Projects & Innovation Specialist

The CalSTRS Service Retirement Division is seeking a motivated individual to work as a Pension Program Manager I on the Projects & Innovation Team.

Service Retirement is the largest benefit program within CalSTRS and responsible for the timely and accurate delivery of benefits to retired California educators.

The Projects & Innovation Team is responsible for the most complex cross functional Service Retirement assignments for the support of the new pension system and related processes and procedures. The team independently organizes, plans and conducts the most complicated analyses regarding system ability to adopt program, legislative, and regulatory changes and systems development and deployment throughout CalSTRS.

Under the direction of the Pension Program Manager II, the Pension Program Manager I (Specialist) operates as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Service Retirement (SR) and is responsible for the most complex cross functional Service Retirement assignments. The PPM I (Specialist) independently researches, analyzes, designs, develops, tests, evaluates, and delivers project deliverables for the support of the new pension system and related processes and procedures. The PPM I (Specialist) independently organizes, plans and conducts the most complicated analyses regarding system ability to adopt program, legislative, and regulatory changes and systems development and deployment throughout CalSTRS. The PPM I (Specialist) has expert knowledge of the current pension administration system, extensive knowledge of the replacement pension administration system, Service Retirement (SR) business processes, and CalSTRS processes; the ability to research and analyze unique problems accurately, develop appropriate solutions, and recommend effective courses of action; and identify improvements and develop and propose innovative solutions. The PPM I (Specialist) has detailed knowledge of the California Teachers’ Retirement Law, and other related laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will possess the following skills: 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively analyze situations and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks with conflicting priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently with flexibility and willingness to learn and thrive in an environment of change.
• Extensive knowledge on applying rules, laws or regulations to customers, staff and peers.
• Expert knowledge with current and future CalSTRS benefit programs and/or similar pension system knowledge.
• Extensive knowledge of the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology and identifying and implementing process improvements.
• Demonstrated experience communicating effectively with individuals from varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds.

Every 12 months, based on performance evaluation, employees may receive a 5% salary increase until they reach the maximum salary for the position.

This position may supervise staff in the future.