Public Policy Manager II

Overview

Our client is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented contingent worker to support the External Affairs team’s budget and operational processes. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the team’s budget, onboarding vendors, communicating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with financial policies.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor and manage the External Affairs team budget – including day-to-day operations of the budget process – ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial policies.
• Forecast quarterly budgets with the finance team, ensuring accurate and timely financial planning.
• Onboard vendors, ensuring seamless integration and compliance with  procurement processes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for the team on budget, onboarding, and ad credit processes, providing guidance and support to team members as needed, and ensuring effective utilization of resources.
• Meet monthly with External Affairs leads, and collaborate with Policy admins, to ensure visibility and transparency of team budgets, and to provide budget updates and ensure alignment.
• Provide the team with End-of-Year (EOY) deadlines and shepherd the process to ensure compliance.
• Manage several cross-functional review processes end-to-end, including intaking proposals, updating trackers, soliciting and organizing feedback, and obtaining and documenting the appropriate approvals.
• Communicate externally with outside counsel, and collaborate internally with legal and compliance teams, to ensure organizations and vendors meet our client’s policies.

Experience:

• 2+ years of experience in budget or program management, or a related field
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
• Proficiency in productivity and financial management tools
• Experience working cross-functionally across different teams (eg, finance, legal, compliance)

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $55.24 to $61.38 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! 

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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