Assistant Director - Asset Management Compensation

What You'll Do

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

Who You Are

• 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

What Will Help You Succeed

• 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

Why Join Us

At Principal, we’re committed to helping people build financial security—and that starts with our employees. You’ll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and meaningful impact, with the opportunity to shape how compensation supports our global growth.

Additional Details

• Location: Flexible / Global team environment

• Travel: Limited (≈5%)

Salary Range Information

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Salary Range (Non-Exempt expressed as hourly; Exempt expressed as yearly)

$141000 - $213000 / year

Time Off Program

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

Yes

Work Environments

This role offers in-office, hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek), and remote work arrangements (only if residing more than 30 miles from Des Moines, IA.) .You'll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors.

Job Level

We’ll consider talent at the next level with the right experiences and skills.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

• At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

• Nonimmigrant Workers ( and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants (

Investment Code of Ethics

• For Principal Asset Management positions, 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. These same requirements may also apply to other positions across the organization.

Experience Principal

• At Principal, we value connecting on both a personal and professional level. Together, we’re imagining a more purpose-led future for financial services – and that starts with you. Our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees. And we support our employees the same way we support our customers: with comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings crafted to protect their physical, financial, and social well-being. Check out our careers site ( to learn more about our purpose, values and benefits.

Principal is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Posting Window

We will accept applications for 3 full days following the Original Posting Date, after which the posting may remain open or be removed based upon applications received. If we choose to post the job again, we will accept additional applications for at least 1 full day following the Most Recently Posted Date. Please submit applications in a timely manner as there is no guarantee the posting will be available beyond the applicable deadline.

Original Posting Date

5/15/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

5/15/2026

Principal uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in reviewing and evaluating job applications, fraud prevention, and candidate matching and comparisons. These AI tools support our human recruiters in the initial review process but do not make final hiring decisions without human involvement. By submitting your application, you acknowledge this use of AI in our recruitment process. Please review our Workforce (U.S.) Privacy Notice ( for more details on our practices and your data privacy rights.

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