Senior Strategist, Marketing (Events Strategist)
Des Moines
Friday, 08 May 2026
Are you energized by creating memorable event experiences that bring teams, clients, and partners together? Do you love managing details, building relationships, and delivering polished, high-impact programs that drive business results? We are looking for an experienced Events Strategist to support our Sales organization within Principal’s Retirement & Income Solutions (RIS) business. In this role, you’ll play a vital part in bringing our brand to life by planning and executing exceptional events that strengthen and support our sales strategy. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy owning projects from concept to completion, and are committed to flawless execution—we’d love to have you on our team. What You’ll Do Event Design & Execution Leads the development and ongoing management of an integrated event strategy for Retirement & Income Solutions ensuring alignment with business and sales priorities, brand standards and compliance requirements Partners with internal stakeholders to develop annual event strategies and plan, coordinate, and execute small- to large-scale events Manages all logistical aspects of planning which may include speaker selection, agenda scheduling, communications, marketing activities, on-site coordination, budget management and return on investment analysis. Accountable for maintaining post conference success metrics, stakeholder feedback and delivery of overall conference evaluation results. Executes event technology for in- person Principal and virtual Council events, leveraging expertise across event platforms to guide stakeholders to the most effective solutions. Pre- & Post-Event Workflow Drives comprehensive pre-event planning, including communications, materials, vendor coordination, and internal alignment. Manages post-event follow-through, including data tracking, reporting, and sales activation initiatives to translate events into measurable business outcomes. Cross-Functional Collaboration Work closely with marketing, compliance, sales leadership, operations, finance, and external partners to support both event-related initiatives and non-event projects that enhance the client and sales experience. Who You Are Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 6 years of experience in event management, client partnership, marketing, or sales support Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously Strong problem-solving, communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt quickly in a fast-moving environment Comfortable operating with a high sense of urgency Ability to lift up to 35 pounds Willingness to travel (up to 20%, including overnight travel) Preferred Skills That Help You Stand Out Experience partnering with or supporting a Sales organization Familiarity with financial services or retirement industry Experience with Salesforce Strong data tracking and reporting capabilities to analyze event outcomes Ability to anticipate needs, problem-solve proactively, and build strong internal relationships Why You’ll Love This Role You’ll be a key contributor in shaping how Principal shows up to our clients, partners, and sales teams. You’ll join a collaborative and dynamic team where your creativity, attention to detail, and strategic thinking truly matter. You’ll have the autonomy to manage meaningful work while having the support of a strong team behind you. 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) $104400 - $187200 / year Salary Details The following locations are examples of market-specific salary ranges across different geographies. Grand Island, NE / Wichita, KS: $104,400 - $150,000 / year Des Moines, IA / Tampa, FL: $110,200 - $150,000 / year Charlotte, NC / Dallas, TX: $116,000 - $150,000/ year Chicago, IL / Denver, CO / Minneapolis, MN: $127,600 - $150,000 / year Los Angeles, CA / New York City, NY: $139,200 - $150,000 / 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 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: F 1-OPT, F 1-CPT, H-1 B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For