Wave Planner - Arden, NC

Job Overview The Wave Planner serves as the operational control tower for the Distribution Center and is responsible for managing the flow of work across all operational shifts. This role oversees the release and prioritization of customer orders, manages workflow across Inbound, Pick, Pack, and Shipping, and ensures orders move efficiently from receipt to shipment. The Wave Planner partners closely with Customer Service and Operations leadership to balance workload, maintain FIFO compliance, optimize labor utilization, and drive on-time customer service performance. As part of this role, the Wave Planner provides support across first, second, and weekend shift operations to ensure a consistent and effective flow of work throughout the facility. Due to the broader scope of responsibility, operational decision-making, and support requirements across multiple shifts, this position is classified as salaried. While the regular work schedule will align with normal business hours, there may be occasions when business needs require work outside of standard hours, including evenings and weekends. Examples may include month-end activities, quarter-end activities, critical customer service requirements, system issues, inventory events, or operational recovery efforts. Additional time worked will be compensated in accordance with company policy. A Day In The Life Start the Day with the Plan Review incoming order volume, customer priorities, backlog, and inventory availability. Develop the daily wave strategy based on service requirements, operational capacity, and carrier commitments. Partner with supervisors and Customer Service to align on priorities and potential risks. Review performance from previous shifts and communicate priorities across first, second, and weekend operations. Control the Flow Release and sequence customer orders into the operation throughout the day. Monitor order progression from release through picking, packing, and shipping. Ensure work is flowing efficiently between Inbound, Pick, Pack, and Shipping. Quickly identify and resolve bottlenecks before they impact customer service. Coordinate workflow adjustments across shifts to maintain service levels and operational balance. Manage Labor & Capacity Conduct regular pulse checks on department performance and workload. Determine when labor resources need to be reallocated to support operational priorities. Coordinate labor movement between departments to keep the facility balanced and productive. Escalate capacity concerns and recovery plans to leadership when needed. Support labor planning decisions that impact multiple shifts and weekend operations. Drive FIFO Compliance Monitor order aging and ensure customer orders are processed in First-In, First-Out (FIFO) sequence. Validate that priority changes are aligned with business requirements. Ensure any exceptions to FIFO receive approval from the DC Manager or Director. Communicate Performance Generate and distribute hourly operational reports. Provide visibility to leadership on order status, backlog, productivity, labor allocation, and service risks. Communicate changes in priorities, staffing needs, and recovery actions throughout the day. Partner with leaders across all shifts to ensure continuity of execution and communication. Improve the Operation Analyze trends impacting flow, productivity, and service performance. Identify opportunities to improve wave planning, labor utilization, and overall throughput. Recommend process improvements that support customer service and operational efficiency. Assist in developing standardized processes that improve coordination across shifts and departments. What will help you thrive in this role? Five (5) years of experience in a high-volume warehouse or distribution environment required. Three (3) years of progressive experience with increasing operational responsibilities. Strong working knowledge of SAP and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). Strong analytical, problem…

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