Ares is currently searching for a highly motivated, detail-oriented team player to join as a Vice President in the U.S. Direct Lending Product Management and Investor Relations team in the New York office.

The candidate will be responsible for assisting with product development, fundraising, creation of marketing materials, due diligence execution, ongoing fund reporting and client servicing. The role supports key strategic priorities and provides a high degree of visibility to senior management and investors. The candidate must have strong organizational, interpersonal, quantitative and analytical skills, as well as strong writing capabilities.

Ares U.S. Direct Lending Group (“DLG”) is one of the largest self-originating direct lenders to the U.S. middle market. With a team of over 200 investment professionals in offices across the U.S., Ares U.S. DLG self-originates investment opportunities in senior secured loans, private high yield, mezzanine and select minority equity investments. Ares U.S. DLG provides investors access to its self-originating direct lending platform through several vehicles, including commingled funds, separately managed accounts and a publicly traded vehicle, Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC).

Primary Function and Essential Responsibilities:

The Vice President will work collaboratively with senior management to provide information and expertise on U.S. Direct Lending strategies. To succeed in this role, an individual must possess a strategic orientation combined with strong analytical skills and excellent potential for relationship management. In addition, this person will be a conceptual thinker, creative, articulate and have the ability to understand and convey a variety of concepts at all levels. Outstanding execution and organization skills combined with excellent judgment and exemplary ethics and values are imperative.

The successful candidate should possess the following specific competencies or attributes:

• Knowledge of direct lending / leveraged finance, based on investments, portfolio management and/or marketing experience;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills – ability to establish rapport and quickly engender trust and respect internally as well as with institutional investors and other industry contacts;
• Ability to work effectively with a variety of internal Ares constituents including marketing, finance and accounting, legal and compliance, portfolio management and investment professionals;
• Outgoing, collaborative and inclusive style;
• Well-developed ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment;
• High energy level displayed within a culture of intensity, accessibility and availability;
• Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure.

Specific tasks will include:

• Develop marketing and due diligence materials such as private placement memorandums (PPM), pitch books, fact sheets and due diligence questionnaires (DDQs) for investment vehicles;
• Prepare request for proposals, questionnaires and data requests related to investor due diligence;
• Assist with monthly, quarterly and year-end fund reporting as well as ad-hoc investor requests;
• Work directly with investors, business development professionals and various other groups to communicate strategies, follow-up on investor/prospect inquiries and develop materials for use by the direct lending team, marketing team and other professionals as required;
• Develop and execute on strategic initiatives, identify market opportunities and conduct research to determine effective product launches;
• Work across functions to obtain and synthesize information from the investment, reporting and accounting teams in order to prepare communication materials;
• Keep abreast of industry trends and conduct market and competitor research;
• Create presentations and coordinate logistics for Annual General Meeting, investor meetings and conference calls;
• Develop entrenched relationships with institutional investors globally as part of fundraising, LP co-investment and broader client servicing efforts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 6+ years of work experience in an investor relations, strategy, client service or product management role. Must have a blend of client service, investment capabilities and commercial sense.
• Experience with investor relations/business development from a placement agent/private direct lending fund, asset manager or private equity firm required.
• Investment and leveraged finance experience preferred.
• Series 7, 63 and SIE or ability to obtain.

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General Requirements:

• Exceptional attention to detail, placing a high priority on accuracy and organization;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization and represent the Firm in a professional manner;
• Problem solver with ability to research solutions and suggest resolutions;
• Highly motivated with the ability to set priorities, multitask and monitor own workload to meet aggressive deadlines;
• Strong work ethic and self-starter;
• Demonstrated experience working in a team environment with multiple tasks;
• Highly proficient in Word, PowerPoint and Excel.

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