WMS to the floor, balancing labor across departments, maximizing throughput and on-time departures.

This role requires real-time decision making, floor presence, and close collaboration with replenishment, picking, packing, and shipping to prevent bottlenecks and ensure smooth wave execution.

Qualifications

• Experience optimizing batch release strategies.
• Ability to adjust plans based on real-time volume.
• Familiarity with warehouse floor operations.

Responsibilities

• Execute daily wave plan by releasing orders in batches.
• Monitor picking, packing, and shipping to prevent bottlenecks.
• Coordinate with replenishment to ensure stock is ready.
• Prioritize hot orders and expedite shipments as needed.
• Walk the floor to verify WMS data and adjust plans.

Skills

Batch planning

WMS knowledge

Real-time decision making

Floor presence

Tools

WMS

ERP systems

Job description

The Wave/Batch Planner is the "engine room" of the distribution center, responsible for orchestrating the flow of work from the Warehouse Management System (WMS) to the floor. This role focuses on optimizing order release strategies to balance labor across departments, maximize throughput, and ensure on-time departures. The planner must have a deep understanding of operational capacity and the ability to pivot strategies in real time based on changing volumes.

Core Responsibilities

Order Releasing & Waving: Execute the daily "wave" plan by releasing orders in logic-based batches that maximize picking efficiency and equipment utilization.

Workflow Synchronization: Monitor real-time progress in picking, packing, and shipping to ensure a steady flow of work, preventing bottlenecks or "starving" downstream departments.

Priority Management: Coordinate with Customer Service and Transportation to prioritize "hot" orders, expedited shipments, and carrier-specific cut-offs.

Inventory Coordination: Work closely with the replenishment team to ensure stock is in active pick faces before waves are released, minimizing "shorts" or order delays.

Data Analysis: Review daily volume forecasts to adjust batch sizes and picking methodologies (e.g., zone vs. cluster picking).

Operational Support & Floor Integration

This is not a "desk-only" role. To effectively plan the work, the Wave Planner must understand the physical reality of the floor. Requirements include:

Conducting regular floor walks to verify WMS data against physical congestion or equipment availability.

Working directly on the floor during peak surges—assisting with picking, packing, or

replenishment to help the team meet wave deadlines.

Collaborating with department leads toreassignlabor based on wave progress and backlog.

Safety & Operational Excellence

Operational efficiency never overrides safety. The Wave Planner is expected to:

Structure waves to prevent aisle congestion, reducing the risk of collisions between material handling equipment and pedestrians.

Adhere to all facility safety protocols and participate in "Safety-First" initiatives.

Promote a culture of accountability and operational discipline by ensuring all system

transactions are performed accurately.

Also Hiring In

Glendale , Arizona , United States

We are an equal opportunity employer. We employ people solely on the basis of how their skills, qualifications and experience match the requirements of the role. It’s our policy not to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status or disability, or any other characteristic/group as defined by a country’s legislation.