Chief Operating Officer

California State Teachers' Retirement System; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 265,000 - 385,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Relocation assistance

Incentive program

Job summary

California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead its core operations, including benefits administration, member and employer services, IT, HR, and administrative services. The COO will drive execution of strategic initiatives and ensure timely, accurate benefits delivery.

The role requires executive leadership, governance experience, and a track record of transforming large, complex organizations.

Qualifications

• Excellent leadership and the ability to supervise multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience delivering policy recommendations to executives, boards, and governance committees.
• Expertise in vendor management, compliance, approvals, authorizations, and operational efficiency.
• Experience overseeing large-scale projects and leading strategic initiatives.
• Comfort with external representation of an organization and relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of benefits administration, member and employer services, information technology, human resources, administrative services, and major business initiatives.
• Ensure effective and efficient delivery of retirement benefits and member services, as well as organizational performance.
• Provide operational oversight of major systems and demonstrate expertise in vendor management, compliance, approvals, authorizations, and operational efficiency.
• Lead organizational effectiveness, business continuity, workforce and succession planning, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Translate organizational strategy into operational execution while aligning resources and priorities.
• Strengthen organizational capabilities and lead change across the organization.
• Partner with executive leaders to identify and mitigate program, reputational, political, and operational risk.
• Oversee large-scale projects and lead strategic initiatives driving organizational change.
• Serve as a principal advisor to the CEO and the Teachers’ Retirement Board on policy direction.
• Develop, approve, and implement policies, strategies, and initiatives in support of the Board’s strategic plan and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Work closely with executive leadership to ensure organizational alignment and accountability.
• Act on behalf of the CEO in the CEO’s absence.
• Ensure appropriate benefit payments, operational accuracy, and ultimate member satisfaction.
• Establish, articulate, and implement clear priorities and processes for meeting CalSTRS’ strategic goals.

Skills

Leadership

Policy recommendations

Vendor management

Strategic thinking

Change management

Job description

About California State Teachers’ Retirement System

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) was established by law in 1913 to provide retirement benefits to California’s public school educators from prekindergarten through community college. Today, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world, serving a diverse membership base across California’s public education system. CalSTRS is administered by a 12-member Teachers’ Retirement Board that oversees all strategic decisions and ensures benefits are paid timely and accurately to all beneficiaries in accordance with the Teachers’ Retirement Law. As of June 30, 2025, CalSTRS serves a substantial membership including 471,044 active members, 297,038 members in service retirement, 244,419 inactive members, 32,157 members receiving survivor benefits, and 9,517 members receiving disability benefits. As a world-class financial services institution and state agency, CalSTRS maintains an organizational culture that emphasizes customer service, leadership, and respect for members and colleagues. The organization values its employees and encourages an environment motivated by core values including Customer Service, Accountability, Leadership, Strength, Trust, Respect, and Stewardship. CalSTRS positions itself as an employer of choice with a meaningful mission to secure the financial future of California’s educators while supporting the health and well-being of its workforce.

About this Role

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System is seeking to fill its Chief Operating Officer (COO) position. Under the administrative direction of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO provides executive leadership and oversight of CalSTRS’ core business operations, programs, administrative functions, and strategic initiatives. The COO is responsible for ensuring effective and efficient delivery of retirement benefits and member services, as well as organizational performance. This includes executive oversight of benefits administration, member and employer services, information technology, human resources, administrative services, and major business initiatives. The COO provides leadership in organizational effectiveness, business continuity, workforce and succession planning, innovation, and continuous improvement. The COO plays a critical role in translating organizational strategy into operational execution, aligning resources and priorities, strengthening organizational capabilities, and leading change across the organization. As a member of the executive leadership team, the COO serves as a principal advisor to the CEO and the Teachers’ Retirement Board, developing, recommending, and implementing policies, strategies, and initiatives in support of the Board’s strategic plan and fiduciary responsibilities. The COO works closely with executive leadership to ensure organizational alignment and accountability and acts on behalf of the CEO in the CEO’s absence.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive oversight of benefits administration, member and employer services, information technology, human resources, administrative services, and major business initiatives
• Ensure effective and efficient delivery of retirement benefits and member services, as well as organizational performance
• Provide operational oversight of major systems and demonstrate expertise in vendor management, compliance, approvals, authorizations, and operational efficiency
• Lead organizational effectiveness, business continuity, workforce and succession planning, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Translate organizational strategy into operational execution while aligning resources and priorities
• Strengthen organizational capabilities and lead change across the organization
• Partner with executive leaders to identify and mitigate program, reputational, political, and operational risk
• Oversee large-scale projects and lead strategic initiatives driving organizational change
• Serve as a principal advisor to the CEO and the Teachers’ Retirement Board on policy direction
• Develop, recommend, and implement policies, strategies, and initiatives in support of the Board’s strategic plan and fiduciary responsibilities
• Work closely with executive leadership to ensure organizational alignment and accountability
• Act on behalf of the CEO in the CEO’s absence
• Ensure appropriate benefit payments, operational accuracy, and ultimate member satisfaction
• Establish, articulate, and implement clear priorities and processes for meeting CalSTRS’ strategic goals

Requirements

• Excellent leadership skills, strong business acumen, and the ability to effectively manage, lead, and supervise multidisciplinary teams
• Experience delivering high-quality presentations and significant policy recommendations to executives, boards, and governance committees
• Expertise in vendor management, compliance, approvals, authorizations, and operational efficiency
• Experience overseeing large-scale projects and leading strategic initiatives
• Demonstrated adaptability, innovation, and openness to new technologies, including emerging areas such as artificial intelligence governance
• Strong understanding of defined benefit and defined contribution programs
• Knowledge of technology systems and administrative services
• Understanding of operational functions of an organization
• Effective communication skills at every level
• Comfort with external representation of an organization
• Record of success in leading senior management level staff
• Experience managing policy direction
• Ability to demonstrate expertise in operational efficiency and ensure smooth administration
• Ability to ensure high-quality service delivery
• Visionary approach to establishing and implementing organizational priorities
• Positive attitude and commitment to member satisfaction

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $265,000 to $385,000 with 50% maximum incentive opportunity
• Defined benefit retirement program
• 401(k) and 457(b) deferred compensation plans through Savings Plus
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Group legal services
• Nonindustrial disability insurance
• Relocation benefits may be available
• Meaningful mission-driven work
• Support for employee health and well-being
• Collaborative and service-oriented organizational culture