Senior Associate, Corporate Strategy (HR M&A and Transformation)

About this role

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 Ares is seeking a high-performing, intellectually curious, and execution-oriented Senior Associate to join the Corporate Strategy Group with a focus on Human Capital M&A,   Transformation , and   Strategic Projects . This individual will play a key role in executing the firm's most important growth, integration, and transformation initiatives, partnering closely with   team members   across the organization to drive strategic outcomes and enterprise value creation.  

The Corporate Strategy Group works directly with Ares' senior leadership and business group heads to evaluate and execute the firm's highest-priority strategic initiatives, including management company acquisitions, strategic partnerships, business expansion,   strategic projects ,   and enterprise transformation initiatives.  

This role sits at the intersection of Corporate Strategy, Human   Resource s (HR) , M&A Integration, Business Transformation , and   Project Management . The Senior Associate will help assess potential acquisition opportunities, shape integration strategies, support organizational and workforce transformation efforts, and drive initiatives that enhance scalability, operational effectiveness, technology enablement, governance, and employee experience.  

The successful candidate will serve as both a   thought partner and execution   owner , translating complex business   objectives   into actionable plans while coordinating efforts across HR, Technology, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and   other groups as   required . The role offers significant exposure to senior executives and the opportunity to   contribute to initiatives   that shape the future growth and evolution of Ares.  

This position presents a unique opportunity to combine   M&A   transaction execution, operating model design   and   change   work , organizational transformation, and enterprise program   execution   within the firm's most visible and impactful strategic function.  

Reports to: Managing Director, HR M&A and Project Management  

Primary functions & responsibilities  

Human Capital M&A Strategy, Diligence & Value Creation  

• Support the evaluation and execution of acquisitions, strategic investments, and other growth initiatives, with a focus on human capital, organizational, and operating model considerations.  

• Assess talent, organizational structure, compensation, benefits, workforce, culture, and HR technology environments to   identify   opportunities, risks, integration requirements, and value creation opportunities.  

• Develop executive-level analyses, recommendations, and decision materials to inform transaction evaluation and strategic decision-making.  

• Translate diligence findings into integration priorities,   synergy   opportunities, workforce strategies, and long-term value creation initiatives.  

• Partner with stakeholders across Corporate Strategy, H uman Resources ,   Employment   Legal, Finance, Technology, and   other groups as   required   to support transaction execution and   integration   readiness.  

HR Integration Management & Organizational Transformation  

• Support the planning and execution of complex HR integration programs from pre-close diligence through post-close integration.  

• Drive alignment across functional teams and business leaders to ensure coordinated execution of integration   objectives   and achievement of key milestones.  

• Lead development of HR integration workplans, governance routines, status reporting, risk management, and dependency tracking frameworks.  

• Support organizational HR integration efforts, including workforce transitions, operating model alignment, HR systems integration, policy harmonization, change management, and   synergy   realization.  

• Help   identify   and resolve integration risks, organizational challenges, and cross-functional dependencies to accelerate successful outcomes.  

Strategic Transformation ,   Program   Management ,   and   Operating Model Evolution  

• Partner with senior stakeholders to shape and implement initiatives that strengthen organizational effectiveness, scalability, governance, and enterprise operating models.  

• Support   strategic projects and   transformation programs focused on process optimization, technology enablement, workforce modernization, operating model redesign, and organizational change.  

• Design and improve end-to-end workflows and business processes, partnering with stakeholders to clarify roles, decision points, handoffs, controls, and technology enablement in support of more effective and scalable ways of working.  

• Assess impacts across processes, systems, data, roles, governance structures, and stakeholder groups to support effective planning and implementation.  

• Translate strategic   objectives   into actionable roadmaps ,   project plans , business cases, and measurable outcomes.  

Enterprise Program   Execution   & Continuous Improvement  

• Manage complex cross-functional initiatives through disciplined governance, stakeholder engagement, executive reporting, and program management practices.  

• Prepare high-quality analyses, presentations, dashboards, and recommendations for senior leadership and executive decision-making forums.  

• Support facilitation of workshops, working sessions, steering committees, and stakeholder discussions to drive alignment and decision-making.

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