Demand Planner & Project Coordinator

Federal Signal Corporation - University Park, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

University Park, IL

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

About the position

Federal Signal is seeking a Demand Planner & Project Coordinator to develop, communicate, and execute end-to-end global product demand and supply strategies and tactical plans for multiple business units. This role is crucial in meeting sales, order fulfillment, and financial objectives. The ideal candidate will ensure that new product development (NPD) projects are launched on time and completely by facilitating the release and receipt of new parts by the procurement group. This position serves as a central point of contact for sourcing-related NPD matters, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across various teams. Key responsibilities include partnering with sales, product management, and finance teams to create an accurate and detailed consensus global forecast. The candidate will facilitate monthly demand review meetings and work directly with key distributors and top customers to ensure that current market demands are reflected in the product forecast. The role requires determining the most appropriate forecast model for each SKU based on product life, market trends, and seasonality, as well as setting forecast variance tolerances by SKU. The Demand Planner & Project Coordinator will also be responsible for improving forecast accuracy, providing monthly product mix forecasts to operations and supply chain teams, and using various query and report-writing software to monitor demand plans versus actual results. Continuous improvement of processes and methodologies for collecting information and predicting demand is essential. The candidate will support the planning process for product lifecycle transitions and drive cross-functional collaboration to influence demand on the supply chain, prioritizing demand for fulfillment based on business objectives and customer segmentation. Additionally, the role involves managing project tracking tools, negotiating new tooling contracts and component pricing, generating requests for quotation (RFQs), and collaborating with the buyer team regarding pricing and buying strategy. This position requires a proactive approach to ensure that all aspects of demand planning and project coordination are executed effectively and efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Partner with sales, product management, and finance teams to develop an accurate and detailed consensus global forecast.
• Facilitate monthly demand review meetings.
• Work directly with key distributors and top customers to ensure that current market demands are reflected in product forecast.
• Determine the forecast model that is most appropriate for each SKU based on product life, market trends, and seasonality.
• Set forecast variance tolerances by SKU.
• Improve forecast accuracy and adjust forecast models as necessary.
• Provide monthly product mix forecasts to operations and supply chain teams, highlighting upside opportunities and downside risks.
• Use query and report-writing software to develop, implement, and monitor demand plans versus actual results.
• Hold key contributors accountable for forecast information provided.
• Drive continuous improvement for processes and methodologies for collecting information and predicting demand.
• Support the planning process for product lifecycle transitions.
• Interact with other functions to provide forecast information relevant to their respective areas.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to influence demand on the supply chain and prioritize demand for fulfillment based on business objectives and customer segmentation.
• Facilitate the release and receipt of new production parts to support the NPD process by communicating with suppliers, engineering, and the buying team.
• Manage project tracking tool showing sourcing/procurement key tasks, due dates, and responsibilities for existing and upcoming new product releases.
• Negotiate new tooling contracts and component pricing and report this information to the NPD team.
• Generate requests for quotation (RFQs) for new parts and existing products as needed in coordination with buyers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, Management or other related field of study required.
• 3-5 years of purchasing experience including project management and/or demand planning/forecasting.
• Excellent analytical and advanced computer skills, with the ability to mine data and derive critical and salient information from diverse inputs.
• Excellent communication (clear, concise oral and written presentations) and interpersonal skills.
• Effective negotiation and influencing skills, capable of being unbiased and fair in achieving compromise solutions and consensus positions.
• Familiarity with the engineering change process and ability to facilitate the smooth implementation of new and changed products while communicating with various internal teams.
• Experience with analytical systems and tools (Vanguard, Smartsheet, Power BI) preferred.
• Proficiency required in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as Microsoft Outlook.
• Project management and problem-solving skills.
• Quick learner, capable of adapting to new systems and developing and continuously improving processes.
• Knowledge of ERP functionality, preferably JD Edwards, is required.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with analytical systems and tools (Vanguard, Smartsheet, Power BI) preferred.

Benefits

• Annual bonus potential
• Life insurance
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Tuition reimbursement
• Smoke-free, drug-free workplace