Chief Health Care Officer

Requisition ID: req1398
Employment Type: Unclassified Regular Full-Time (URF)
Division: Health Admin
Compensation: Compensation will be based on a combination of relevant qualifications and background.
Job Closing: June 22, 2026 at 5:00 pm CST
Location: TRS Headquarters Building 2
1900 Aldrich Street
Austin, Texas, 78723
United States

WHO WE ARE:

With the Health Division, you’ll be joining a passionate team of self-motivated change agents united by our mission: driving to design the delivery of high-quality healthcare for nearly three-quarters of a million active and retired Texas public educators.

The healthcare industry is complex and we’re a team of problem-solvers who are up for the challenge. With a focus on innovation and collaboration to catalyze the market, we spend nearly $4 billion annually on healthcare to make a difference in our members’ lives. With a career at TRS, you’ll be empowered through a culture of continuous learning, front-line decision-making, coaching and mentorship to shape the future of our work, while transforming healthcare delivery for 1 in 41 Texans.

The Chief Health Care Officer provides executive leadership for the Health Division, setting strategy and ensuring alignment with TRS mission, legislative requirements, and long-term sustainability of TRS Health programs. This role oversees integrated operational, financial, and clinical functions; drives program performance and vendor accountability; and ensures strong governance, compliance, and continuous improvement. As a member of the Executive Council, the Chief Health Care Officer contributes to enterprise strategy and decision-making. The position partners closely with executive leadership, the Board, and state and district stakeholders to deliver data-informed insights and advance TRS health initiatives.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Strategic and Organizational Leadership

•Provides executive leadership and direction for the Health Division, ensuring alignment with TRS mission, agency priorities, and long- term sustainability of TRS Health programs (TRS-Care and TRS- ActiveCare).

•Leads the development and execution of integrated division strategy, aligning operational, financial, and clinical priorities to drive program effectiveness, affordability, and member outcomes.

•Anticipates and responds to legislative, regulatory, and market trends; proactively positions the division to adapt to policy, funding, and program changes.

•Establishes division-wide goals, performance metrics, and service standards; monitors outcomes and drives continuous improvement.

•Participates as a key member of the Executive Council, contributing to enterprise-wide strategy, decision-making, and organizational alignment.

•Promotes innovation through technology, data-driven decision- making, and process improvement to enhance service delivery and organizational performance.

Operational Execution

•Provides executive oversight of Health Division operations, including health plan administration, member engagement, and shared services coordination.

•Oversees development and execution of major procurements and vendor strategy, including selection, contracting, and performance management of health care, pharmacy, and consulting partners.

•Oversees financial and operational performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and monitoring program utilization to ensure sustainability and value.

•Oversees clinical strategy, utilization management, and cost optimization initiatives; ensures alignment across clinical, financial, and operational priorities.

•Monitors program utilization, financial performance, and emerging cost drivers; ensures insights inform strategic and operational decisions.

•Ensures effective integration of operational, financial, and clinical functions to support coordinated execution of TRS Health programs.

•Ensures strong internal controls, regulatory compliance, auditing processes, and risk management frameworks are in place and functioning effectively.

Stakeholder Engagement and Governance

•Partners with the Executive Director and Deputy Director in Board engagement, including preparation for and participation in Board and committee meetings.

•Serves as a primary Health liaison to the TRS Board, providing clear, accurate, and timely information to support governance, oversight, and decision-making.

•Oversees development of Board materials and presentations, ensuring integration of operational, financial, and clinical perspectives.

•Represents the agency in interactions with the Texas Legislature, including providing subject matter expertise, preparing briefing materials, and delivering testimony in legislative hearings.

•Ensures accurate, responsive, and strategic communication with legislative staff, state leadership, and oversight entities regarding program performance, funding needs, and policy impacts.

•Ensures vendor and partner accountability through effective governance structures, performance monitoring, and issue resolution.

•Builds and maintains effective relationships with external stakeholders, including public education employers, regulators, vendors, consultants, advocacy groups, and industry partners.

•Communicates program performance, key initiatives, risks, and emerging issues to executive leadership, the Board, and external stakeholders.

Talent Management

•Promotes and models TRS values across the division and in executive leadership activities.

•Establishes clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards aligned with organizational goals.

•Drives a culture of collaboration, service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.

•Leads talent strategy, including workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership development.

•Promotes an engaged and customer service-oriented work environment.

•Provides coaching, mentoring, and professional development to strengthen leadership capability across the division.

Performs related work as assigned.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:

Required Education

•Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business, public administration or related field; or

•High school diploma or equivalent and additional full-time managerial experience in health plan administration or benefits administration may substitute for the required education on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Required Experience

•Ten (10) years of full-time, progressively responsible experience managing staff operations in health care programs, benefit administration, insurance, pension administration, governmental services, customer service or another related industry.

•Five (5) years of full-time management in an executive capacity (experience may be concurrent.)

Preferred Qualifications

•Experience testifying in front of boards, commissions, and legislative committees.

•Experience leading large, complex health care or benefits programs, preferably in a public sector or highly regulated environment.

•Experience working with or supporting governing bodies, such as Boards or legislative entities, including preparation of materials, presentations, or testimony.

•Experience in health care financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, cost containment strategies, or actuarial analysis.

•Experience overseeing large-scale vendor contracts and partnerships, including procurement, performance management, and accountability for outcomes.

•Experience evaluating and benchmarking benefits programs against market trends, best practices, and emerging health care delivery models.

•Experience leading cross-functional initiatives that integrate operational, financial, and/or clinical strategies.

•Advanced degree in public administration, business administration, public health, or related field.

Knowledge of:

•Advanced principles and practices related to health care administration, including operational, financial, and regulatory components.

•Organizational strategy development and execution, including aligning functional priorities with enterprise-wide goals.

•Legislative, regulatory, and public policy processes impacting state agencies and health-related programs.

•Governance frameworks, risk management practices, and fiduciary responsibilities in a public sector environment.

•Health care financing, cost drivers, connecting healthcare utilization with financial impact, and program sustainability strategies (including vendor and actuarial considerations).

•Large-scale health insurance economics, including supply-demand dynamics, trends, emerging issues, and leading practices in health care delivery, benefits design, and public sector administration.

Skills in:

•Leading large, complex organizations or functions, including setting direction, aligning resources, and driving results through senior leadership teams.

•Strategic planning and execution, including translating broad organizational goals into actionable priorities and measurable outcomes.

•Financial oversight and resource management, including budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring cost-effective program delivery.

•Building and sustaining effective relationships with executive leadership, boards, legislators, regulators, public education employers, and external stakeholders.

•Communicating complex information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, including preparing and delivering executive-level presentations, Board materials, and legislative testimony.

•Leading cross-functional collaboration and influencing decision-making in an enterprise environment.

•Analyzing complex issues, evaluating risks, and developing data-informed, forward-looking solutions.

•Overseeing procurement, vendor management, and contract performance to ensure accountability and value.

•Driving organizational change, innovation, and continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.

Ability to:

•Provide strategic leadership in a highly visible, politically sensitive, and regulated environment.

•Exercise sound judgment and make decisions with significant organizational, financial, and public impact.

•Represent the agency with credibility and professionalism in interactions with the Board, Legislature, and external stakeholders.

•Navigate ambiguity and competing priorities while maintaining focus on long-term organizational outcomes.

•Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, including establishing accountability and fostering a positive organizational culture.

•Influence and collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries without direct authority.

•Balance strategic priorities with operational demands and stakeholder expectations.

•Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Codes:
Veterans, Reservists or Guardsmen with experience in the Military Occupational Specialty ( https://www.trs.texas.gov/files/trs-military-crosswalk.xlsx ) along with the minimum qualifications listed above may meet the minimum requirements and are highly encouraged to apply. Please contact Talent Acquisition at careers@trs.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.

To view all job vacancies, visit www.trs.texas.gov/careers or www.trs.csod.com/careersite.

For more information, visit www.trs.texas.gov.

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