What You'll Do We’re looking for an AVP of AI & Generative AI to lead our AI strategy and help us stay ahead of the curve. This role offers a unique opportunity to design and implement transformative AI initiatives, build a world-class AI function, and influence key business decisions at the executive level. The AVP of AI & Generative AI will be a strategic change agent and technical innovator responsible for driving the development and deployment of AI-powered solutions across Principal. This role will lead the evolution of our AI capabilities, develop generative AI use cases, and ensure AI initiatives are scalable, ethical, and business-impactful. As a leader with vision in AI, you’ll partner with executive leadership, data teams, and product owners to define an ambitious AI roadmap. Your day could look like: Create and evangelize our enterprise AI/Gen AI strategy, consulting with internal business customers, external technology partners and top tier strategic service providers To create significant value for the organization. Lead the AI / Gen AI Practice: Build and manage the AI / Gen AI practice, including developing and implementing use cases, building high performing technical teams, and managing collaborators across various business units. Stakeholder Management: Oversee the design and execution of AI / Gen AI solutions, ensuring successful deployment into full production while managing diverse partners throughout the process. Thought Leadership: Serve as a leader with vision and consultant on AI / Gen AI at the enterprise level, providing strategic insights and guidance. Maintain line of sight to external industry developments to bring those advancements back into Principal. Set up and manage AI /Gen AI lab for innovation, R&D, and rapid prototyping Advanced AI and ML Techniques: Apply ground breaking statistical, machine learning, and AI techniques to develop high-performing models and solutions that meet business objectives. Continuously test new methods and technologies for ongoing improvement. Facilitate Model Production: Collaborate with technology and ML Ops teams to transition models into production and enhance ML Ops practices. Data Visualization and Tools: Employ visualization tools for model testing, results presentation, and data pattern analysis. Design metrics for model selection and performance monitoring. Team Leadership: Build, manage, and retain an AI/Gen AI organization. This includes goal setting, performance evaluation, resource allocation, career development, and recruitment. Collaborate Across the Organization: Work with AI / Gen AI and analytics leaders’ company-wide to address complex problems, drive innovation. Work closely with business areas, IT, Legal, Government Relations, and other groups to design, build, and implement AI solutions. Stay Informed on Industry Trends: Keep up with Financial Services industry trends and related AI / Gen AI fields, functioning as an AI expert in internal and external meetings. Actively contribute to proof-of-concept tests for new processes and technologies. Ensure Compliance: Stay updated on relevant legislation and regulations affecting AI / Gen AI in underwriting. Ensure compliance with regulatory and privacy requirements during the design and implementation of AI/ Gen AIprojects. 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. As Principal continues to modernize its systems, this role will offer you an exciting opportunity to build solutions that will directly impact our long-term strategy and tech stack, all while ensuring that our products are robust, scalable, and secure! Who You Are You have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s or PhD is preferred and 10+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or AI development or related field. You have a track record of leading large AI-driven transformation initiatives that delivered measurable business impact. You are able to drive large-scale transformation initiatives while managing risk, ambiguity, and change. You have experience in modeling techniques (e.g., linear regression, GLM, survival analysis, time series, deep learning), machine learning techniques (e.g., neural networks, deep learning), NLP, and generative AI, and AI. Skills That Will Help You Stand Out Proven experience driving Generative AI initiatives (e.g., large language models, image generation, NLP-based tools) from concept to implementation. Deep understanding of AI/ML frameworks and tools (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face, OpenAI, AWS SageMaker, Google Vertex AI, or similar). Strong background in developing and scaling AI models (including LLMs, transformers, GANs, and other deep learning models). Strategic and analytical leadership experience with executive presence in high-level meetings. Experience in financial services is a plus. 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) $205000 - $277000 / 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 Additional Information Our Engineering Culture Through our product-driven Agile/Lean DevOps environment, we’ve fostered a culture of innovation and experimentation across our development teams. As a customer-focused organization, we work closely with our end users and product owners to understand and rapidly respond to emerging business needs. Collaboration is embedded into everything we do – from the products we develop to the quality service we provide. We’re driven by the belief that diversity of thought, background, and perspective is critical to creating the best products and experiences for our customers. Work Environments This role offers in-office or hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek) from Des Moines, IA, or Charlotte, NC. You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option may align best based on several factors. 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 1/7/2025 Most Recently Posted Date 1/7/2025