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Chief of Strategic Planning and Administration (CSPA)

PROGRAM MANAGER SENIOR V

Recruitment #26-005487-0002

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Introduction


The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS) administers benefits for over 430,000 members, including active employees, retirees, and vested participants across 12 retirement systems—supporting the financial security of Maryland’s public servants.

Located in Baltimore’s Central Business District, MSRPS offers a purpose-driven workplace with modern amenities, including panoramic city and harbor views, renovated common areas, upgraded elevators, and an on-site café.

 Employees enjoy comprehensive state benefits including; medical, dental, prescription coverage, generous paid leave, participation in the state pension system, and supplemental retirement savings options (401(k), 457(b), and more). Additional perks include an on-site fitness center with showers and lockers, 24/7 building security, and easy access to restaurants, shops, public transit, and major highways.

 If you're seeking a career with impact, stability, and a supportive environment, explore opportunities with MSRPS.

 

This position is designated as telework‑eligible under the State of Maryland’s Telework Policy, after successfully completing the defined required training period.

GRADE

Grade 27

LOCATION OF POSITION

120 East Baltimore Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Main Purpose of Job

The position will serve and support the mission of the agency by: Supporting the Chief Investment Office (CIO) on strategy, communications, governance and cross-functional coordination. The Chief of Strategic Planning and Administration (CSPA) will oversee Executive Operations, Culture & Communications, and the “One Portfolio” Culture. Executive Operations will include oversight of Executive support, staff coordination, event planning and management. Culture & Communications will include oversight of Investment Division (ID) culture, training and messaging alignment within the division and throughout the agency. The CSPA will be responsible for cultivating and nurturing the “One Portfolio” Culture along with the CIO and ID senior management. In addition, the CSPA will serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the CIO, exercising discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism. The CSPA will facilitate timely, transparent, and constructive communication between the CIO, senior management, staff, Trustees, and other stakeholders, and resolve or appropriately escalate issues while preserving access and reporting relationships. The CSPA will work to solve problems, mediate disputes, and proactively address issues before they reach the CIO. The CSPA will collaborate across agency divisions and units to advance strategic priorities and common agency-wide goals and objectives.


This position serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

POSITION DUTIES

The CSPA serves as the senior strategy and operations leader for the Investment Division and a trusted adviser to the CIO. The CSPA is responsible for strengthening the Division’s governance, Board and committee workflows, internal decision-making forums, administrative operations, personnel processes, communications, procurement, budget management, vendor oversight, travel administration, technology initiatives, and documented operating procedures.

Job duties include but are not limited to:

Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Support

  • Support the CIO on operational and investment strategy, communications, governance and cross-functional coordination with Investment Division (ID) staff and other stakeholders.
  • Oversee Investment Division Executive support, staff coordination, event planning and assist with the overall management of the Investment Division.
  • Oversee Culture & Communications including ID/agency-wide culture and communication alignment, and ID training.
  • Collaborate with the CIO and ID senior management to cultivate and nurture the “One Portfolio” Culture that includes innovation, long-term thinking and capability alignment.
  • Act as an intermediary/liaison between the ID staff and the CIO to solve problems, mediate disputes and proactively address issues before they reach the CIO.
  • Act as a liaison between the CIO and senior management, Trustees, and other stakeholders to ensure consistent communication, involvement and decision-making at the proper time;
  • Manage and coordinate organizational change and strategic initiatives across the Investment Division;
  • Plan, coordinate and manage internal and external organizational events;
  • Use AI tools to develop presentations, analytics and communications for Board and Committee meetings;
  • Manage, coordinate and prioritize the schedule and calendar of the CIO and establish an effective working relationship with the Trustees and Public Member Advisors;
  • Coordinate or attend meetings for the CIO and ensure accurate meeting minutes taken, recorded, and appropriate processes and assignments followed for them to be actioned;
  • Represents the CIO in meetings and phone calls with internal and external stakeholders;
  • Oversight over the CIO’s correspondence including answering questions and directing internal projects alongside division heads;
  • Attend events, conferences, meetings with CIO, as needed;
  • Oversight over the travel schedule for the CIO;
  • Identify areas for administrative improvement and make actionable recommendations;
  • Act as a strategic advisor to the CIO and ID senior management team;
  • Draft letters, emails, reports, and other correspondence on behalf of the CIO;
  • Participate with the CIO and ID senior management team in strategic planning, policy development, and decision-making;
  • Ensure timely and effective completion of projects and initiatives of the CIO;
  • Create and maintain systems and processes to streamline operations;
  • Establish standards and procedures for hiring and managing the office staff and personnel for the CIO;
  • Research and recommend new and revised policies and strategies;
  • Collaborate with the Agency’s Human Resource department and other agency senior leaders to address ID personnel issues and priorities.

 Manage Administrative Support Staff

  • Manage a team of administrative support staff to ensure critical administrative functions are completed accurately and on time;
  • Coordinate and facilitate consistent communication between teams and across the entire division;
  • Ensure cross-training, redundancy and succession planning across the administrative functions of the division;
  • Establish performance objectives to measure and improve team performance;
  • Oversight over team that coordinates and manages the planning, preparation and distribution of committee agendas and meetings;
  • Ensure minutes are recorded of relevant Committee meetings and ensure action items are included in the subsequent Board agenda for approval;
  • Assess performance and provide feedback to the administration support team through employee performance evaluations;
  • Review policies and procedures relating to travel, invoices, payment and reimbursement and recommend process improvements;
  • Manage administrative workflows and assign tasks and functions to administration team members as appropriate;
  • Budget and allocate resources to the administration team as appropriate;
  • Oversight of division’s vendor relationships and support RFP and procurement processes as appropriate;
  • Oversight of the staff responsible for maintaining office equipment and ordering supplies;
  • Ensure high standards of quality for any material distributed by the Investment Division, reviewing relevant material to ensure accuracy and consistency;
  • Assist investment staff with understanding State and agency travel regulations and policies;
  • Oversight of staff that prepares and processes SRA Requisition/Working Fund form for ordering supplies and equipment, subscriptions and renewals, membership and renewals, hotel accommodations, registration fees, etc. for the Chief Investment Officer, Deputy Chief Investment Officer and Investment Division staff.  Pay for requisitioned item and/or invoice with corporate purchasing card (CPC).
  • Keep CIO informed of Investment Division’s spending on all budgeted items;
  • Oversight of monthly reconciliation of bank statement and procurement forms for credit cards issued in the Investment Division.

 Special Projects

   Following the direction of the Chief Investment Officer, responsible for assisting with the oversight of special projects as necessary and other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, operations, program or project management, governance, executive administration, organizational development, public administration, financial services administration, or a closely related field.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants are not expected to have experience in every preferred area. We recognize that qualified candidates may develop relevant capabilities through a variety of professional, educational, public-service, military, nonprofit, technical, and lived experiences. We encourage applications from individuals who do not meet every preferred qualification, particularly those from historically underrepresented backgrounds or whose careers have not followed a traditional investment-management or management-consulting path.

The Investment Division values different perspectives, professional backgrounds, educational paths, communication styles, and approaches to problem-solving. We are committed to an environment in which employees are respected, able to contribute openly, and provided equitable opportunities for development, recognition, and advancement.

 

Preferred Qualifications: 

·   

  • Advanced degree or professional training and experience in business administration, public administration, organizational leadership, project or program management, strategy management consulting, human resources, finance, procurement, law, communications, technology management, or a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and/or professional experience. 
  • Experience leading complex cross-functional projects or operational initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and organizational priorities. 
  • Experience supervising employees, leading teams, or directing substantial workstreams. 
  • Experience developing or improving policies, procedures, workflows, controls, or governance processes.
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare clear executive-level written materials, presentations, recommendations, and decision-support information. 
  • Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, exercise discretion, and communicate effectively across organizational levels and professional disciplines. 
  • Experience leading inclusively, establishing high standards of professional excellence, inviting/incorporating diverse perspectives, and promoting transparent and equitable access to assignments, information, professional development, recognition, and advancement opportunities.

 

Additional consideration may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

  •          Board, committee, or public-sector governance 

  • Investment management, pension administration, financial services, or another regulated environment 
  • Procurement, contracting, or vendor management 

  •          Operating-budget development, financial administration, or budget-to-actual reporting 

  •          Human-resources operations, performance-management processes, learning and development, or organizational culture/transformation 

  •       Strategic and executive communications, executive briefing, speechwriting, or presentation development

  • Technology program management, digital transformation, or responsible AI use and integration
  • Travel, reimbursement, purchasing-card, or accounts-payable process improvement 

  •          Strategic and event planning

  •       Policy manuals, operating procedures, records management, or internal controls

  •       Change management, organizational design, or administrative-team restructuring

  •       Professional credentials in project or program management, human resources, change management, or public procurement – such as PMP, PgMP, SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR, Prosci Change Management Certification, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CPA, or another relevant credential

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

A resume and cover letter are required to be uploaded with your application as well as an official transcript. 

Due to the confidential nature of the work, selected candidates must undergo and pass a background and credit check.

SELECTION PROCESS

Please make sure that you provide sufficient information on your application to show that you meet the minimum, selective and preferred qualifications for this recruitment.  All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date. We will not consider information submitted after this date. 

 

Successful candidates will be ranked as Best Qualified, Better Qualified, or Qualified and placed on the employment (eligible) list for at least one year or be placed on a register for at least one year. This list will be used by the hiring agency to select candidates for interviews in-person or virtually. 

 

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must accompany the application.

 

EXAMINATION PROCESS

he assessment may consist of a rating of your education, training, and experience related to the requirements of the position. It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all experience and education that is related to this position

You may be asked to complete a supplemental questionnaire. The supplemental questionnaire may be used as part of the rating process. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. 

BARGAINING UNIT STATUS

This position is exempt from Bargaining.

BENEFITS

Link to STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

As an employee of the State of Maryland, you will have access to outstanding benefits, including, health insurance, dental, and vision plans offered at a low cost.

· Personal Leave - new State employees are awarded six (6) personnel days annually (prorated based on start date).

· Annual Leave - ten (10) days of accumulated annual leave per year.

· Sick Leave - fifteen (15) days of accumulated sick leave per year. 

· Holidays - State employees also celebrate at least thirteen (13) holidays per year. 

· Pension - State employees earn credit towards a retirement pension.

· Position is eligible for teleworking.

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. If you are unable to apply online, you may mail a paper application and supplemental questionnaire to:

 

Maryland State Retirement and Pension Systems

Human Resources Section

120 E. Baltimore Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

 

Email: Shanera Johnson at smjohnson@sra.state.md.us

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT UNSOLICITED DOCUMENTATION 

 

The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this or other State agencies. 

 

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. 

 

People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. 

 

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country. 

 

TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay 

 

For education obtained outside the U.S., a copy of the equivalent American education as determined by a foreign credential evaluation service must be provided prior to hire.



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