Deputy Executive Officer, Human Resources (Pension & Benefits)

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has retained DeSanti to recruit a Deputy Executive Officer, Human Resources (Pension & Benefits), to assist in executing Metro’s mission to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances quality of life for all who live, work and play within LA County. 

Job Summary:
Plans, directs, and manages all activities of Metro’s Pension & Benefits (P&B) department, including health and welfare benefits for union and non-contract employees and retirees, administration of five self-administered retirement income plans (i.e., defined benefit pension plans), oversight and management of CalPERS and deferred compensation programs.   The Deputy Executive Officer (DEO) serves as a senior strategic adviser to the Chief People Officer, Metro’s Senior Leadership Team, and Metro’s Board/Committees on pension, benefits, and workforce well?being matters.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops and directs the implementation of Pension & Benefits policies, procedures, and internal controls; ensures compliant plan design and administration for active employees and retirees across union and non?contract groups.
• Provides direction to Benefits and Pension staff and sets results?oriented objectives that align with Metro’s strategic goals; establishes Responsible Accountable Consulted and Informed (RACI) performance standards for accuracy, timeliness, and cost stewardship.
• Develops management reports and dashboards for the Chief People Officer, Metro’s Senior Leadership Team, and Metro’s Board/Committees; oversees annual and ad?hoc reports including open enrollment outcomes, renewal recommendations, actuarial and OPEB valuation impacts, and pension funding updates.
• Leads annual health & welfare renewal and Open Enrollment cycles (e.g., Non-Contract/American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees/Department of Public Safety, Amalgamated Transit Union Health & Welfare), including benefit strategy, stakeholder engagement, communications, testing, and post?open enrollment reconciliation.
• Manage and lead pension plan operations, including working closely with the Plan actuaries on annual valuations, processing of retirement cases, Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) administration, disability retirements, and retirements with legal orders, and annual contribution balance statements. Oversees coordination with Payroll, IT, and Accounting for recordkeeping and employee deductions and contributions.
• Administration of CalPERS, including plan amendments, contribution rate updates, membership, and bi?weekly payments with Payroll, IT, and Accounting.
• Manages the contract with the Deferred Compensation Plan (401(k)/457, Roth accounts) recordkeeper, including plan amendments and administration of daily membership activities.
• Manages audits (e.g., health & welfare, disability pension earnings, financial accounting audits and others), and annual valuations (e.g. self-administered pensions, the bi?annual Other Post Employment Benefits OPEB), and ensures timely remediation of findings and continuous improvement of controls.
• Directs vendor and partner management (actuaries, consultants, administrators, carriers, and custodians); leads RFP/RFIQ processes, negotiates contracts, oversee Service Level Agreements (SLA), and ensures fiscal accountability.
• Coordinates cross?functional interfaces with Payroll, Accounting/Accounts Payable, Treasury, ITS, Legal, OMB/Budget, HR, and other departments to ensure accurate rates, deductions, interfaces, payments, and financial reporting.
• Prepares and presents Board reports and recommendations; advises senior management on complex pension and benefits topics, options, costs, risks, and implementation considerations.
• Ensures compliant administration with applicable laws, regulations, and standards. (e.g., Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA, and others).
• Maintains effective and cooperative working relationships across Metro, unions, and external partners; leads change management and employee communications for benefits, pension, and wellness programs.
• Supervises, trains, mentors, and motivates assigned staff; champions professional development, succession planning, and a culture of service and accountability.
• May be required to perform other related job duties

Knowledge:

• Theories, principles, and practices of pension administration (defined benefit) and deferred compensation (defined contribution) in a public?sector environment.
• Health and welfare benefits strategy, plan design, renewals, open enrollment operations, eligibility, and retiree medical administration.
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations related to public?sector benefits and pensions, including ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, Internal Revenue Code, CalPERS regulations, California Government Code/PEPRA, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Public?sector financial and accounting standards related to pensions and OPEB and their application to budgets and financial statements.
• Budget, procurement, contract; vendor selection, RFPs/RFIQs, negotiation, and performance management.
• HRIS, benefits administration platforms, and related interfaces (e.g., payroll, accounting, recordkeeper systems).
• Modern management theory and principles, including change management, performance management, and data?driven decision?making.

Skills:

• Directing end?to?end pension and benefits operations and leading multidisciplinary professional staff.
• Developing long?term strategies for plan design, cost containment, funding, and service excellence.
• Interpreting and communicating actuarial valuations, cost projections, and funding strategies to executive leadership and the Board.
• Establishing and implementing policies and procedures, internal controls, and compliance programs.
• Negotiating plan renewals and vendor contracts; managing consultants, recordkeepers, administrators, and carriers to defined SLAs.
• Analyzing complex data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities; creating comprehensive reports, presentations, and Board materials.
• Exercising sound judgment and creativity in decision?making.
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing; presenting complex pension and benefits topics in accessible terms.
• Interacting professionally and working effectively with various levels of Metro employees, the Board of Directors, union representatives, and outside agencies.
• Supervising, training, mentoring, and motivating assigned staff; fostering leadership and teamwork.
• Mediation, negotiation, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Abilities:

• Analyze and interpret complex benefits and pension data and regulations.
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
• Plan financial and staffing needs; align budgets to actuarial results and benefit strategies.
• Make financial decisions within a budget; ensure fiscal stewardship of plan and departmental expenditures.
• Read, write, speak, and understand English.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Public Administration, Human Resources Management, or a related field; Master's Degree in a related field preferred

Experience:

• Five years of relevant senior management-level experience administering human resources activities, focusing on pension and benefits programs in a complex, unionized and/or public environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing and implementing organization-wide (union and non-union) health and welfare benefit strategies for active and post-employment populations, including negotiation of plan renewals, evolving benefit structures, cost-containment initiatives, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Experience serving as a Pension Administrator or equivalent, with in-depth knowledge of defined benefit and defined contribution plan administration, retirement plan design, plan governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Leadership experience directing professional staff and advising executive leadership, boards, and committees; experience presenting complex benefit and pension information to senior management and governing external agencies for informed decision making.
• Experience applying strong financial and analytical skills to interpret actuarial valuations, cost projections, and funding strategies.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, including developing RFPs, negotiating contracts, and overseeing performance of third-party benefits administrators and consultants.
• Experience utilizing HRIS and benefits administration platforms, analytics, and reporting tools to support compliance, trend analysis, and decision-making.

Certifications/Licenses/Special Requirements:

• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Relevant certification for the area of responsibility preferred, such as SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist).