General Description:

Under the direct supervision of the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director serves as a senior leadership partner responsible for advancing the mission and strategic priorities of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund (CTPF). This role supports enterprise-wide operations, ensures alignment across the organization, and translates strategic vision into effective execution.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Deputy Executive Director helps drive organizational performance, coordinates key initiatives, and supports consistent delivery of services to members and stakeholders. The Deputy Executive Director reports directly (solid-line) to the Executive Director and maintains collaborative, indirect (dotted-line) relationships with members of the Executive Team to support coordination, alignment, and effective execution across all functional areas.

The position requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to operate in a complex, highly regulated, and politically sensitive environment, along with a strong understanding of pension fund governance, financial and operational management, and public sector dynamics.

Core Competencies

The Deputy Executive Director, must demonstrate the following core competencies which relate to strategic planning and decision making, ability to provide innovative solutions, leading people, generating results, business acumen, and coalition building:

• Creativity and Innovation
• External awareness
• Flexibility
• Conflict management
• Leveraging diversity
• Developing others
• Team building
• Accountability
• Customer Service
• Problem solving/decisiveness
• Financial Acumen
• Human capital management
• Political savvy
• Partnering
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Strategic Thinking
• Vision

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction in the development and execution of the Fund's short- and long-term strategic goals, working in close collaboration with the Executive Director to ensure alignment across the organization.
• Provide enterprise-wide oversight and coordination of the Fund's operations, ensuring alignment of tactical priorities, effective execution, and accountability for organizational performance.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, ensuring effective implementation, monitoring progress, and adjusting approaches as necessary to achieve organizational objectives.
• Serve as a senior advisor to the Executive Director on organizational performance, governance, policy, and operational matters, offering recommendations to support informed decision-making.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional initiatives that advance operational effectiveness, service delivery, and stakeholder outcomes.
• Support the Executive Director in budget oversight, financial planning, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with strategic priorities and responsible fiscal management.
• Engage in external matters, representing the Fund with key stakeholders, including employers, unions, other public pension plans, governmental entities, and advocacy groups, and presenting complex information clearly and effectively.
• Assist with oversight and strategic coordination of external partners, including legislative and lobbying efforts, ensuring alignment with the Fund's objectives.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration, information sharing, and alignment of priorities.
• Promote initiatives that enhance the visibility, reputation, and effectiveness of the Fund among stakeholders and the broader public.
• Monitor and evaluate organizational and team performance, implementing changes necessary to drive results, and continuous improvement.
• Attend Board of Trustees and Board Committee meetings, prepare and present materials and provide input to support governance and decision-making processes
• Lead and participate in special projects and initiatives as directed by the Executive Director.
• Provide leadership coverage and operational continuity as needed in the absence of the Executive Director, ensuring consistent execution of responsibilities and organizational stability.

Position Qualifications

• Demonstrated executive-level leadership skills and ability to guide complex organizations, drive strategic initiatives, and achieve measurable outcomes.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, and accountability in a dynamic and complex environment.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess situations, evaluate options, and implement effective solutions.
• Proven ability to align multiple priorities and ensure coordinated execution of organizational goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to executive leadership and the Board of Trustees.
• High level of political and organizational awareness, with the ability to navigate sensitive and complex environments.

Education and Experience

• A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in Public Administration, Business, Communications, or a related field, along with a minimum of 15 years' experience in leadership
• A master's degree or JD is preferred and may enhance qualifications
• Proficient knowledge and background in Pension and Health Care Benefits, Finance, and Investments is required.

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use both hands, is frequently required to stand, sit, stoop, talk, and hear (communicate verbally in person and via telephone), and be able to read computer screens, correspondence, and reports.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty pounds.

Environment

• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment (i.e., computers, phones, and photocopiers).

Disclaimers

• This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; nothing in this document restricts management's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
• It is understood that a full-time exempt employee will work a minimum of 35 hours per week; however, in the scope of an exempt employee's normal job, work outside the usual schedule is often required. This might include evening meetings, weekends, limited travel, or work hours well beyond 35 each week.