Chief Risk Officer, SERS (Administrative Officer 5)

Full Job Description

The PA State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) is seeking a skilled risk management professional to lead and implement its Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework. This position serves as Chief Risk Officer for SERS and will drive ERM strategy across the agency. Don't miss this opportunity to apply your risk management experience and skills to a challenging and rewarding career in public service—apply today!

Requirements

In this role, you will identify, assess, manage, and collaboratively mitigate agency operational risks in accordance with Commonwealth ERM policy and standards, industry standards and regulatory requirements, and the strategic goals and objectives of SERS.

This position reports directly to the SERS Executive Director and works closely with the SERS Board, senior leadership, and agency program personnel to foster risk awareness, to facilitate collaboration on risk management efforts, and to incorporate ERM principles and practices into the agency’s operations and organizational culture.

Interested in learning more? Additional details can be found in the position description.

About SERS: Established in 1923, SERS is one of the nation's oldest retirement plans for public employees and manages the pension benefits of more than 246,000 employees and retirees for 96 public sector employers.

In 2025, SERS paid more than $4.0 billion in benefits and managed nearly $50 billion in assets. Additional information is available at www.SERS.pa.gov.

Our mission is to prepare our members and participants to achieve financial security in retirement.

We achieve this through focusing on our mission, acting ethically and with integrity, empowering our members, embracing innovation, fostering life work balance, modeling an inclusive and respectful workplace, valuing and developing team members, collaborating, and finding joy in our work.

SERS is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified individuals to our team.

We are committed to an inclusive and respectful work environment that fosters personal and professional growth, embraces the contributions of all team members, and leverages diversity in people, ideas, and experiences to achieve our highest potential.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5-hour work week, Monday through Friday.
• A work schedule beginning and ending between 7:30am - 5:00pm, inclusive, with a half-hour or one-hour unpaid meal period will be considered, dependent on operational requirements. The requested work schedule may not end prior to 4:00pm.

Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home part-time (hybrid telework schedule), depending on operational needs.

In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.

If you are unable to telework, you must work on-site at the work location specified in this job posting. Telework arrangements are subject to change.

Additional details may be provided during the interview.

• Financial Disclosure: The individual appointed to this position will be required to disclose financial information consistent with provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act and the Governor's Code of Conduct.
  
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• One year as an Administrative Officer 4 (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Eight years of experience in progressively responsible and varied management or staff work, including personnel management, fiscal management, budgeting, or procurement; and such training as may have been gained through graduation from a four year college or university; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Other Requirements:

• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation.

How to Apply:

Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position.

Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).

If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.

Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant’s own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only.

Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.
  

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce.

The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania.

The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Additional Information

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.