Job Description

Req ID: 52494

Category: Legal

Position type: ['Regular Full-Time']

Locations: Des Moines, Iowa

Referral bonus eligible: No

Salary Grade: PFUSGA21-Salary Level 21 - Geo

What You'll Do

We’re looking for a Legal Support Service Leader to join our Principal Financial Group Legal team. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to lead a high-performing legal support organization, driving operational excellence, talent development, and innovative service delivery that enables attorneys to focus on the most strategic legal work.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Paralegal Analysts and Legal Production Assistants, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and service-oriented culture.
• Oversee legal support operations, including workload management, resource allocation, and service delivery across legal practice areas and locations.
• Partner with attorneys and Legal leadership to align support resources, service models, and operational priorities with department objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by leveraging process optimization, technology, automation, AI-enabled solutions, and performance metrics to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ensure quality, compliance, and risk management through the oversight of legal records, confidential information, documentation standards, and legal support work products.

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

• 8+ years of legal support, paralegal services, legal administration or equivalent experience demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, or education
• 3+ years of prior people leadership experience with demonstrated success developing teams

Skills That Will Help You Stand Out

• Bachelor's degree
• Experience leading legal support operations, shared services, or professional support teams, including workforce planning, resource allocation, and service delivery management
• Strong organizational, communication, stakeholder management, coaching, and resource planning skills
• Proven ability to lead change, drive operational improvements, and implement process, technology, or service delivery enhancements

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)

$110200 - $148200 / 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(s)

This role will be based out of our World Headquarters located in Des Moines, IA. We’re open to considering in-office or hybrid talent. You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors. You can check out what our Global Headquarters looks like here:

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

9/3/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

9/3/2026

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

#LI-MT1