Associate Global Procurement Operations

### _Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry._ **Job Description** **SUCCESS PROFILE** A successful Associate in Global Procurement Operations consistently demonstrates an approachable, collaborative style combined with strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Delivers accurate, timely execution of procurement processes while maintaining strong data integrity and compliance with policies. Highly responsive, systems-savvy, and proactive in improving workflows, enabling efficient operations and a seamless stakeholder experience. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES ==================== P2P / Procurement Transactions ------------------------------ * Execute accurate, timely, and compliant procurement transactions * Provide operational support to internal business users, vendors, and Procurement team * Prepare purchase requisitions in Coupa for new engagements, as needed * Troubleshoot purchase order discrepancies, missing documentation, approval routing issues, and process roadblocks * Utilize Power BI aging reports to identify POs requiring action or closure Contract Lifecycle Support -------------------------- * Submit contracts into the contract lifecycle management (CLM) system * Monitor and communicate contract status updates to stakeholders * Report and track contracts approaching renewal and notify appropriate business owners Procurement & Strategic Sourcing Activities ------------------------------------------- * Conduct sourcing activities (RFPs, vendor rate analysis, etc.) with guidance from Procurement leads for large spend projects. * Potential for leading sourcing activities for lower threshold sourcing activities * Conduct ongoing Spend Analytics support - review spend summary and reporting outputs * Support data extraction and analysis from Power BI reports, as needed Information Services Category Management ---------------------------------------- * Manage the category portfolio: * ensure effective license utilization * maintain accurate user data to support governance, contract compliance, stakeholder decision making, and reporting * Effective collaboration with Accounts Payable to provide accurate validation, tracking, and allocation of subscription and service-related costs. * Deliver responsive support and ensure a high level of customer service across internal and external partners. Procurement Inbox & Communications ---------------------------------- * Perform daily monitoring and management of the Procurement inbox * Respond to general inquiries from internal stakeholders and external vendors * Prepare ad-hoc spend summaries for specific vendors, commodities, and parent categories Supplier & Stakeholder Support ------------------------------ * Assist suppliers with onboarding, documentation requirements, catalog updates, and system navigation * Serve as first-line support for internal users on procurement workflows, PO creation, and process questions * Partner with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice matching issues and blocked invoice scenarios Process Compliance & Documentation ---------------------------------- * Ensure transactions comply with procurement policies, spend thresholds, and P2P controls * Enforce adherence to standard operating procedures and purchase controls * Maintain operational documentation, checklists, logs, and audit support materials * Monitor user activity to ensure process consistency and identify training needs Continuous Improvement Support ------------------------------ * Identify recurring process issues, delays, or inefficiencies and escalate recommendations * Support process mapping, metrics tracking, and improvement initiatives * Assist with system testing, template updates, and validation during system enhancements or upgrades * Indicate AI applicable process optimizations REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ======================= * Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/ Bachelor’s of Commerce, degree in Business (or other related degree programs) * 4-6 years of experience in procurement operations, purchasing, or supply chain support * Solid understanding of Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes and controls * Experience with procurement or ERP systems (Coupa preferred) * Knowledge of contract management and renewal processes * Experience with Contract Lifecycle Management Tool (CLM) (Icertis preferred) * Solid understanding of strategic sourcing, direct negotiations with vendors, contract strategy, contract management, vendor relationship management, internal stakeholder management * Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Power Point * Strong attention to detail and organizational skills * Excellent written and verbal communication skills * Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS ======================== * Familiarity with Power BI reporting and dashboards * Background in spend analysis and vendor management * Familiarity with MS Copilot KEY ATTRIBUTES & PREFERRED SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE ============================================= * ERP (Required), Coupa (Preferred) * CLM (Required), Icertis (Preferred) * Microsoft Power BI (Preferred) * Ticketing System, ServiceNow or Jira (Preferred) **Reporting Relationships** Principal, Global Procurement _There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active._