Manager, Operation & Administration Strategy

Manager, Operations & Administrative StrategyAirport Dimensions is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Manager, Operations & Administrative Strategy to join our growing Operations Support and Guest Experience team. This new role will build and maintain strong partnerships acting as the primary connection between Operations and other key business groups and workstreams, driving alignment across budgets, forecasts, and real-time spending. The ideal candidate will bring both financial acumen and operational insight to help streamline processes, improve reporting, and identify opportunities for increased efficiency and cost savings. This is a full-time, exempt position suitable for candidates with strong cross-functional collaboration skills and a background in budgeting, process improvement, and data analysis.Key ResponsibilitiesMaintain centralized documentation and serve as subject matter expert on Operations contracts, including scope, renewal terms, and compliance triggers.Track and drive forward cross-functional operational initiatives (e.g., vendor contracts, in-lounge bonus programs, engagement projects), ensuring timely execution.Act as conduit and communication point of contact for all Operations and Guest Experience needs from critical cross-functional stakeholders, including Finance, Procurement, and others supporting commercial strategy.Navigate competing priorities and influence outcomes without direct authority.Serve as primary operational partner to Business Development, providing accurate and well-vetted data for new business opportunities.Support operational reporting and data analysis (e.g., headcount, spend trends, staffing asks) to inform resource planning and strategic decisions.Compile and present monthly, quarterly, and ad-hoc operational performance reports.Ensure Ops-related spend complies with financial policy, contract terms, and legal/regulatory standards.Build and maintain strong partnerships between Operations Support and functional stakeholders, facilitating clear communication on financial matters and priorities.Job DescriptionAct as first point of contact for AD Finance when operational inputs are needed, enabling Finance to focus on FP&A, while gathering and validating inputs from the Operations Support team.Receive, review, and route invoices for Operations Support; validate scope and pricing against contract terms, apply correct coding, and coordinate with Accounting for timely processing.Own and manage approval workflows for operational expenditures, staffing asks, and contract-related decisions. Monitor approval flows and clear blockers.Monitor actual spend vs. forecast pacing, flag risks, and support Finance and Ops leadership with timely variance analysis.Partner with Guest Experience, Procurement, D&C, Accounting, and Business Development teams to ensure alignment on spend, contract execution, and operational priorities.Provide spend analysis and cost tracking as needed to support access strategy and related initiatives, including airline contracts, pre-book strategy, ancillary sales, and Guest/Employee Experience programming.Serve as a financial and operational support resource, ensuring commercial and operational teams have the visibility and controls needed to execute their strategies.Knowledge, Skills and Experience RequiredRequired QualificationsBachelor's degree in finance, business, or a related field.Minimum of 5 years' experience in finance, operations, or administrative planning, with a focus on operational support and financial management.Proven experience in managing or supporting budgeting, forecasting, and expense tracking processes.Financial AcumenProficient in reviewing and validating invoices, contracts, and budgets; understands GL coding, cost centers, and entity structures.Comfortable partnering with Finance teams and interpreting budgets/forecasts.Ability to explain budget variances using operational context and insight.Knowledge of financial compliance standards and ability to ensure spend aligns with policy and contract terms.Proficiency in using financial and operational software tools (e.g., Excel, financial management software, automation tools) to manage data, track expenses, and generate reports.Process Improvement and AutomationExperience managing approval workflows and supporting systems like Smartsheet, Excel, or PO platforms.Comfortable introducing and maintaining operational systems; own related administrative setup and process documentation.Highly organized and detail-oriented; maintains oversight of in-progress approvals, compliance status, and contract terms.Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, accuracy, and control.Communication and CollaborationProven ability to build trust and credibility with cross-functional partners —able to coordinate with Finance, Operations Support, Procurement, Accounting, and others.Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.Clear communicator who can bridge strategic intent and day-to-day execution.Proactive in surfacing roadblocks, establishing solutions, raising relevant questions, and driving decisions forward.Organizational SkillsExcellent organizational skills with the ability to work independently, self-motivate, and manage tasks across teams, ensuring deadlines are met and processes are completed efficiently.Strong attention to detail, ensuring that financial and operational processes are accurate and compliant.