External Affairs Budget & Operations Manager

External Affairs Budget & Operations

Washington, DC

12 months contract

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented professional to support the External Affairs team’s budget and operational processes. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in budget forecasting, financial compliance, vendor management, and cross-functional coordination within a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage the External Affairs team budget, including day-to-day budget operations, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company financial policies.
• Lead forecasting and budget auditing activities for high-spend programs, using sound judgment to ensure teams remain within approved budgets and compliance guidelines.
• Partner with the finance team to forecast quarterly budgets and support accurate financial planning and reporting.
• Independently manage budgets, negotiate with vendors, and handle stakeholder communications across internal and external teams.
• Onboard vendors and ensure compliance with procurement and operational processes.
• Serve as the team’s subject matter expert for budget management, onboarding workflows, and operational processes, providing guidance and support to stakeholders.
• Meet regularly with External Affairs leads and collaborate with policy administrators to provide budget visibility, updates, and alignment across teams.
• Manage end-of-year (EOY) budget deadlines and drive timely completion of all required activities.
• Manage several cross-functional review processes end-to-end, including:
• Intaking proposals
• Updating trackers and documentation
• Soliciting and organizing feedback
• Coordinating approvals
• Maintaining accurate records and audit trails
• Communicate externally with vendors and outside counsel, while partnering internally with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to organizational policies and standards.
• Support process improvements and operational efficiencies across budgeting and review workflows.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in budget management, program management, operations, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing large or high-spend budgets independently.
• Strong forecasting, budget auditing, and financial tracking experience.
• Experience negotiating with vendors and managing external partner relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with finance, legal, compliance, policy, and operational teams.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency with productivity, financial management, and tracking tools (Excel, Google Sheets, project tracking systems, etc.).
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams.