Associate Director, Global Operational Excellence

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

14h • Hybrid

About The Position

At Principal Asset Management, we’re seeking a Global Operational Excellence Associate Director to act as a strategic partner across Financial Management and Risk & Control functions. This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives in complex environments, brings structure to ambiguity, and partners across the business to drive transparency in our financial risk related disciplines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in operations, FP&A, risk, or strategy in complex Financial Services or Asset Management environment
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience navigating ambiguity
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and results-driven with ability to manage multiple priorities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead through influence

Nice To Haves

• Global travel up to 5%

Responsibilities

• Champion continuous improvement across financial management, capacity planning, and risk oversight to enhance operational efficiency and scalability.
• Define and execute an operations value framework, including identifying demand drivers and cost inputs and establishing nit costing models.
• Drive structural improvements to increase operating leverage across global delivery models.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and agility, including the use of AI and emerging capabilities.
• Provide oversight of budget planning, expense management, and committed investment tracking across global delivery initiatives.
• Partner with business stakeholders to build transparency into cost structures and develop scalable financial models.
• Establish and monitor key operational and risk metrics, ensuring visibility into performance and risk hotspots.
• Lead mitigation strategies and drive accountability for remediation actions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and liaison across business, technology, and operations.
• Communicate complex strategies, progress, and insights clearly to executive stakeholders.
• Influence decisions, drive alignment, and facilitate cross-functional collaboration.
• Build strong relationships across global teams and external partners.
• Contribute to the development and execution of multi-year operational strategies.
• Translate strategy into actionable roadmaps with defined success metrics and measurable outcomes.
• Lead discussions to align operational efforts with broader business goals.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Bonus program (for non-sales positions)
• Comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director