Assistant Director - Asset Management Compensation

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

We’re looking for a strategic and collaborative compensation leader to join our Total Rewards team as an Assistant Director of Global Compensation. In this role, you’ll help shape how we attract, reward, and retain talent across our global asset management businesses. You’ll partner closely with business leaders and HR teams around the world to design compensation programs that are aligned to performance, market trends, and business strategy. This is a highly visible role with the opportunity to influence senior leaders, design innovative compensation solutions, and operate in a dynamic, global environment.

You'll have the opportunity to:
Compensation Strategy & Design
Design and evolve global compensation programs, including base pay, annual incentives, and long-term incentives
Help shape compensation approaches that align to business performance, growth, and talent needs
Bring forward ideas and insights to ensure our programs remain competitive and forward-looking
Partner with Global Leaders
Act as a trusted advisor to leaders across asset management
Provide guidance on complex and high-impact compensation decisions
Work across regions and teams to ensure alignment in a global, matrixed organization
Drive Insight-Based Decisions
Use market data, industry insights, and internal analytics to develop clear, actionable recommendations
Present findings and recommendations to senior leaders and governance groups
Help leaders understand trade-offs and make informed compensation decisions
Support Global Programs & Governance
Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure programs are consistent, scalable, and compliant globally
Contribute to the annual compensation cycle, including salary planning and incentive processes
Support ongoing enhancements to how we structure, manage, and communicate compensation
Lead & Develop Others
Provide coaching and guidance to team members and colleagues
Share expertise and elevate the broader team’s compensation design capability
Serve as a go-to resource for complex or sensitive compensation topics
Principal Asset Management is the global investment solutions business for Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG), managing about $740 billion in assets and over 60 years of experience. Principal Asset Management has been recognized as a “Best Places to Work in Money Management” for 14 consecutive years! Check us out at www.principalam.com!

Requirements

• 6–8+ years of experience in investment management compensation, total rewards, or related HR consulting roles
• Strong experience in investment management compensation design and business-facing advisory
• Ability to operate effectively in a global, matrixed environment
• Proven ability to influence and partner with senior leaders
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• You think strategically and connect compensation to business outcomes
• You are comfortable navigating complex stakeholder environments
• You can translate data into clear, compelling insights
• You build strong relationships and are seen as a trusted partner
• You’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to personal and business conduct as well as personal trading activities for you and members of your household.

Responsibilities

• Design and evolve global compensation programs, including base pay, annual incentives, and long-term incentives
• Help shape compensation approaches that align to business performance, growth, and talent needs
• Bring forward ideas and insights to ensure our programs remain competitive and forward-looking
• Act as a trusted advisor to leaders across asset management
• Provide guidance on complex and high-impact compensation decisions
• Work across regions and teams to ensure alignment in a global, matrixed organization
• Use market data, industry insights, and internal analytics to develop clear, actionable recommendations
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leaders and governance groups
• Help leaders understand trade-offs and make informed compensation decisions
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and Compliance to ensure programs are consistent, scalable, and compliant globally
• Contribute to the annual compensation cycle, including salary planning and incentive processes
• Support ongoing enhancements to how we structure, manage, and communicate compensation
• Provide coaching and guidance to team members and colleagues
• Share expertise and elevate the broader team’s compensation design capability
• Serve as a go-to resource for complex or sensitive compensation topics

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short-term illness.
• Pension Eligible
• Comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed