Logistics Load Planner

Ball Horticultural Company is a leading breeder and distributor of flowers and vegetables around the globe.  Located in the suburb of West Chicago (near Naperville and Geneva), our 60-acre property boasts 10 acres of display gardens.  The gardens are primarily used as a sales and marketing tool but also provide a great relaxation opportunity for staff at the home office.  Perennials, annuals, vegetables, roses, and shrubs are blooming from May through September.  

This position is responsible for planning, executing, and managing shipments and execution of deliveries for Ball Horticultural Company. It is heavily involved in live, perishable goods distribution within North America via multimodal delivery. The Load Planner is responsible for working with domestic vendor locations and transportation providers to plan and prepare shipments and ensure that they are correctly delivered to customers on a weekly basis, maintaining clear communication with all parties including the customer. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Analyze near future orders and dispatch pertinent information to Ball suppliers and transportation vendors in preparation of shipping to fulfill sales for the season.
• Manage efficient and cost-effective transportation services, deliver high quality product, through high level carrier performance to ensure best balance between cost and service. It is important to maintain consistent levels of high customer delivery satisfaction at an economical price.  
• Determine standard/optimal methods of delivery for weekly shipments and propose other methods of delivery if unforeseen circumstances alter regular routings in order to guarantee the best quality of delivery for live perishable products and avoid damages and loses from extensive transit  time or loss of temperature control.  
• Create and manage all necessary shipment documentation and all other pertinent information to ensure smooth transition of goods from the origin to delivery to the final customer. 
• Maintain contact with Ball Customer Service and Sales Team to adjust shipping plans based on order changes. 
• Increase and maintain the present delivery routes and deliveries from our current delivery base (air, truck, LTL, Parcel). 
• Process  carrier invoices to ensure timely Accounts Payable approval and allocate costs to orders where applicable. 
• File transportation claims with carriers and review internal claims from Ball customers including filing and determining if credits are due to the customer for damaged products. 

• Minimum of 2 years in logistics/transportation work 
• High School Diploma/GED required, Associate Degree or higher preferred. 
• Must have a working knowledge of domestic transportation networks, modes of shipments and required steps to move products in North America.  
• Strong  software and system skills – SAP, Microsoft Suite.
• High accuracy and attention to detail combined with ability to multitask and prioritize daily work.  
• Ability to interact with cross-functional teams to resolve transportation issues related to movement, billing, invoice payment. 

Pay Range: $20-27/hour 

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit/stand 100% of the time 
• Ability to use fingers/hands 100% of the time 
• Ability to work in an office setting 

Our Promise To You: 

We create excitement in the world of flowers and are the first choice for service. We deliver all the best and nothing else! To you, we deliver a work environment and a culture where building long-lasting relationships internally and externally is important. We believe that good communication, sharing ideas and collaborating on projects will set us up for success. We keep both our feet on the ground and are approachable. 

In addition to this we provide a comprehensive Total Rewards package that includes: 

• Medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance
• 401k/Profit Sharing Retirement Plan
• Paid time off benefits including vacation and holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Employee Assistance Program and Positive Health programs
• An onsite subsidized café overlooking renowned display gardens and restored natural areas