C. E. A.

State of California • Sacramento, CA

42d • Hybrid

About The Position

The California State Teachers' Retirement System is seeking to fill its Director of Service Retirement position. The Director of Service Retirement is responsible for policy formulation, risk mitigation, internal controls, and execution impacting the administration and payment of benefits required by the State Teachers' Retirement Plan and Teacher's Retirement Law. The primary focus is on benefits and other programs that enhance our service retirement programs, which support approximately 12,000 California educators who retire for service annually and more than 300,000 members who already receive benefits. Reporting to the Chief Benefits Officer, the Director of Service Retirement serves as a consultant to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Leadership team, Teachers' Retirement Board and external consultants dealing with significant matters related to administration of benefits to members and beneficiaries in accordance with the law, policy and regulations. To learn more about this opportunity, click here. Relocation benefits may be available. In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025. This program reduces employees' monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits for the duration of the program. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the reduced amounts. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; and personnel management techniques; the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager's role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department's or agency's Equal Employment Opportunity objectives.
• CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.
• CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
• CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.

Nice To Haves

• Experience overseeing and providing leadership to a large program area and knowledge of retirement laws, rules, policies and regulations governing the entitlement of teacher retirement benefits.
• Experience in policy formulation and execution impacting administration of a statewide program responsible for benefits to members and beneficiaries, or similar.
• Experience presenting to a board or governing body and external consultants dealing with significant matters related to administration of benefits to members and beneficiaries.
• Experience at the senior leadership level managing project teams participating in cross-functional transformational projects.
• Experience supporting organizational change at an enterprise level.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity of thought, an inclusive leadership style, and the ability to give and receive feedback with the highest level of professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for policy formulation, risk mitigation, internal controls, and execution impacting the administration and payment of benefits required by the State Teachers' Retirement Plan and Teacher's Retirement Law.
• Serves as a consultant to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Leadership team, Teachers' Retirement Board and external consultants dealing with significant matters related to administration of benefits to members and beneficiaries in accordance with the law, policy and regulations.

Benefits

• CalSTRS offers a hybrid approach including in-office and remote work solutions based on business needs.
• Relocation benefits may be available.
• We offer competitive benefits, flexible work hours and hybrid work options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees