Contracts Manager, Digital Infrastructure

0200 Ares Operations LLC; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans

401(k) with company match

FSA

HSA with company contribution

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Commuter Benefits

Job summary

Ares Management Corporation is seeking a Contracts Manager in the Digital Infrastructure vertical to design and optimize the legal function, manage contract lifecycles, oversee entity management, and negotiate standard agreements. This role involves coordinating cross-functional projects and implementing efficient processes across multiple jurisdictions.

The position focuses on building scalable legal operations, improving templates and workflows, and driving program initiatives while ensuring

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.

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.

Skills

Contract management

Legal operations

Contract lifecycle management

Program management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Tools

Contract lifecycle management systems

Legal tech tools

Job description

Ada Infrastructure is a global data center business committed to being a positive force for technology, people, and the planet. As part of the digital infrastructure platform of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager, Ada Infrastructure is positioned to be a leader in the industry in reliable, safe, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure. To learn more about Ada Infrastructure, visit www.adainfrastructure.com or to learn more about Ares Management visit www.aresmgmt.com.

Job Description 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. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com.

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.

Ada Infrastructure is a global data center business committed to being a positive force for technology, people, and the planet. As part of the digital infrastructure platform of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES), a leading global alternative investment manager, Ada Infrastructure is positioned to be a leader in the industry in reliable, safe, secure, and sustainable digital infrastructure. To learn more about Ada Infrastructure, visit www.adainfrastructure.com or to learn more about Ares Management visit www.aresmgmt.com.