Associate Legal Transformation & 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** About the Role * Ares is seeking an Associate, Legal Transformation & Operations to help drive strategic, operational and technology initiatives across the Legal Strategy and Innovation (“LSI”) function. * Working closely with the Head of Legal Transformation & Operations, the Associate will own and advance discrete workstreams spanning operational transformation, workflow modernization, legal technology, data and analytics, AI enablement, vendor management and other department-wide initiatives. * The role is designed for a highly resourceful and analytical individual who combines structured problem solving with strong execution. The successful candidate will be comfortable taking ambiguous problems, developing a path forward, coordinating across stakeholders and driving work through implementation. * Success requires strong judgment, ownership, attention to detail, intellectual curiosity and the ability to learn new tools, systems and subject matter quickly. Key Responsibilities Transformation Execution & Project Management * Own and drive discrete workstreams within strategic and operational initiatives across LSI and the broader Legal department. * Develop and manage project plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions and follow-up activities across multiple concurrent initiatives. * Structure ambiguous business problems, conduct analysis, synthesize findings and help develop practical recommendations and implementation approaches. * Prepare decision-ready presentations, briefing materials, executive updates, meeting materials and project documentation. * Coordinate stakeholders, working sessions, testing, training, change management and implementation activities to keep initiatives moving forward. * Identify execution risks and obstacles, escalate issues appropriately and drive issues through resolution. Process, Data & Technology Enablement * Analyze existing workflows and operating processes and identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, or redesign them. * Help design and implement scalable intake mechanisms, routing models, approval workflows, service delivery processes and other operational infrastructure. * Document processes, operating procedures, decision frameworks, templates and other reusable resources. * Collect, organize, validate and analyze data from internal systems, vendors and business processes. * Develop dashboards, KPI reporting, management analyses and executive-level insights that support decision-making and performance management. * Support data quality, data governance and reporting initiatives that improve the reliability and usability of Legal department information. * Support the implementation, testing, administration and adoption of legal technology and other enterprise platforms. * Identify practical opportunities to apply automation and generative AI to workflows, operational processes, analysis and knowledge-intensive work. * Develop user guides, training materials and adoption resources that help translate new tools and processes into sustained ways of working. Department Operations & General Counsel Support * Support the General Counsel to build and maintain a scalable operating infrastructure for the Legal department, including onboarding materials, organizational charts, distribution lists, intranet content, departmental overview materials for investors, reference materials and other internal communications. * Coordinate department-wide meetings, offsites, training programs and other initiatives that support organizational alignment and employee experience. Qualifications Required Skills and Experience * 3–6 years of experience in management consulting, strategy or business operations, transformation, project or program management, technology implementation, legal operations, professional services, or a similarly rigorous operating environment. * Demonstrated ability to independently own workstreams and manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. * Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, including the ability to turn incomplete or ambiguous information into actionable recommendations. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, decision-ready materials. * Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. * Demonstrated fluency using generative AI tools to improve research, analysis, drafting, productivity, or workflow execution. * Strong organizational skills and attention to detail while maintaining focus on broader business objectives. * Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with significant ambiguity. * Ability and willingness to independently learn new technologies, systems, business processes and subject matter quickly. * Proven track record of taking ownership, exercising initiative and following through on commitments. Preferred Qualifications * Experience with technology-enabled transformation initiatives, including system implementations, workflow redesign, user adoption, training and change management. * Experience with program or project management tools and methodologies. * Experience with systems of record or operational platforms supporting data intake, workflow orchestration, process automation, or knowledge management. * Experience with data visualization, reporting, or automation tools such as Power BI, Power Automate, or similar platforms. * Experience supporting budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, vendor management, or financial analysis. * Experience using vibe-coding or generative AI coding tools. Candidate Profile * Prior legal experience is helpful but not required. More important are intellectual curiosity, analytical ability, operational rigor, strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to move from problem definition through execution. * The strongest candidates will be comfortable quickly shifting between ideation and execution: structuring an ambiguous problem, developing an analysis or recommendation and then doing the detailed work required to implement the solution successfully. What Success Looks Like * Strategic and operational workstreams advance with increasing independence, strong organization and disciplined follow-through. * The Head of Legal Transformation & Operations gains meaningful leverage because the Associate can take ownership of execution and drive initiatives forward. * Analyses, presentations, reporting and project materials are consistently accurate, insightful, timely and decision-ready. * Processes and operating infrastructure become more standardized, scalable, measurable and efficient. * Technology, AI and workflow initiatives translate into practical improvements that are successfully implemented and adopted. * Stakeholders view the Associate as a resourceful, dependable, analytically strong partner who can solve problems and get things done. **Reporting Relationships** Vice President, Head of Legal Transformation **Compensation** The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role. $105,000-$130,000 The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include 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. _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._