Manager, Budget Planning & Operations - (Washington, District de Columbia, États-Unis)

The Manager, Budget Planning & Operations plays a pivotal role in driving budget planning, operational excellence, and financial stewardship across the entire Production Services & Operations team, working across Production Services, Content Operations, Engineering, and Editorial Operations. The role partners directly with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to translate business priorities into financial plans, operational roadmaps, executive reporting, and cross-functional execution. The role also leads financial governance for AI-related initiatives across National Geographic, including vendor cost management, investment tracking, budget controls, and alignment with Disney enterprise financial strategy through partnership with AI vendors, third-party companies, Production & Innovation teams, the Office of Technology Enablement, and Finance COEs. Additionally, the role manages and develops a team responsible for production services operations, project management, financial coordination, and cross-functional execution. Responsibilities: - Lead the development and execution of operational and financial strategies across multiple departments, ensuring alignment with broader business goals. - Oversee OpEx and CapEx budget planning, forecasting, and performance tracking, leveraging data-driven insights to inform decisions. - Lead financial governance for AI-related initiatives across National Geographic, including vendor cost modeling, budget tracking, funding recommendations, usage reporting, stakeholder coordination, and alignment with Disney enterprise AI and finance policies. - Provide leadership, coaching, prioritization, and performance management for direct reports, ensuring team output supports department goals and executive priorities. - Serves as a budget advisor to the Senior Vice President, Production Services & Operations, providing financial insights, operational recommendations, and scenario analysis to support executive decision-making. - Build and maintain advanced financial models and dashboards to support scenario planning, cost analysis, and performance reporting. - Leverage data visualization techniques and communication skills to present complex analytical findings in clear business terms that facilitate execution by business partners and senior executives. - Assess needs, define, and drive large-scale analytical and operational projects to add incremental value, establish new business practices, and improve budget precision. - Collaborate with cross-functional partners to support budget initiatives and operational continuity. - Partner with the Senior Vice President, Production Services & Operations to drive the execution of priorities through coordination, stakeholder alignment, and detailed project management. - Lead strategy meetings, including setting agendas, managing follow-ups, and ensuring alignment across stakeholders. - Develop policies, procedures, and training sessions in partnership with senior leadership to meet evolving departmental needs. - Act as a primary point of contact for resolving complex operational or financial issues, ensuring timely solutions and seamless communication across internal and external stakeholders. - Evaluate and optimize current business processes, identifying areas for continuous improvement to drive operational efficiency across production and editorial operations. - Oversee vendor financial operations, including vendor onboarding, purchase order governance, invoice escalation, cost controls, and process compliance across production services and operations. - Champion continuous improvement by identifying and implementing innovative solutions to operational challenges. - Represent Planning & Operations in executive forums and cross-departmental meetings, ensuring visibility and alignment of priorities. Required Qualifications: - At least seven years of experience in a senior financial planning, operations management, or budget planning role, preferably in media, entertainment, or production environments. - Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Operations, related field, or equivalent experience. - Experience advising senior executives or department heads on financial and operational strategy. - Experience managing complex budgets across multiple departments, cost centers, or business functions. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in financial modeling and data visualization. - Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders. - Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization. - Expertise in financial systems. - Exceptional knowledge of Excel. - Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities. - Ability to maintain high level of professionalism and confidentiality. Preferred Qualifications: - Experience in post-production, editorial operations, or engineering workflows. - Familiarity with Disney’s operational standards and financial practices. - Personnel management experience and ability to mentor junior team members. - Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred OrgID : 35576