Exam Bulletin

State Teachers' Retirement System

Exam Code: EX-2734

Examination Plans Included:

  • SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR: $24,167.00 - $35,834.00 per Month

View the SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR classification specification.

Application Instructions

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    2734

For SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-02734

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00104665 - SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR

Education
Equivalent to graduation from college with a bachelor's degree. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis). AND

Experience
Eight years of progressively responsible investment management experience within a pension system, financial institution or firm, governmental agency, or similar public, private or non-governmental organization, including some experience in leading or coordinating professional staff; and leading or supporting a large portfolio. At least one year of experience must be equivalent to an Investment Director or two years to a Senior Portfolio Manager or three years to a Portfolio Manager. (Possession of an advanced degree or certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst or other equivalent financial or accounting certification such as a Certified Public Accountant, may be substituted for one year of the required experience).

Position Description

00104665 - SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR

Incumbents in this classification oversee a large or complex asset class(es), investment program(s) or major functional investment area(s) and are responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive investment strategies with unique or multifaceted characteristics or significant risk exposures requiring a specialized level of investment expertise. Incumbents plan and direct the work of research, analysis, portfolio management, and implementation of activities for investment programs or strategies; provide oversight of due diligence, negotiations, and the execution of key investment transactions and agreements; ensure appropriate controls and risk management are in place within their area of responsibility; structure investments so portfolio returns are better positioned to exceed established benchmarks, within a prudent level of risk; regularly prepare and present reports and expert policy level consultation and strategic recommendations on new investment vehicles and strategies to the board; Incumbents oversee public and private acquisition investing opportunities and collaborate to actively source these opportunities; manage staff in leveraging investment groups to partner with and create operating platforms and/or custom partnerships or operating business structures, collaborate with multiple investment groups to cover the market for investment opportunities; establish, build, manage and leverage strategic relationships with industry participants; oversee the selection and management of external consultants and advisors and the setting objectives and performance standards; assist in oversight of development and implementation of the organization's corporate governance and sustainability policies and integrating the policy into the overall portfolio, work with business management team and board of directors to implement initiatives and oversee enhancements to acquisitions of operating companies, and may represent the organization on a board seat of operating companies or on advisory boards and before the investment community. Incumbents participate in the development and implementation of the overall organization's investment strategies; may serve as members of the management team responsible for the overall development and accomplishment of the organization's mission, strategic and business plan objectives. Incumbents plan, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff typically in the Senior Portfolio Manager and Investment Director classifications and are responsible for the recruitment, selection, and development of a diverse investment workforce. Incumbents make major investment or operational decisions that have a significant impact on the fund. Incumbents advise and influence the Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Investment Officer on investment strategies and decisions and make tactical and strategic investment recommendations.

Acts in a professional manner and demonstrates a high degree of integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior, which is reflective of fiduciary responsibility; demonstrates openness and trust; establishes and builds rapport by modeling values-based behaviors; exhibits strong interpersonal and mentoring skills; promotes teamwork and cross-functional collaboration and communication in support of strategic goals; and promotes a high-performance culture where employees are encouraged and enabled to perform to their greatest potential

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1Supplemental ReportWith Application100%

Components that are due with your application will be scored and will count toward your final examination result. Failure to submit these items may result in disqualification or elimination from the examination.

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

The Training & Experience Examination is designed to elicit a range of specific information regarding each candidate’s knowledge, skill, abilities, and potential to effectively perform the duties relative to the classification. Responses to the questionnaire will be assessed based on pre-determined rating criteria. All applicants must complete the entire examination to receive a score.

In order to obtain a position on the eligible list, candidates must receive a minimum rating of 70% on the examination. Examination administration and processing time is approximately two weeks.

To access this examination, please click apply and you will be prompted to fill out your application and provided with a link to the examination.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
1. Economic principles and trends and their impact on investment portfolio
2. Various markets and the roles of various industry participants
3. Management techniques related to institutional investment portfolios, including design and construction of an investment portfolio, policy development, asset allocation, risk management, due diligence, negotiation and closure, monitoring, reporting restructuring, and exiting
4. Sources of information and data, analytical and research techniques, and methods to evaluate, analyze, and value various investment alternatives
5. The contents, interrelationships and working of balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements
6. Computer applications used in investment management operations
7. Practices for contracting for and overseeing services of external investment consultants and managers
8. Monitoring techniques for adherence to fiduciary and prudence guidelines and restrictions
9. Laws, regulations, and procedures covering investment agreements and transactions, rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission
10. Laws, rules, policies, and procedures impacting investment policy, procedures, and requirements
11. Social and political issues affecting public pension investment programs
12. Corporate governance and sustainability issues
13. Cash management, securities clearance and settlement, asset transfers, custodial relations
14. Investment compliance
15. Performance attribution analysis, and best practices
16. Principles and practices of supervision, including the manager's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.

Ability to:
1. Gather and analyze a broad range of economic and investment information and synthesize it into concise and coherent conclusions and recommendations
2. Participate in the development of tactical and strategic portfolio allocation guidelines
3. Prepare and present reports to the board
4. Evaluate a broad variety of investment options and reach prudent investment management decisions
5. Accurately monitor, measure and report investment performance
6. Manage pricing and valuation strategies and control processes
7. Measure and monitor risk within and across investment types
8. Evaluate investment actions and results for conformance with established performance standards and policies
9. Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of economic and investment trends and ideas, and use that knowledge to develop innovative investment strategies
10. Adapt effectively to changing market conditions
11. Communicate effectively
12. Establish and maintain cooperative relations with those contacted in the course of work
13. Plan and direct the work of subordinate staff while effectively promoting equal opportunity in employment and maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment
14. Plan and direct large or complex asset class(es), investment program(s) or major functional investment area(s) source and manage public and private acquisition investing opportunities
15. Leverage investment groups to partner with and create unique or complex investment operating platforms and perform management and internal administrative functions for a remote workforce.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR INVESTMENT DIRECTOR Classification will be established for:

  • State Teachers' Retirement System

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 24 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Preparing for the Examination

Here is a list of suggested resources to have available prior to taking the exam.

Employment History: Employment dates, job titles, organization names and addresses, names of supervisors or persons who can verify your job responsibilities, and phone numbers of persons listed above.

Education: School names and addresses, degrees earned, dates attended, courses taken (verifiable on a transcript), persons or office who can verify education, and phone numbers of persons or offices listed above.

Professional Training: Class titles, certifications received, names of persons who can verify your training, and phone numbers of persons listed above.

Testing Departments

  • State Teachers' Retirement System

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

State Teachers' Retirement System
Exams
State Teachers' Retirement System
P.O. Box 15275, MS 31
Sacramento, CA 95851-0275
Phone: (916) 414-4990
Exams@calstrs.com

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

State Teachers' Retirement System reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)