Contracts Manager, Digital Infrastructure

About the 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.

About the role

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities.

By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2026, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had approximately $671 billion of assets under management, with approximately 2,100 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Role Overview

As our first Contracts Manager in the Digital Infrastructure vertical, you'll play a crucial role in building and optimizing our legal function while managing key department programs and initiatives. You'll implement systems and processes to increase efficiency, manage our contract lifecycles, oversee entity management, coordinate cross-functional legal projects, and negotiate basic agreements. This is an opportunity to shape the legal function at a growing global company.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement legal department processes and workflows to improve efficiency
• Improve and manage our contract lifecycle management system
• Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and approval workflows
• Manage full contract lifecycles from request to execution and renewal
• Lead entity management across multiple jurisdictions
• Negotiate standard commercial agreements
• Develop and execute strategic program plans for legal department initiatives
• Manage multiple legal projects simultaneously, ensuring on-time delivery and quality
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams and align legal programs with business objectives
• Track program milestones, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies
• Lead change management efforts for new legal processes and systems
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and automation
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to help streamline legal operations
• Track key metrics and provide regular reporting on legal department performance
• Manage program budgets and resource allocation when applicable
• Support the legal team with special projects as needed

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in contract management, legal operations, or related field
• Experience implementing and managing contract lifecycle management systems
• Strong understanding of contract terms, legal concepts, and business implications
• Demonstrated program management experience, preferably in a legal or corporate environment
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination skills
• Proven track record of improving operational efficiency through process design
• Excellent negotiation skills for standard commercial agreements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in technology, infrastructure, or data center industries
• Knowledge of legal tech tools and automation solutions
• Experience leading enterprise-wide initiatives or transformation programs
• Experience working in high-growth environments
• Familiarity with corporate governance best practices

Personal Attributes

• Self-starter with ability to work independently and take initiative
• Strong problem-solving skills and analytical mindset
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strategic thinker with ability to translate vision into executable plans
• Adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced multicultural environment
• Collaborative team player who can work effectively across departments
• Process-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset
• Resilient under pressure with ability to manage competing priorities

• Reporting Relationships
• Counsel, Digital Infrastructure

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.

$125,000 - $145,000/ annum

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.