Vice President, Defined Contribution Lead
$190k - $220k+ Discretionary performance-based bonus
Senior
Bachelor's
Boston, MA, USA+2 moreMore locations: Los Angeles, CA, USA | New York, NY, USA
In Person
Finance & BankingWealth Management & Financial Advisory
Company Does Not Provide H1B Sponsorship
About the job
Requirements
- A Bachelor's degree is required.
- At least 7 years of experience in defined contribution or retirement consulting is required.
- Strong understanding of the defined contribution landscape, including 401(k), 403(b), 457, and other retirement structures is required.
- Experience working with RIAs, family offices, retirement advisors, consultants, recordkeepers, or wealth management platforms is required.
- Demonstrated relationship management and business development experience with institutional or intermediary clients is required.
- Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and project management skills are required.
- Ability to operate effectively across multiple stakeholders and manage numerous strategic initiatives simultaneously is required.
- Proficiency with CRM systems and pipeline management processes is required.
Responsibilities
- Support execution of Ares' defined contribution strategy within the RIA, family office, and broader wealth management channels.
- Partner with the RIA & Family Office sales team to uncover opportunities where retirement and wealth management channels intersect.
- Develop and execute business plans and sales strategies designed to increase awareness, engagement, and adoption of Ares investment solutions.
- Monitor retirement industry developments, competitive dynamics, regulatory changes, and product innovation trends to identify new opportunities.
- Maintain strong relationships with key defined contribution stakeholders, including advisors, consultants, recordkeepers, home office research teams, and platform executives.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for strategic retirement-related partners and support partner onboarding, due diligence, fund placement, and education initiatives.
- Proactively engage with existing and prospective partners to identify opportunities and address business needs in a timely manner.
- Serve as a subject matter expert on retirement investing and the role of alternative investments within participant portfolios.
- Deliver presentations, webinars, educational events, and thought leadership content to advisors, consultants, and platform partners.
- Support conference participation, partner events, sponsorships, roadshows, and other industry engagements.
- Develop insights and recommendations regarding evolving retirement market trends and implementation considerations.
- Partner closely with Product Management, Investor Services, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and Investment Teams to advance key strategic initiatives.
- Coordinate internal resources to support onboarding efforts, diligence processes, fundraising initiatives, and partner engagement activities.
- Maintain and oversee pipeline, relationship, and opportunity tracking systems to ensure effective follow-up and execution.
- Prepare presentations, business reviews, and strategic updates for senior management, including pipeline activity, partner engagement, and growth opportunities.
- Provide market feedback to support product development, positioning, and future retirement-focused initiatives.
Desired Qualifications
- Knowledge of alternative investments, private markets, and portfolio construction frameworks.
- Existing relationships across the retirement and defined contribution ecosystem.
- Professional designations such as CFA, CAIA, CFP, CIMA, QKS, AIF, or similar credentials.
- Experience working in a highly collaborative, matrixed organization.
About the company
Ares Management pools capital from institutions, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals into funds across credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure to help clients grow their wealth. It operates by assembling diversified investment vehicles, deploying capital to buy assets or lend money, and earning money from management fees, performance fees, and investment income. What sets it apart is its collaborative, multi-asset approach and flexible capital across markets and cycles, backed by a large, diverse client base. Its goal is to deliver steady, attractive returns for clients while supporting businesses and communities through different market cycles.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
1997
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Ares closed AGSS at $4.2 billion on October 1, 2026, quadrupling target.
- The September 2026 PSP logistics JV adds up to $2.4 billion of deployable capital.
- October 2026 financing for Phoenix Tower and Plenitude expands fee-bearing AUM and relationships.
What critics are saying
- Apollo and Blackstone attack Ares’ secondaries and infrastructure turf, compressing fees by 2027.
- Phoenix Tower and Plenitude concentrate capital in huge, negotiated deals with execution and governance risk.
- A severe credit downturn would hit performance fees, fundraising, and Ares’ $671 billion platform hard.
What makes Ares Management unique
- Ares spans credit, secondaries, real estate, and infrastructure across one distribution machine.
- Marq Logistics and PSP’s September 2026 JV prove Ares can source operating real assets.
- The October 2026 AGSS fund shows unmatched GP-solution depth in private markets.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- 401(k) Company Match
- Employee Assistance Program
- Commuter Benefits
- Mental Health Support
- Family Planning Benefits
- Fertility Treatment Support
- Paid Sick Leave