What You'll Do

Play a key role supporting one of the largest and most sophisticated pension funds in the United States. 
This is a unique opportunity to sit at the intersection of strategy, investment management, and real estate operating company (REOC) oversight—partnering directly with senior leaders of the client, internal senior management, and operating company executives across the US.

 

In this role, you’ll shape enterprise-level strategy for a multibillion-dollar real estate platform, support the creation and governance of new operating companies, evaluate entity-level performance, and help drive major initiatives such as recapitalizations, option exercises, and strategic growth opportunities. 

 

Key areas of responsibility:  

Enterprise & REOC Strategy 

• Provide strategic and analytical support across a portfolio of existing and prospective REOCs—helping evaluate performance, enterprise value, governance structures, and long-term entity strategy. 

• Partner with senior leadership to assess new verticals, new operating company structures, and business plan execution. 

• Support the review and screening of new REOC opportunities in North America and Europe, including preparing materials and strategic analysis for client decisioning. 

Portfolio & Property-Level Analytics 

• Lead analytical work for select asset-level assignments tied to REOC-managed equity and debt portfolios. 

• Provide high-level oversight on property-level performance as needed, including major developments, recapitalization events, or transition plans. 

Recapitalization & Option Strategy Support 

• Support entity-level recapitalizations, joint venture restructuring, purchase option analysis, and opportunities to increase or decrease ownership stakes. 

• Analyze and recommend capital structure solutions that align with client objectives and operating company capabilities. 

Client Engagement & Special Projects 

• Work directly with senior staff at the pension fund, its REOCs, and internal leadership to deliver insights, recommendations, and strategic proposals. 

• Support special projects involving broader real estate portfolio initiatives—including those outside the REOC structure. 

• Assist in developing scopes of work, pricing proposals, and project deliverables for complex strategic initiatives. 

About Principal Asset Management   

Principal Asset Management is the global investment solutions business for Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG), managing $579.8 billion in assets including $102.2 billion in real estate assets, and recognized as a “Best Places to Work in Money Management” for 13 consecutive years. Through its real estate platform, Principal Asset Management is recognized as a top-10 global real estate manager, with decades of experience across the full spectrum of commercial real estate—spanning public and private equity as well as public and private debt.  

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, real estate, or related field; MBA and/or CFA preferred. 
• 10+ years of relevant experience in private equity real estate, REOC management, investment management, real estate strategy, or real estate debt.  
• Experience working with real estate joint venture partners (structuring, negotiation, governance, or partner communication) is strongly preferred.  
• Commercial, strategic, and comfortable engaging with senior leadership with strong presence and credibility.  
• Proven ability to think strategically while managing tactical, detail-heavy workstreams.  
• Excellent communicator – clear, confident, and capable of distilling complexity into actionable insights.  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, anticipate client needs, and operate independently.  
• Willingness to travel, including periodic visits to the client’s headquarters and REOC offices.  
• Experience engaging with large institutional investors is a plus.  
• This position may be subject to SEC restrictions on personal political contributions. 

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)

$179000 - $243000 / 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

No

Location

We’re open to candidates based in any of the following office locations: Des Moines (Global Headquarters), Nashville, Chicago, or New York. Hybrid and in-office work arrangements are available at each location. We’re also open to remote work, depending on the role and candidate location. Final work arrangements will be determined in partnership with your leader, based on team collaboration needs, responsibilities, and geography.

 

Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we're not considering candidates 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.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-nonimmigrant-workers and https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-for-employment-based-immigrants

 

Investment Code of Ethics

For Principal Global Investors 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

While our expertise spans the globe, we're bound by one common purpose: to foster a world where financial security is accessible to all. And our success depends on the unique experiences, backgrounds, and talents of our employees – individually and all of us together. Explore our core values, benefits and why we’re an exceptional place to grow your career.

 

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

12/15/2025

Most Recently Posted Date

12/15/2025

LinkedIn Remote Hashtag

#LI-Remote