Senior Associate, Legal Vendor Strategy & Management

About the Role Ares is seeking a Senior Associate, Legal Vendor Strategy & Management – Performance and Value Management to help build the infrastructure for how the Legal department selects, manages and evaluates outside counsel and other legal service providers. This role leads key workstreams on vendor strategy, sourcing, pricing analysis, performance management and relationship governance across Ares’ legal vendor portfolio. Key Responsibilities Vendor Strategy and Sourcing: Develop vendor segmentation, sourcing strategy and preferred‑provider approach; participate in RFx processes; prepare vendor profiles, comparative assessments; identify mix and cost opportunities; independently develop analyses on pricing, staffing models and vendor selection decisions. Governance and Relationship Management: Build and maintain governance processes; lead preparation of quarterly reviews and other governance forums; track commitments, follow‑ups, performance trends and escalation items; partner with stakeholders to incorporate playbook adherence, knowledge‑transfer expectations and data‑sharing requirements into governance; use AI‑enabled tools for analysis and decision support. Pricing, Spend and Performance Management: Support pricing analysis, alternative fee arrangement evaluation and broader commercial decision‑making; partner with Legal and Finance to improve visibility into spend drivers and forecast trends; build scorecards, evaluation frameworks and performance review materials; identify patterns related to cost, efficiency, quality, responsiveness and staffing; evaluate AI usage and implications; translate data and feedback into actionable recommendations. Cross‑Functional Execution: Align vendor governance and management with Ares’ evolving legal operating model; prepare presentations, briefing materials and decision support for leadership; support rollout of new governance practices, sourcing disciplines and performance management processes; contribute to a connected, data‑informed model for managing and selecting legal vendors. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Experience: 5+ years in management consulting, procurement, strategic sourcing, legal operations, outside counsel/account management, law firm practice management or business operations. Skills: Strong analytical skills; experience evaluating vendor performance, commercial terms and sourcing options; cross‑functional teamwork; excellent written and verbal communication; proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets; proficiency in PowerPoint/Google Slides; independent leadership of workstreams or projects; ability to synthesize financial, operational and qualitative information into clear recommendations; strong judgment, relationship management skills and a collaborative working style. Preferred: Experience with legal vendor management, outside counsel/account management, procurement or law firm practice management; familiarity with e‑billing, spend analytics, scorecards or vendor governance processes; comfort using AI‑enabled tools; experience preparing materials for business reviews, governance forums or executive decision‑making; experience in a legal department, law firm, ALSP or professional services environment; participation in vendor governance forums, pricing discussions or firm relationship management. Success Metrics Vendor sourcing and selection processes are more structured, disciplined and data‑informed; preferred vendors are managed through a consistent governance cadence with clear performance expectations and measured KPIs; leadership has better visibility into vendor pricing, sourcing, performance and opportunities for improvement; vendor scorecards, business reviews and governance materials support data‑driven decisions; vendor relationships are managed more strategically and are better aligned with quality, cost, responsiveness and knowledge transfer expectations. Compensation & Benefits Base salary 120,000 – 145,000 per annum plus discretionary performance‑based bonus. 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 and short‑term disability insurance; employee assistance program; commuter benefits; and a range of additional wellness and support programs such as mental health app, financial wellness benefit, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, gift matching, education sponsorship and more. Equal Employment Opportunity Ares Management LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ares Management Corporation