Principal, Operational Strategy

Principal, Corporate Strategy – Operational Strategy Group

The Principal will lead strategy and execution of key transformation initiatives across Ares’ lines of business, ensuring that enterprise‑level objectives are translated into actionable, measurable programs and delivered with disciplined execution.

• Translate executive priorities into executable programs focusing on enterprise sequencing.
• Lead solution and operating‑model design across business lines, defining scalable process designs.
• Own program development, portfolio integration and execution planning, including sequencing, dependencies and resource allocation.
• Drive disciplined program management, ensuring scope, timeline, risk, and deliverables are met and stakeholder accountability is maintained.
• Manage change adoption, partnering with business teams to embed new processes and tools into day‑to‑day workflows.
• Translate complex transformation concepts into clear, compelling business narratives for stakeholders across the organization.
• Support governance and executive decision‑making with executive‑ready materials, steering committee updates, risk logs, and status reports.
• Track value realization and business impact, defining success metrics, monitoring benefit realization, and connecting activities to tangible outcomes.
• Advance continuous improvement discipline, identifying inefficiencies, redesigning workflows and standardizing repeatable practices.
• Bridge business strategy, technology, data and controls to ensure target‑state designs meet regulatory, operational and security requirements.
• Lead M&A integration work streams, translating priorities into operational plans across each phase of the M&A lifecycle.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Economics, Political Science, Finance, General Business or Management; outstanding academic achievement.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum 15 years in large‑scale transformation, strategy execution, business operations, process redesign, integration or management consulting.
• Proven ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable programs, operating models, roadmaps, and execution plans.
• Experience analyzing and redesigning business processes, systems, workflows, controls and requirements from current state through implementation.
• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional initiatives across Technology, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, Investor Relations, Sales/Marketing and external vendors.
• Strong knowledge of alternative investments across Credit, Private Equity, Real Assets and Secondaries.
• Structured problem‑solver with analytical skills, sound judgment and ability to simplify complex issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing executive‑ready materials and influencing stakeholders.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, results‑driven with the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, risks and dependencies in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proactive self‑starter with bias for action, continuous improvement mindset and balance between tactical execution and strategic direction.
• Experience using program management tools (Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, Asana, , etc.); people management preferred.
• Familiarity with transformation domains such as client experience, investor transformation, deal pipeline management, allocation and investment workflow transformation, treasury, banking and liquidity operations is a plus.

Base salary: $250,000 – $280,000 per annum, with discretionary performance‑based bonus. Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, FSA, HSA, life insurance, LTD/STD, EAP, commuter benefits, wellness applications, financial wellness, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship, and more.

Ares Management LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation or gender identity, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Ares Management will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.