What You'll Do

We’re looking for an HR Business Partner to join our Retirement & Income Solutions HR team. In this role, you’ll serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, helping them translate business priorities into thoughtful talent, leadership and organization decisions. You’ll need to understand what the business is trying to accomplish, diagnose the talent and organizational issues underneath it, and bring a thoughtful point of view. You’ll coach leaders, ask good questions and respectfully challenge thinking when needed. You should also be comfortable working independently through ambiguity, complexity and sensitive situations, while knowing when to bring in others.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Create an integrated human capital strategy aligned to business and market priorities, using internal and external insights to anticipate workforce needs and organizational risks. Translate strategy into an actionable roadmap (e.g., succession, critical roles, retention, inclusion, culture and capability building). Lead cross-functional planning and execution to deliver outcomes across the talent lifecycle and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
Serve as a trusted consultant to business leaders. Stay close to business priorities, major decisions and emerging challenges, helping leaders think through the talent, leadership and organization implications. Bring perspective, influence decisions, and help leaders move from the issue to a practical path forward.
Coach leaders and strengthen leadership effectiveness. Provide real-time counsel and coaching to leaders as they navigate business and people decisions. Help identify development priorities and connect leaders with the right resources, while keeping development grounded in business needs and observable outcomes.
Shape organization and workforce decisions. Partner with leaders on organization design, workforce planning, role and skill needs, capacity and operating-model questions. Help leaders assess the current organization and anticipate the people implications of modernization, AI, global delivery and other business changes.
Use data to improve judgment and decisions. Analyze workforce and talent information to identify themes, risks and opportunities. Go beyond reporting the data by helping leaders understand what it means, challenging assumptions when appropriate and translating insights into clear recommendations.
Connect the broader HR team around the business. Partner closely with HR Centers of Excellence and other partners. Frame the business need, engage the right expertise and help ensure the overall solution is connected and practical for the leader.
Support additional business and HR strategic initiatives, including strategic planning and analysis, business specific programs and processes and special projects as business needs evolve.

Operating at the intersection of financial services and technology, Principal builds financial tools that help our customers live better lives. We take pride in being a purpose-led firm, motivated by our mission to make financial security accessible to all. Our mission, integrity, and customer focus have made us a trusted leader for more than 140 years!

Who You Are

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required, plus 8+ years of experience in HR, including experience in strategy/planning, compensation, development, organizational effectiveness, talent management, and leadership
Strong business acumen and the ability to quickly understand a business strategy, operating environment and the talent implications behind business decisions.
Demonstrated experience advising and influencing senior leaders.
Strong experience with talent and succession planning, organizational design and workforce planning.
Comfort operating independently in a matrixed environment where priorities and client needs can shift.
Strong diagnostic and analytical skills.
Strong communication, facilitation and presentation skills.
Experience working across HR specialties and bringing partners together around complex business needs.
Experience working within a global operating model is preferred.
May travel up to 20%.

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)

$127000 - $171000 / 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

Location & Work Environment

This role will be based in our corporate headquarters in Des Moines, IA and offers a hybrid work arrangement, with at least three in-office days during a typical work week.

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

11/3/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

11/3/2026

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.

LinkedIn Hashtag

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Principal Financial Group

HR Business Partner - Retirement & Income Solutions

About the Job

Requirements

Responsibilities

Desired Qualifications