Head of HR Transformation

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

Ares is seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of HR Transformation to establish and lead a newly created function that will serve as the driving force behind comprehensive initiatives to modernize, digitize, and elevate the HR function. In partnership with the HR leadership team, this individual will be responsible for shaping a cohesive and forward-looking transformation agenda, building the HR Transformation Office from the ground up, and delivering innovative, scalable solutions that enhance organizational agility, operational excellence, and employee experience across the firm.

Reporting to the Head of HR Strategy & Operations, this role will oversee and integrate critical capabilities including transformation strategy, program and portfolio management, change enablement, process optimization, and strategic initiative delivery.

The ideal candidate is a visionary and pragmatic leader with a proven track record of delivering large-scale HR transformation in complex, matrixed environments. They will bring deep expertise in HR modernization, process design, digital enablement, AI/Automation, and change leadership—along with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and inspire cross-functional teams to embrace new ways of working.

Reporting relationships

Reports to: Managing Director, Head of HR Strategy & Operations

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

Strategy & Leadership

Establish and lead a dedicated HR Transformation Office, including hiring and developing a high-performing team with the skillsets required to drive enterprise-wide HR modernization initiatives.
Build institutional knowledge within the transformation function and across HR, reducing dependency on external consultants for recurring needs and ensuring continuity and sustainability.
Define the vision and goals for HR evolution in partnership with the HR Leadership Team, translating strategic priorities into actionable roadmaps and compelling business cases.
Develop and manage a multi-year HR transformation roadmap (3–5 years) aligned with enterprise objectives, including clear milestones, interdependencies, and success metrics.
Ensure alignment with enterprise transformation efforts, including cross-functional initiatives in Corporate Strategy, Compliance, Finance, Legal, and Technology, to maximize impact and integration.

Execution & Enablement

Staff HR transformation initiatives with appropriately skilled TMO (Transformation Management Office) team members, ensuring the right mix of capabilities and capacity to drive successful execution and deliver measurable outcomes.
Coordinate and execute HR projects using structured methodologies, ensuring consistent delivery of HR objectives across functions and geographies.
Lead the analysis, redesign, and optimization of HR processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and service delivery.
Collaborate with IT and HRIS to automate and digitize HR processes where appropriate, enhancing user experience and operational agility

Measurement & Change Adoption

Establish value realization frameworks to measure, track, and report on both tangible and intangible benefits of HR transformation initiatives against business case commitments.
Define and operationalize transformation playbooks, KPIs, and ROI metrics to ensure consistent execution and accountability across initiatives.
Design and implement change management strategies that drive adoption of new HR systems, processes, and operating models, including stakeholder engagement, readiness assessments, and communications planning.
Continuously scan the market for emerging HR trends and technologies, incorporating best practices and innovations into the transformation agenda.

Strategic Initiative Delivery

Partner closely with the Head of HR Strategy & Operations to lead a set of strategic initiatives including HR Service Delivery Model, Employee Experience, HR technology, and AI and automation.
Develop and manage the HR AI and Automation strategy and delivery, including roadmap creation, readiness assessments, and implementation planning to embed intelligent automation into core HR processes.
In partnership with senior HR leaders, help define HRs role in the broader Ares workforce strategy at the intersection of humans, agents, and AI/automation.
Advance the future-state HR Operating Model, addressing workforce distribution, skill alignment, cost efficiency, service delivery strategy, and the balance between self-service/concierge support and humans/agents.
Help establish governance and decision-making frameworks between HR and HR Technology, including product ownership, RACI, strategic alignment, and long-term viability of the HR tech ecosystem.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree required in Human Resources, Business Management, Communications, or related fields.
15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, with at least 5 years in senior transformation or strategy roles within complex, matrixed organizations—preferably in financial services or similarly regulated industries.
Experience in management consulting, business process improvement, or internal strategic advisory roles, ideally within People Strategy or AI enablement domains.
Proven success in leading enterprise-wide HR transformation initiatives, including operating model redesign, employee experience strategy, HR technology modernization, and AI/automation integration.
Demonstrated ability to build and scale transformation functions, including standing up a Transformation Office and staffing initiatives with appropriate capabilities.
Strong background in program and portfolio management, with experience overseeing multi-year, cross-functional initiatives and managing interdependencies across HR, IT, and business units.
Strong acumen in change management, including stakeholder engagement, communications planning, and adoption strategies for new systems and processes.
Experience with HR technology ecosystems (e.g., Workday, talent platforms, analytics tools), including product ownership, vendor management, and long-term viability planning.
Deep understanding of AI technologies, including GenAI and Agentic AI, and their implications for workforce transformation and digital enablement.
Background and strong working knowledge in process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).
Global experience preferred, including exposure to workforce location strategy, shared services, and regional delivery models.

General Requirements

Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of building trust, alignment, and influence across diverse stakeholder groups, including senior leadership.
Proven ability to foster a positive, collaborative, and change-resilient culture across HR and business functions.
Exceptional project management, leadership, and consultation skills, with a track record of delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives.
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving abilities and comfort working with data, metrics, and financial analysis.
Strong documentation skills, including process mapping, methodology development, and transformation playbook creation.
Familiarity with HR policies, processes, compliance requirements, and service delivery models.
Excellent PowerPoint skills and strong capabilities in Visio, Excel, etc.

Reporting Relationships

Head of Talent Operations

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.

$200,000-$250,000

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.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.