Assistant Director, Program Administration and Strategic Development

STRS Ohio, STRS

The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) is seeking an Assistant Director, Program Administration and Strategic Development to join its Member Benefits/ Health Care Services/General Administration team.

Established in 1920 and serving Ohio’s educators, STRS Ohio is one of the nation’s largest retirement systems, serving nearly 550,000 active, inactive, and retired public-school teachers, and university faculty members, managing approximately $96.3 billion as of June 30, 2025, in assets and paying more than $7 billion in benefits annually.

STRS Ohio provides a competitive pay, and a comprehensive benefits package including on-site parking, educational assistance, subsidized medical insurance, fully paid dental and life insurance, vacation and sick leave, retirement benefits and on-site fitness center.  At STRS Ohio, you can experience rewarding work in a professional, business casual work environment. We welcome, celebrate, and promote respect for everyone. We are continually seeking bright and talented individuals to join our team.

Compensation:

$140,763 - $175,954

Work Schedule:

8:00am-5:00pm Monday through Friday (Onsite)

General Summary:

Under the direction of the director, Health Care Services, assume a key role in strategic development, direct plan management activities, analyzing, monitoring and reconciling financials and audits, managing Request for Proposals (RFP’s) and contracting processes for health care vendors. Enforcing applicable vendor contracts provisions and resolving emerging issues. Foster strategic partnerships with vendors.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Develop, evaluate and monitor strategies with the director, Health Care Services and other key staff in planning, organizing and implementing considered actions and activities to achieve short and long-term strategic Health Care objectives.

• Lead health care plan contract negotiations driving vendor accountability and financial soundness. Work jointly with other health care staff, State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) and legal counsel to resolve issues. Measure and report health care vendor’s achieved standards compared against contracted performance standards.

• Develop and implement annual and strategic plan design changes and other program elements that promote the effective and efficient use of health care resources by enrollees in the self-insured plans and align with STRS Ohio’s health care strategic plan. Actively participate in health care coverage revisions to meet funding and service targets.

• Oversee health care communications including annual review of open enrollment materials, plan documents, retirement applications, vendor communication and all other health care communications.

• Maintain compliance with state and federal regulations by developing and maintaining relationships with group health/welfare consultants and internal/external legal counsel to monitor and maintain compliance with state and federal regulations within an evolving health care industry.

The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by persons assigned to this classification. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the persons so classified, nor is it intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of associates under supervision.

Summary of Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; finance, accounting or actuarial concentration preferred.

• Fifteen or more years’ health industry experience with extensive knowledge of general principles in the management of group health and welfare programs and finances. Experience with Medicare programs required.

• Knowledge of general principles of group health and welfare programs including Medicare, managed care, claims administration experience, funding, contracts, group underwriting, pricing and risk management required.

• Strong team player and willingness to work cross-functionally to understand complex issues, design new innovative ideas and implement complicated solutions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin (ancestry), military status, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, or caregiver status, in making employment-related decisions about an individual.

Visa/Sponsorship

To be offered a position with STRS Ohio, you must be either a U.S. citizen or possess proper legal authorization to work in the U.S. for the type of job you are seeking. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship.

ADA Statement

STRS Ohio is committed to ensuring access, inclusion, and reasonable accommodations across all its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.  

Posting Drug-Free Workplace Statement

The State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) is a drug-free workplace. The use of recreational marijuana and non-medical cannabis is strictly prohibited.

Pre-Employment Drug Testing

All final candidates tentatively selected for employment will be required to undergo a urinalysis drug screening prior to appointment. This screening includes testing for illegal substances, including marijuana. A positive test result will disqualify the applicant from employment unless valid medical documentation is provided for legally prescribed medications or a physician’s recommendation for medical marijuana.

Pre-Employment Background Investigation

The final candidate selected for this position will be subject to a criminal background check. STRS Ohio will conduct an individualized assessment of any prior criminal convictions before making a determination regarding employment eligibility.