Vice President, Product Specialist (Real Assets)

Ares Operations•New York, NY

About The Position

This is a senior position that will work closely with various business units within Ares Wealth Management Solutions (AWMS) such as Business Management, Competitor Analytics, Marketing, Product Development, Sales, Compliance, Legal and Fund Administration to support the ongoing distribution and marketing of Ares real estate and infrastructure investment solutions, with a strategic focus on Ares’ non-traded REITs and core infrastructure strategies. The role involves acting as a primary liaison between investment teams and the wealth management solutions leadership, salesforce, and other departments. The position requires providing strategic direction for the management and distribution of real estate and infrastructure solutions within the wealth channel, with a focus on real asset perpetual solutions. Responsibilities include reviewing and recommending changes to existing products, identifying and resolving product-related issues, and accurately positioning investment solutions. The role also involves collaborating with sales management and internal partners on product positioning, developing marketing materials, and monitoring capital markets and the competitive landscape. Additionally, the position requires educating new hires and existing employees on asset classes and products, driving relationships with distribution channels, and responding to sales inquiries. The Vice President will present strategy information and product updates, travel for industry conferences and sales meetings, and handle legally required work such as reviewing shareholder reports and prospectuses. The role also involves generating analytical data to support product positioning and managing due diligence requests.

Requirements

An undergraduate degree or equivalent applicable work experience
6+ years of relevant industry experience
Series 63 & 7 licenses preferred; must be capable of obtaining licensing within 120 days if not currently held
CAIA, CFA or CIMA designation preferred
Strong alternative investments knowledge with ability to articulate complex concepts to audiences with varying degrees of investment acumen
Understanding of financial markets, investment concepts, styles, and issues
Ability to effectively communicate with and work with the Investments Sales and Marketing teams
Solid written and oral presentation skills
Team player with excellent interpersonal skills; must be able to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with all departments and organizational levels
Creative thinker with an ability to identify process improvement opportunities, as well as sales ideas.
Strong attention to detail, with analytical capabilities
Ability to create efficient processes
Must have the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, and complete projects on a timely basis.
Ability to influence people who don’t have a direct reporting relationship
Strong PC skills (including general software and industry databases such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, amongst others)

Responsibilities

Act as the primary liaison between the Ares Real Estate Group (Investment Team, including PMs, and Product and IR), Ares Infrastructure Group and the Ares Wealth Management Solutions leadership, salesforce and other departments
Help provide strategic direction for the management and distribution Ares’ real estate and infrastructure solutions within the wealth channel, with a strategic focus on Ares’ real asset perpetual solutions
Review existing product(s) and recommend changes/enhancements where applicable. e.g. Pricing benchmarking, strategy and investment limits
Proactively identify issues impacting the product(s) and recommend next steps/solutions
Accurately and effectively position our real asset investment solutions based on information from investment and product & IR teams, external news sources, internally run data, feedback from sales and their advisors, and other sources
Work closely with sales management and internal partners on product positioning, writing talking points and developing new materials to enhance existing thought leadership
Responsible for reviewing others’ work to ensure accuracy and message consistency
Monitor capital markets, trade publications, flows, performance, portfolio characteristics and competitive landscape relating to the real estate investment universe
Present product updates and positioning at sales meetings
Initial and ongoing internal education to new hires and existing employees on the asset class and product(s)
Drive relationships with Distribution (Sales, National Accounts, DCIO, etc.) along with internal partners (Product Development, Marketing, Legal, MRU, Fund Admin, etc.)
Respond to sales inquiries in a timely manner (answer questions, provide data, etc.)
In a CPM capacity, present strategy information and product updates on calls/meetings with Financial Professionals
Travel as needed / desired to present with sales professionals and to industry conferences
Legally required work – Review Shareholder reports and prospectuses, 15(c) peer review, cap gains, etc.
Proactively and reactively generate analytical data that can support product positioning
Create & regularly update fund due diligence documents and manage incoming due diligence requests