INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST I

The CalSTRS BenefitConnect Division is seeking a motivated individual to work as an Information Technology Specialist I on the Production and Test Team. . The BenefitConnect system, CalSTRS’ new pension administration software, was deployed in September 2025. The BenefitConnect Division was subsequently established to support CalSTRS staff who rely on the system to perform the processes essential to serving California’s public educators and their beneficiaries. The Division provides this support by assessing user needs and implementing system enhancements that address those requirements. This work requires comprehensive knowledge of pension and benefit administration practices, as well as a deep understanding of the BenefitConnect application, to effectively serve the operational needs of the Benefits and Services Branch and the Financial Services Branch. Under the direction of the Production and Test Manager, Information Technology Manager I (ITM I), the Release Management Analyst, Information Technology Specialist I (ITS I), will coordinate and oversee environment changes related to testing and releases, ensuring that all deployments meet quality standards before being made available to users. The Release Management Analyst will represent CalSTRS’ interests in release management, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and coordinating various deployment schedules across multiple environments. Additionally, the resource will document risks and issues, assess the impact of changes, and serve as a communication point for application events and updates throughout the BC program life cycle., Investment Branch employees are required to participate in the CalSTRS Personal Trading Program which allows CalSTRS to monitor employees’ personal trading transactions in order to reduce risks associated with insider trading, front running, and misusing material non-public information. Upon accepting a position within the Investment Branch, you will be required to disclose your personal broker account information and be required to utilize a personal broker from a designated list as provided by CalSTRS. Background Investigation

Prior to employment with CalSTRS, a background investigation (BI) will be conducted. The BI consists of a Personal History Statement and fingerprinting through the Department of Justice. The BI will check criminal and civil records and, if applicable, verify education and check driving records.

CalSTRS Disclosure Requirements

This position may be subject to disclosure and disqualification requirements concerning economic conflict of interest in government work, including the Conflict of Interest Code that applies to CalSTRS team members and the Political Reform Act, which require disclosure of certain investment information and use of a designated trading platform for securities transactions, as well as filing a Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700).

Incompatible Activities

This position is subject to the provisions of Government Code Section 19990. Upon accepting a position at CalSTRS, you will also be required to comply with the CalSTRS Incompatible Activities Policy by ensuring that outside work or activities are compatible and align with your professional activities or workplace obligations.

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application. Final Filing Date: 7/13/2026

Who May Apply Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

• Proven track record in managing the release management process, including planning and coordinating environment changes for testing and releases.
• Hands-on experience with tools like Azure DevOps or TFS for building and deploying applications, particularly those developed using Microsoft technologies such as C#/.Net.
• Familiarity with managing various deployment environments, including development, user acceptance testing (UAT), staging, and production, ensuring compliance with quality standards.
• Ability to verify changesets, debug build failures, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement solutions to deployment issues.
• Strong background in documenting risks and issues related to project releases, assessing impacts on production systems, and helping to mitigate potential release conflicts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities to convey information effectively to stakeholders and represent the project in Change Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.
• Proven ability to create and manage release schedules, coordinate deployment windows, and maintain alignment across multiple teams.
• Experience in coordinating disaster recovery activities and maintaining communication with stakeholders to ensure business continuity during deployments.

Every 12 months, based on performance evaluation, employees may receive a 5% salary increase until they reach the maximum salary for the position. In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025. This program reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits for the duration of the program. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the reduced amounts.

Pulled from the full job description

• Loan forgiveness
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Paid holidays
• Flexible schedule, CalSTRS offers a hybrid approach including in-office and remote work solutions based on business needs., CalSTRS offers a competitive pay schedule and a work-life-balance for all its employees. The State of California provides comprehensive benefits packages determined by the employee’s bargaining unit and conditions of employment. Some benefits include:
• Alternative work schedules
• Flexible work hours
• Remote work options
• Medical benefits, including health, dental and vision insurance
• Paid holidays and a defined benefit retirement program
• More than four weeks of vacation/sick leave for leaders
• More than three weeks of vacation/sick leave for staff
• Health insurance in retirement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Loan forgiveness under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world, providing retirement, disability and survivor benefits to California’s more than 1 million public school educators and their families. Named as one of the best places to work in money management ten times by Pensions & Investments magazine, we are a world-class financial services institution with a commitment to sustainability and wellness. Our two U.S. Green Building LEED Platinum-certified headquarters buildings in West Sacramento, California, feature sustainable construction, abundant natural lighting, an organic garden, sustainable beekeeping and ergonomic functionally designed workspaces. We offer a variety of on-site amenities to our team members, including two full-service cafés, two free fitness centers, a bicycle rental library and a child care center with a covered playground. Team members enjoy walks along the Sacramento River and nearby seasonal farmers markets. In addition to our state-of-the-art amenities, we offer thriving wellness and sustainability programs, an award-winning employee recognition program, and ongoing training, learning and development opportunities. We offer competitive benefits, flexible work hours and hybrid work options. We are committed to creating a workplace where our team members thrive.

If you’re looking for a rewarding career and are interested in becoming part of a diverse and inclusive workforce where talent, expertise and wellness are valued, we encourage you to find out more about our many career options at CalSTRS.com/Careers., (SOQ) is REQUIRED and MUST be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each applicant’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing. Each question must be numbered and addressed in the same order as the questions below. The SOQ must be typed, no more than two pages in length, and 12-point Arial font.

1. Can you describe your experience with the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)? How have you applied SDLC methodologies in your previous roles to ensure successful project delivery, particularly in managing releases?
2. Provide an example of a situation where you had to collaborate with multiple teams (e.g., development, testing, operations) on a release. How did you facilitate communication and ensure that everyone was aligned on the goals and timelines?
3. Share a challenging deployment issue you encountered in a previous project. What steps did you take to identify and resolve the problem, and what was the outcome? How did this experience influence your approach to future deployments?