Corporate Strategy & Development Director

We’re looking for a Corporate Strategy & Development Director to join our Corporate Strategy and Development team. In this role, you will lead complex strategy and transaction initiatives that contribute to Principal’s long-term growth, profitability, and competitive position. This role will work flexibly across a broad range of enterprise and business-unit priorities, including mergers and acquisitions. Assignments may span different businesses, geographies, and strategic questions, requiring the ability to quickly orient to new subject matter, create structure in ambiguous situations, and drive work toward clear decisions and outcomes. You will work closely with enterprise and business-unit senior leaders to evaluate strategic opportunities, develop fact-based recommendations, translate strategic ideas into actionable plans, and drive disciplined execution. The successful candidate will combine strong financial and analytical capabilities with strategic judgment, intellectual agility, adaptability, collaborative leadership, and a high degree of ownership. You’ll have the opportunity to: Develop clear, fact-based strategic and financial recommendations for senior management regarding growth opportunities, portfolio priorities, capital deployment, business performance, and other enterprise-level decisions. Structure and lead complex projects by defining the key questions, analytical approach, workplan, roles, and decision points required to move the work forward. Lead mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, strategic partnerships, financing transactions, and other capital-related initiatives across Principal’s businesses and geographies. Manage transactions throughout the full lifecycle, including strategic assessment, financial analysis, valuation, due diligence, transaction structuring, negotiation, governance and approval processes, signing, closing, and transition planning. Identify, evaluate, and advance inorganic growth and portfolio-management opportunities in partnership with business leaders, strategists, finance professionals, functional experts, and external advisors. Lead cross-functional teams, maintain momentum across multiple workstreams, identify and resolve execution risks, and drive initiatives toward timely decisions and outcomes. Quickly develop a strong understanding of unfamiliar businesses, markets, geographies and transaction structures and translate that understanding into actionable insights and recommendations. Build productive relationships with potential buyers, sellers, strategic partners, investment bankers, consultants, legal advisors, and other external counterparties. Work effectively across different businesses, functions, geographies, and cultures, including on matters involving international teams, partners, advisors, and counterparties. Provide strategic planning and problem-solving support to business units, including market assessment, competitive analysis, performance improvement, benchmarking, organizational design, and implementation planning. Serve as a trusted thought partner to senior leaders while remaining actively involved in the detailed analysis, coordination, and execution required to move initiatives forward. Communicate complex strategic, financial, and transaction-related matters clearly and effectively to senior executives, governance bodies, business partners, and external stakeholders. Coach, develop, and provide oversight to junior members of the Corporate Strategy and Development team. Perform other strategic initiatives and special projects as required. 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.

Bachelor’s degree in finance,