Senior Associate, Portfolio Management, Private Equity Real Estate (Data Center Team)

Principal Financial Group; Des Moines, Chicago (IA, IL); On-site; USD 127,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Hybrid work option

Job summary

Principal Financial Group seeks a Senior Associate to support Private Markets Real Estate's data center and digital infrastructure investments. The role combines portfolio management, investment analysis, and asset management, collaborating with acquisitions, development, operations, and asset management teams.

The position covers portfolio performance monitoring, investment evaluation, and asset oversight across the investment lifecycle, requiring strong analytical skills and data center

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Real Estate, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in real estate, infrastructure, private markets investing, or asset management.
• Direct experience supporting or managing data center investments, assets, developments, or operations with a meaningful focus on the sector.
• Strong financial modeling, investment analysis, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Understanding of real estate and infrastructure investments, including acquisitions, development, operations, and portfolio management.
• Effective communicator with the ability to present complex analyses and recommendations to a variety of stakeholders.
• Self-motivated team player who can manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed (5-10%).

Responsibilities

• Support portfolio strategy and investment decision-making across data center investments.
• Evaluate acquisitions, developments, financings, and dispositions.
• Conduct financial, market, and operational analyses to identify risks and opportunities.
• Prepare investment recommendations and materials for senior leadership and investment committees.
• Monitor portfolio performance and support portfolio optimization efforts.
• Analyze investment results, market trends, and KPIs.
• Develop forecasts, financial models, and performance analyses to support investment decisions.
• Prepare portfolio reporting, market insights, and materials for stakeholders.
• Partner across teams to align investments with portfolio objectives and business plans.
• Collaborate across acquisitions, asset management, research, legal, operations, and capital markets teams to support investment and portfolio objectives.
• Contribute to investment analyses, presentations, and strategic initiatives through effective partnership and knowledge sharing.
• Support a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement

Skills

Financial modeling

Investment analysis

Portfolio management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Real Estate, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field

Job description

What You'll Do

The Senior Associate supports the management and growth of Private Markets Real Estate's data center and digital infrastructure investments. This role combines portfolio management, investment analysis, and asset management responsibilities, partnering closely with acquisitions, development, operations, and asset management teams.

The position will support portfolio performance monitoring, investment evaluation, strategic decision-making, and asset oversight across the investment lifecycle. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, data center industry knowledge, and the ability to balance portfolio-level objectives with asset-level execution.

Strategy & Investment Analysis

• Support portfolio strategy and investment decision-making across data center investments.
• Evaluate acquisitions, developments, financings, and dispositions.
• Conduct financial, market, and operational analyses to identify risks and opportunities.
• Prepare investment recommendations and materials for senior leadership and investment committees.

Portfolio Management

• Monitor portfolio performance and support portfolio optimization efforts.
• Analyze investment results, market trends, and key performance indicators.
• Develop forecasts, financial models, and performance analyses to support investment decisions.Prepare portfolio reporting, market insights, and materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Partner across teams to align investments with portfolio objectives and business plans.

Asset Management & Operational Oversight

• Support asset performance and execution of business plans across the portfolio.
• Work with operating partners and internal teams to identify value creation opportunities.
• Monitor financial, operational, and market performance metrics.
• Assist with strategic decisions related to leasing, development, capital projects, and portfolio growth.

Collaboration

• Collaborate across acquisitions, asset management, research, legal, operations, and capital markets teams to support investment and portfolio objectives.
• Contribute to investment analyses, presentations, and strategic initiatives through effective partnership and knowledge sharing.
• Support a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Real Estate, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 4+ years of experience in real estate, infrastructure, private markets investing, or asset management.
• Direct experience supporting or managing data center investments, assets, developments, or operations with a meaningful focus on the sector.
• Strong financial modeling, investment analysis, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Understanding of real estate and infrastructure investments, including acquisitions, development, operations, and portfolio management.
• Effective communicator with the ability to present complex analyses and recommendations to a variety of stakeholders.
• Self-motivated team player who can manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel as needed (5-10%).

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 - $200000 / year

Salary Details

The base salary range for this role is $127,000 - $200,000. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, experience, and alignment with the role’s responsibilities.

In addition to base pay, this role participates in a bonus planas well.

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

Location / Work Environment

We’re open to candidates based out of our World Headquarters located in Des Moines or Chicago. This role offers the ability for in-office or four days in-office and one day remote.

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.

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

9/21/2026

Most Recently Posted Date

9/21/2026

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