Strategic Demand & Capacity Planning Manager (IL, Waukegan)

Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification (formerly Telefonix PDT and Astronics Armstrong Aerospace) serves as the experienced, global market leader for in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions for aircraft. As a systems certification provider, Astronics CSC has worked on over 100 projects for industry partners to upgrade commercial and business aircraft with new passenger power systems, IFEC navigation, communication and flight safety systems. Additionally, Astronics CSC offers proven IFEC hardware systems, flexible design platforms, high customer satisfaction, and long-term relationships with industry leaders to help make the connected aircraft a reality. The company now employs over 300 employees and is a six-time recipient of Chicago's Best and Brightest Employers to Work For award.

Summary

The Strategic Demand & Capacity Planning Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining the organization's long-range demand, capacity, and operational readiness plans to support business growth, customer commitments, and strategic objectives.

This role serves as the primary link between Business Development, Program Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, and Executive Leadership to ensure future customer demand is understood, forecasted, and translated into actionable business plans.

The Strategic Demand & Capacity Planning Manager proactively identifies future constraints, capacity limitations, supply chain risks, and investment opportunities, enabling the organization to make informed decisions regarding staffing, procurement, production capacity, inventory strategy, and capital investments.

The position plays a critical role in aligning market opportunities with organizational capabilities and ensuring the company remains prepared for future growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and responsibilities include the following, other duties as may be required from time-to-time.

Strategic Demand Planning

• Develop and maintain short-term, mid-term, and long-term demand forecasts.
• Consolidate customer forecasts, backlog, bookings, market intelligence, and business development opportunities into integrated demand plans.
• Analyze demand trends across product lines, customers, and business segments.
• Identify forecast changes and potential business impacts.
• Establish forecasting methodologies and reporting standards.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and recommend improvements.

Capacity Planning

• Develop enterprise capacity models for engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, customer service, and program management functions.
• Evaluate current and future resource requirements.
• Identify capacity constraints before they impact customer commitments.
• Support workforce planning and organizational growth strategies.
• Recommend investments in personnel, equipment, facilities, and infrastructure.

Market & Business Intelligence

• Partner with Business Development to monitor industry trends, customer developments, competitor activity, and emerging technologies.
• Analyze aerospace and defense market conditions that may impact future demand.
• Evaluate customer acquisition opportunities and forecast impacts.
• Support strategic planning initiatives through market-driven insights.

Supply Chain Risk & Readiness Planning

• Partner with Supply Chain to identify long-lead-time material risks and supply chain constraints and to develop strategic procurement plans.
• Support advanced procurement initiatives.
• Recommend inventory strategies to support future demand.
• Assess supplier capacity and readiness risks.

Business Development Support

• Partner with Business Development to evaluate pipeline opportunities.
• Support capture planning and growth initiatives.
• Analyze resource and operational impacts of potential new business awards.
• Provide operational readiness assessments for major opportunities.

Executive Planning & Decision Support

• Develop executive dashboards and planning tools.
• Present demand forecasts, capacity analyses, and strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Support annual strategic planning and operating plan development.
• Provide scenario planning and sensitivity analyses.
• Assist leadership in evaluating growth strategies and investment opportunities.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Facilitate Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Lead cross-functional planning reviews.
• Align Program Management, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance around future business requirements.
• Drive organizational readiness planning.

Continuous Improvement

• Develop and improve forecasting models and planning processes.
• Implement best practices for demand planning and capacity management.
• Improve visibility into future business requirements.
• Increase forecast accuracy and planning effectiveness.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in demand planning, capacity planning, operations planning, program management, supply chain management, business planning, or related disciplines.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or other complex technical industries preferred.
• Experience supporting executive-level strategic planning activities.
• Experience working within cross-functional organizations.
• MBA preferred.
• Aerospace and defense markets
• Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
• Integrated Business Planning (IBP)
• Capacity modeling
• Long-range forecasting
• Program Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Business Development support

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Personal Protective Equipment may be required when working in designated areas. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Strategic Planning

• Long-range business planning
• Capacity planning methodologies
• Demand forecasting
• Resource modeling
• Scenario planning
• Strategic decision-making

Business Acumen

• Financial analysis
• Market analysis
• Business case development
• Operational planning
• Growth strategy development

Leadership

• Ability to influence across multiple organizations without direct authority.
• Strong facilitation and executive presentation skills.
• Proven ability to align stakeholders around strategic priorities.

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel
• Power BI
• PowerPoint
• ERP/MRP Systems
• Business Intelligence Platforms
• Demand Planning Software
• Capacity Modeling Tools
• SQL
• Power Platform

Astronics CSC offers a competitive benefit package which is available to full-time employees. Part-time employees may be eligible on a pro-rated basis for the benefits listed.

• Stay Healthy - Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity.

• Save for the Future - 401K, Profit Sharing & Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• The Astronics Corporation Profit Sharing/ 401(k) Plan is a "safe harbor" plan. Under the plan, Astronics has committed to contribute 3% of your eligible wages, with the ability to do an annual discretionary adder on top.

• Find Balance - Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Program

• Time for You - Generous Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave

• Professional Growth - Tuition Reimbursement Program

An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a drug test and background check, and applicants who do not successfully pass both the drug test and background check will not be considered for employment.

The salary range specified is applicable to positions within the State of Illinois and reflects various factors considered in compensation decisions. These factors include, but are not limited to, individual skill sets, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and the specific needs of our business and organization. At Astronics CSC, it is uncommon for new hires to receive an offer at or near the top end of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are made based on the unique facts and circumstances of each candidate. The current estimated yearly salary range for this position is $110,000 to $150,000 per year. In addition, you will be eligible for our Quarterly Incentive compensation bonus. Astronics offers a competitive salary, along with opportunities for career growth.