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

SUMMARY

Ares is seeking a Vice President to lead the governance, onboarding, security master, and data management functions supporting the Firm's rapidly expanding private debt platform. This leader will serve as a strategic partner to Investment Professionals, Portfolio Management, Trading, Legal, Compliance, Fund Accounting, Performance, and Technology teams, ensuring the operational infrastructure underpinning private debt investments is scalable, controlled, and fit for institutional growth.

The Vice President will own the operating framework that governs how private debt investments are structured, onboarded, maintained, and reported across the investment lifecycle. This role combines deep private credit expertise with operational leadership, data governance, technology transformation, and process optimization capabilities.

The successful candidate will drive strategic initiatives that enhance automation, improve data quality, strengthen controls, and create a best-in-class operating environment for Ares' global credit platform.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS & ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the operational strategy for private debt onboarding, security master governance, investment reference data, and lifecycle event management across the Firm's credit platform. 

• Establish and maintain a scalable operating model supporting continued growth across direct lending, asset-based finance, structured credit, commercial real estate debt, and other private credit strategies.

• Serve as the senior business owner for private debt data governance, operational controls, and investment onboarding processes. 

• Partner with executive stakeholders to develop long-term operational capabilities supporting evolving investment strategies and business requirements.

Investment Onboarding & Governance

• Provide executive oversight of the onboarding and setup of complex private debt transactions, including loans, notes, structured credit investments, private placements, and alternative credit instruments. 

• Ensure operating procedures and controls appropriately capture legal, accounting, compliance, valuation, performance, and reporting requirements.

• Establish governance standards for interpretation and operationalization of credit documentation, including credit agreements, amendments, funding notices, and legal entity structures.

• Oversee quality assurance frameworks that ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency of investment records across the platform.

Data Management & Technology Enablement 

• Define and execute the strategic roadmap for private debt data architecture, security master enhancements, workflow automation, and platform scalability. 

• Partner with Technology, Data, and Product teams to modernize onboarding processes and reduce operational risk through automation and system integration. 

• Sponsor initiatives across platforms including DealCloud, AlphaStream, IVP SecMaster, and other investment technologies to improve operational efficiency and data transparency. 

• Drive enterprise-wide data quality programs focused on reference data integrity, regulatory requirements, and investment lifecycle management

Operational Risk & Controls

• Establish key risk indicators, governance standards, and control frameworks supporting private debt operations. 

• Oversee exception management, reconciliations, root-cause analysis, and remediation efforts related to investment and security master data.

• Ensure operational readiness for audits, regulatory reviews, investor due diligence, and internal governance requirements. 

• Deliver reporting and analytics on onboarding quality, timeliness, operational effectiveness, risk metrics, and platform performance. 

Team Leadership & Talent Development 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of operational professionals responsible for onboarding, security setup, and data management. 

• Create career development frameworks and training programs focused on private debt products, operational excellence, and leadership growth. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and operational rigor. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration or related field. MBA, CFA, or other advanced professional designation preferred

Experience Required:

• 10+ years of progressive experience within investment operations, middle office, security master governance, investment data management, or private credit operations.  

• Significant experience supporting private debt, direct lending, structured credit, private placements, or alternative credit strategies.  

• Proven experience leading operational teams within a global asset manager, alternative investment firm, private credit platform, or investment bank.  

• Demonstrated success leading large-scale transformation, technology implementation, workflow automation, or data governance initiatives.  

• Deep understanding of private debt structures, credit documentation, lifecycle events, accounting implications, and investment data requirements.  

• Experience partnering directly with senior investment professionals and executive leadership teams.

General Requirements: 

• Private Credit Operations Leadership  

• Data Governance & Operating Model Design  

• Investment Platform Transformation  

• Operational Risk Management  

• Strategic Process Improvement  

• Executive Stakeholder Management  

• Team Leadership & Talent Development  

• Change Management & Organizational Influence  

• Technology & Workflow Automation  

• Project & Program Leadership 

Reporting Relationships

Compensation

$190,000 - $210,000

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.