Managing Director, Head of Creative, Corporate Marketing
Ares Management Corporation, New York, NY, United States
### *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 a Managing Director–level executive to serve as Head of Creative within the Corporate Communications & Marketing group. This senior leadership role is responsible for defining and executing the firm’s global creative vision and brand expression.The Head of Creative will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning art direction, design, animation, video, and event design, and will partner closely with Corporate Communications & Marketing leadership to deliver high-impact campaigns, content, and brand experiences across all channels. The role translates complex strategic narratives into clear, compelling creative concepts; governs and evolves global brand standards; and drives operational excellence across workflows, resourcing models, and vendor partnerships. The position also champions innovation - including responsible adoption of AI-enabled creative tools - while ensuring quality, consistency, risk awareness, and strong internal client service.**PRIMARY FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:****Creative Vision*** Lead and inspire a team across art direction, design execution, animation and video, and event design, elevating creative output across internal and external resources.* Define, evolve, and enforce global brand guidelines and visual identity to ensure consistent, high-impact expression across all Ares touchpoints.* In partnership with Corporate Communications & Marketing stakeholders, help concept and deliver global campaigns and original content that advance Ares’ narrative and business objectives.* Translate complex brand and campaign ideas into clear concepts, articulating creative rationale and driving excellence across teams and partners.**Strategic Partnership and Business Alignment*** Partner closely with the Co-Heads of Corporate Communications & Marketing and Marketing team leads to shape, strengthen, and evolve Ares’ brand expression.* Ensure all creative work is grounded in business strategy, supporting company goals, marketing priorities, and long-term brand growth.* Lead projects from concept through execution, ensuring clarity, alignment, timely delivery, budget discipline, and stakeholder approval.* Communicate creative ideas and strategies clearly across teams, enabling buy‐in and cohesive execution.**Quality Client Service*** Partner with client groups firmwide to ensure thorough requirements
eeds intake, demand management, expectations management and quality delivery.* Address client service issues with a constructive collaborative approach.* Ensure core processes and technology relating to request lifecycle support timely and quality delivery.* Seek feedback and adjust approach as needed.**Innovation and Workflow Optimization*** Stay ahead of creative, marketing, and technology trends, including AI advancements, to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage.* Partner with Technology and the firm’s broader AI governance to develop business cases around and seek approval for value-add AI tools to increase efficiency/speed or quality.* Optimize workflows and processes to increase efficiency and productivity across the global creative team.* Serve as a partner on content, UX, and data-informed creative approaches that enhance impact and meet evolving business needs.* Consider internal vs external sourcing models for categories of work for optimal and cost-effective delivery.* Review and enhance processes in support of broader team objectives.**Leadership, Governance & People Management*** Build and lead a global team with clear roles, career paths, and performance standards; coach leaders and high-potential talent.* Establish governance for brand and creative decisioning (intake, prioritization, escalation paths, approvals, and measurement).* Manage budgets and forecasting for creative operations, including vendor spend; ensure financial discipline and responsible resource allocation.* Maintain appropriate risk management practices (brand/reputation, information security, confidentiality, third-party risk, and compliance alignment as applicable).* Model executive presence, professionalism, and high integrity in all interactions.**QUALIFICATIONS:****Education:*** Bachelor’s degree required (Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred).* Advanced degree (MBA, MA, or equivalent) is a plus**Experience:*** 15+ years of progressive, relevant professional experience, consistent with Managing Director–level expectations, in creative leadership, brand, design, or integrated marketing/communications* 7+ years of people leadership experience, including managing managers and multidisciplinary creative teams.* Preferred experience in asset management, financial services, or similarly regulated, reputation-sensitive industries.* Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale and global creative initiatives, including campaign development and brand expression across multiple channels.* Experience partnering closely with senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment, influence decisions, and deliver against business objectives.* Proven ownership of creative operations, including budget management, agency/vendor oversight, and resourcing decisions.**General Requirements:*** Strategic and conceptual creative leadership with strong business acumen.* Ability to translate complex narratives into clear, compelling creative direction.* Executive presence and credibility with senior leadership.* Operational discipline, prioritization, and sound judgment.* Strong collaboration and cross-functional partnership skills.* Change leadership mindset, including comfort with innovation and emerging technologies.* Commitment to talent development, team building, and high performance standards**Reporting Relationships**Co-Head of Corporate Communications & Marketing**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.$250,000 - $300,000The 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.*Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global #J-18808-Ljbffr
eeds intake, demand management, expectations management and quality delivery.* Address client service issues with a constructive collaborative approach.* Ensure core processes and technology relating to request lifecycle support timely and quality delivery.* Seek feedback and adjust approach as needed.**Innovation and Workflow Optimization*** Stay ahead of creative, marketing, and technology trends, including AI advancements, to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage.* Partner with Technology and the firm’s broader AI governance to develop business cases around and seek approval for value-add AI tools to increase efficiency/speed or quality.* Optimize workflows and processes to increase efficiency and productivity across the global creative team.* Serve as a partner on content, UX, and data-informed creative approaches that enhance impact and meet evolving business needs.* Consider internal vs external sourcing models for categories of work for optimal and cost-effective delivery.* Review and enhance processes in support of broader team objectives.**Leadership, Governance & People Management*** Build and lead a global team with clear roles, career paths, and performance standards; coach leaders and high-potential talent.* Establish governance for brand and creative decisioning (intake, prioritization, escalation paths, approvals, and measurement).* Manage budgets and forecasting for creative operations, including vendor spend; ensure financial discipline and responsible resource allocation.* Maintain appropriate risk management practices (brand/reputation, information security, confidentiality, third-party risk, and compliance alignment as applicable).* Model executive presence, professionalism, and high integrity in all interactions.**QUALIFICATIONS:****Education:*** Bachelor’s degree required (Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, Communications, or a related field preferred).* Advanced degree (MBA, MA, or equivalent) is a plus**Experience:*** 15+ years of progressive, relevant professional experience, consistent with Managing Director–level expectations, in creative leadership, brand, design, or integrated marketing/communications* 7+ years of people leadership experience, including managing managers and multidisciplinary creative teams.* Preferred experience in asset management, financial services, or similarly regulated, reputation-sensitive industries.* Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale and global creative initiatives, including campaign development and brand expression across multiple channels.* Experience partnering closely with senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders to drive alignment, influence decisions, and deliver against business objectives.* Proven ownership of creative operations, including budget management, agency/vendor oversight, and resourcing decisions.**General Requirements:*** Strategic and conceptual creative leadership with strong business acumen.* Ability to translate complex narratives into clear, compelling creative direction.* Executive presence and credibility with senior leadership.* Operational discipline, prioritization, and sound judgment.* Strong collaboration and cross-functional partnership skills.* Change leadership mindset, including comfort with innovation and emerging technologies.* Commitment to talent development, team building, and high performance standards**Reporting Relationships**Co-Head of Corporate Communications & Marketing**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.$250,000 - $300,000The 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.*Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global #J-18808-Ljbffr