Position Information

Executive Director
The Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI) is seeking an Executive Director. ERSRI is the major public retirement agency in the State of Rhode Island with $11.6 billion in pension assets.  In addition to providing retirement, death, and disability benefits to Rhode Island state employees, including members of the state police and state judges, it also provides benefits to Rhode Island public school teachers and participants in over 115 municipal plans that include municipal public safety and general employees.  The plan has just over 33,000 active employees and approximately 28,000 retirees.
 
The Executive Director is primarily responsible for the efficient operation of the Employees' Retirement System of Rhode Island, including payment of all benefits, maintenance of member accounts, enforcement of Rhode Island retirement laws and regulations, annual production of the actuarial valuation and financial statements and technology systems. This position reports to the fifteen-member ERSRI Board, chaired by the General Treasurer of the state of Rhode Island, and serves as a key member of the Treasury leadership team. The Executive Director also serves as a non-voting member of the State Investment Commission. The Executive Director has oversight responsibility of 34 staff members.
To learn more about the Responsibilities and Preferred Qualifications please view the link below:
 
Position Specifications
 
To apply please send your resume to Tamara at tamara.wesely@cbiz.com
Position: Executive Director
Organization: Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI)
Location: Warwick,  RI 
United States
Salary:
Posting Start Date: 5/29/2025
Date Posted: 5/28/2025
Requirements KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Strong leadership and managerial skills • Superior written and oral communication skills • Deep knowledge of retirement systems or benefits administration • Understanding of actuarial concepts and financial systems • Confident and decisive leader with the ability to navigate political pressures and stakeholder relations • High emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills • Strong public speaking abilities and media relations capability • Creative problem-solving skills • Adaptability and willingness to drive improvements in processes and efficiencies 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required (or equivalent work experience), Master’s degree preferred • Senior management experience with a large public or private retirement system • Experience working with Boards and Committees • Full understanding of retirement and pension fund issues • Experience appearing before legislative and administrative bodies
Status: This listing expires on: 7/27/2025
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Organization Information
Name:
Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI)
Address:


Warwick,  RI 02886
United States
Email:
tamara.wesely@cbiz.com
Phone:
Fax:
Contact:
Tamara Wesely
Become A Member

Becoming a member of NASRA offers a unique opportunity to join a community committed to the sound, efficient, and innovative stewardship of public retirement systems. Membership connects you with a network of professionals and experts, providing valuable insights into managing public retirement systems with a focus on sustainability and risk-averse strategies.

By joining NASRA, you gain the tools and resources to enhance the management of public retirement systems, ensuring their long-term success and reliability for generations to come.


 

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NASRA’s latest update to standing issue briefs, Public Pension Plan Investment Return Assumptions underscores the critical role the investment return assumption plays in the financial health of public pension plans. Of all actuarial assumptions, it has the greatest impact on plan funding levels and cost. This brief traces how a decade of low interest rates and inflation, beginning in 2009, prompted many plans to reduce their long-term expected returns in line with more modest capital market projections. However, since inflation began rising in early 2021, the trend toward lowering return assumptions has largely paused. While reducing a plan’s assumed return can increase both costs and unfunded liabilities, setting this assumption is a careful, thorough process. It draws on expert input from actuaries and investment professionals and is guided by actuarial standards of practice.