Responsibilities

Join a high-performing team deploying capital in one of the fastest-growing real estate sectors. As Director of Asset Management on our data center team, you’ll drive the performance and optimization of a data center portfolio. This role carries responsibility for financial and operational performance of assets, driving value creation, and ensuring alignment with broader investment strategies and risk management parameters.  

The ideal candidate has deep experience in data center operations—covering leasing, power infrastructure, and hyperscale/enterprise tenant dynamics—while also partnering with asset management team and supporting capital markets activities including acquisitions and dispositions. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Engage with portfolio manager to shape the portfolio strategy and performance of a national/international portfolio of data centers, driving financial results, tenant satisfaction, and long-term value creation. 

• Develop and execute business plans, including leasing, capital improvements, risk management, and expansion/redevelopment projects. 

• Monitor and optimize asset performance (NOI, occupancy, power usage effectiveness, operating expenses, lease performance) through financial and operational analysis. 

• Partner with internal teams (development, engineering, finance, ESG, legal) and third parties (property management, leasing) to ensure operational excellence. 

• Collaborate with Capital Markets on acquisitions, dispositions, underwriting, and due diligence, providing market insights to support investment decisions. 

• Prepare and deliver financial reporting, forecasts, and performance updates for leadership, investment committees, and institutional investors. 

• Stay ahead of market and industry trends in the data center sector to inform strategy and drive innovation. 

 

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. We are a global leader in data center investment and asset management, with $11 billion in assets under management. Since entering the data center sector in 2007, we have completed 28 transactions across 19 markets and 6 countries. Our strategy spans development, value-add acquisitions, disciplined market selection, and partnerships with leading operators and investors. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance, Business, or related field required; MBA or CFA preferred. 

• 8+ years in asset management, real estate investment, or infrastructure, with direct experience in data centers, mission critical facilities, or digital infrastructure. Data center experience required. 

• Strong understanding of data center operations, including power, cooling, and network infrastructure. Experience with development strongly preferred. 

• Familiarity with real estate investment structures, leasing, and capital markets. Proven track record of managing large-scale assets or portfolios, driving asset value, and delivering strong financial and operational outcomes. 

• Strong executive presence and financial modeling, analytical, and presentation skills. 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities. Ability to influence across functional groups.  

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and evolving environment. 

• Familiarity with ESG principles and their application in data center operations. 

• Proficiency with financial modeling and performance reporting tools. 

• Willingness to travel. 

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

$153000 - $210000 / 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

Additional Information

Location

We’re open to candidates based in any of the following office locations: Des Moines (Global Headquarters), 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.