Associate, Operational Strategy

Job Description

Ares is seeking a versatile and highly motivated Associate to join the Corporate Strategy – Operational Strategy Group. Operational Strategy brings best-in-class execution discipline and program management rigor to the firm’s most critical transformation initiatives, including M&A integration master planning, enterprise operating model evolution, corporate efficiency efforts, and governance support for senior leadership forums.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Support operational acquisition integration and large-scale transformation initiatives by coordinating across business stakeholders, corporate functions, and third-party services providers to track status, surface risks, and maintain execution momentum
• Manage a high volume of concurrent integration workstreams, ensuring activities remain aligned to the master integration plan including Day 1 readiness, Day 100 planning, and longer-term value creation priorities
• Serve as a highly organized program support partner, connecting dots across workstreams, identifying dependencies, and helping teams stay coordinated and accountable against key milestones
• Drive integration of operating models, business processes, and systems across acquired or merging entities, ensuring alignment with target-state operating frameworks
• Partner with Growth Strategy and corporate leadership to identify and execute operational synergies, including cost optimization, revenue enhancement, and scalability initiatives
• Prepare clear, concise executive-level presentations to stakeholders, including senior leadership and investment teams, summarizing integration progress, risks, and value realization outcomes
• Own end-to-end project lifecycle across multiple concurrent initiatives, with a focus on dependency management across integration workstreams (technology, operations, finance)
• As a liaison between business and technical teams, translate integration requirements into scalable solutions, particularly within systems and data environments
• Identify and document best practices for operational integration, including process standardization, governance routines, performance tracking, and recurring reporting cadences

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a business, finance, or related discipline
• Experience: 4-7 years in COO Office, Transformation Office, Enterprise PMO, Integration Management Office (IMO), or management consulting
• Experience: Managing complex cross-functional transformation, integration, or strategic initiatives
• Skills: Advanced PowerPoint and storytelling capabilities, advanced program management expertise including dependency, risk, and stakeholder management, Alternative Investments domain knowledge, Operating model redesign, process improvement, or integration experience, Good judgment and understanding when to solve issues independently versus what need to be escalated, Demonstrated ability to research and leverage available resources to accomplish the task at hand, Comfort in dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, Dependable, great attitude, highly motivated and a team player, Ability to handle confidential information appropriately

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings including Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit. Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.