Risk Management Specialist - Assistant Director

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

1d • $123,000 - $167,000

About The Position

This Risk Management Specialist - AD role is a critical part in strengthening risk management practices across selected corporate and business functions, with primary focus supporting global financial resources and retirement and income solutions. You will serve as a trusted risk advisor, leading second-line risk initiatives by aligning with business strategies and applying the Enterprise Risk Management framework, standards, policies and tools. You will partner with business and functional leaders to assess risk, evaluate control environments, and influence effective mitigation strategies to balance risk and reward. This role offers the opportunity to operate at the intersection of strategy, governance, and execution—shaping how risk is identified, managed, and communicated across critical enterprise functions. You’ll gain broad exposure to key business areas and corporate functions while partnering closely with senior leaders to influence decisions that matter. If you enjoy solving complex problems, strengthening control environments, and serving as a trusted advisor in a dynamic, evolving risk landscape, this role provides both impact and visibility.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience
• 8+ years of experience in risk management, audit, compliance, legal, or direct business oversight with accountability for risk and compliance
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
• Knowledge of corporate functions and internal business operations preferred
• Ability to provide on-call support as needed

Responsibilities

• Partner with business units and functional leaders to provide risk consulting on strategies, projects, higher-risk processes, emerging risks, and regulatory change.
• Influence the development of corrective action and mitigation plans, assessing effectiveness and recommending enhancements when needed.
• Support enterprise and business-specific risk initiatives using ERM frameworks, risk methodologies, and best practices.
• Lead risk assessments and control reviews across varying levels of complexity and risk exposure.
• Evaluate the design and effectiveness of processes, policies, procedures, internal controls, and EUA tools.
• Apply strong risk and control thinking to identify gaps and strengthen control structures.
• Support governance, standards, and oversight activities that drive consistency and accountability across ERM programs.
• Maintain ERM documentation and recommend improvements to risk standards, processes, and controls.
• Partner with leadership and risk program teams to develop and deliver risk reporting and insights that support informed decision-making.
• Identify areas where risk exposure may exceed tolerance levels and escalate issues as appropriate.
• Communicate complex risk concepts clearly to non-risk audiences.

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. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.
• Pension Eligible

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees