As a Manager in RIS Operations, you will lead a team responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and high-quality operational services within a complex defined contribution environment. You will direct day-to-day work, coach team members, manage changing priorities, and collaborate with partners to resolve issues that affect participants, clients, and the business.

This is primarily a people and operational leadership role. You will help the team navigate shifting business needs, remove barriers, maintain accountability, and continuously improve how work is delivered.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day team activities and direct work based on operational priorities, capacity, service expectations, and business needs.
• Set clear expectations, monitor performance, and hold team members accountable for quality, accuracy, timeliness, and service delivery.
• Coach and develop employees through ongoing feedback, skill development, and support.
• Reallocate work and resources when transaction volumes, deadlines, or business priorities change.
• Identify operational problems, remove obstacles, and coordinate effective responses to escalations.
• Collaborate with peer leaders, service partners, business stakeholders, and global colleagues to resolve workflow challenges.
• Monitor performance information and use relevant insights to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support process improvements and help embed consistent operational practices across the team.
• Apply internal policies, controls, governance requirements, and appropriate risk considerations in daily decision-making.
• Support initiatives and special projects that advance team and organizational goals.
• Manage team-level resources and operational tools responsibly.
• Perform other job-related duties and special projects as necessary.

• 4+ years of experience in operations, service delivery, or a related functional area gained through work, training, military service, or education.
• 1+ years of experience leading operational teams, coaching employees, mentoring others, or providing comparable leadership support.
• Experience coordinating operational work and helping teams achieve service, quality, and performance expectations.
• Experience assessing priorities, directing work, and adapting resource plans to meet changing business needs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with teammates, peers, partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience monitoring performance metrics, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing practical solutions.
• Sound judgment and the ability to operate within governance, risk, compliance, and control expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to learn complex processes, adapt to change, and lead effectively in dynamic operational environments.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in retirement operations, defined contribution plans, retirement recordkeeping, participant services, or a related regulated environment.
• Experience leading in a high-volume or operationally complex setting.
• Experience collaborating across geographically distributed or global teams.
• Bachelor's degree

What Will Help You Succeed

Success in this role requires the ability to:

• Make sense of complex, interconnected operational issues.
• Provide clear direction and maintain accountability.
• Build productive relationships across teams.
• Understand how decisions move through the organization.
• Address difficult issues constructively.
• Learn quickly and adjust when circumstances change.

The following locations are examples of market-specific salary ranges across different geographies. 

• Des Moines, IA: $89,300 - $120,650 / year
• Charlotte, NC: $94,000 - $127,000 / year

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

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.

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.