Description
Are you a dynamic leader with experience managing multiple risk domains? Are you looking for an opportunity to guide and shape organizational risk management strategy? If YES, then apply now for an opportunity to use your skills with an organization that truly makes a difference in the lives of thousands!
What We're Looking For: The Department of Employee Trust Funds is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Director of the Office of Enterprise Risk Management. We’re looking for a strategic thinker who is motivated to move our organization’s mission forward through the development and implementation of risk management initiatives. The ideal candidate will be skilled in adapting quickly to different challenges, using their strong business insight to find quality solutions, and developing strong collaborative relationships with diverse business partners.
What We Offer: This is an excellent opportunity to develop a meaningful and rewarding career with ETF. Our employees have access to an excellent comprehensive benefit and compensation package, including generous paid time off so you can truly have work/life balance! If you have student loans and work full time in a public service job (like this one!) you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Who We Are: The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) manages retirement, insurance, and other benefit programs for 650,000+ state and local government employees and retirees of the WRS. Our members are at the center of everything we do, and we're committed to enhancing their well-being by delivering expert guidance, strong, sustainable benefit programs, and an exceptional customer experience. We're looking for talented people who are active learners that build strong collaborative customer relationships (whether internal or external) and recognize the value different perspectives and experiences bring to our organization.
Where We're Located: ETF located in the award-winning city of Madison. Located just off University and Sheboygan Avenues, at 4822 Madison Yards Way, within walking distance to several parks, restaurants, and Hilldale Shopping Center.
Position Summary
The Chief Risk Officer (CRO) serves as the senior administrative leader responsible for overseeing the agency’s enterprise risk management (ERM) program, business continuity planning, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) functions—including enterprise privacy risk management and fraud prevention. As head of the Office of Enterprise Risk Management (OERM), the CRO develops and enforces agency-wide policies regarding the programs under the position’s purview, provides strategic leadership on risk issues, and supports compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The CRO exercises broad administrative and strategic oversight by managing personnel and financial resources to implement effective risk management initiatives across the agency. Acting as a principal advisor to executive leadership and governing bodies, the CRO influences top-level decision-making and setting of priorities based on risk exposure. This includes providing critical risk management and GRC oversight for significant employee benefits programs, such as the Wisconsin Retirement System and the State and Local Group Health Insurance Program, which serve hundreds of thousands of current and former public employees in Wisconsin and beyond. The CRO also represents ETF in external meetings with officials from other state agencies, oversight bodies, and the Legislature, and provides risk-related updates and recommendations to the agency’s governing boards.
Additionally, the CRO supervises professional staff in the OERM, several of whom are in positions that have great impact on the agency’s ability to administer benefit programs for Wisconsin’s public employees and retirees. These staff include the Privacy Officer and agency Business Continuity Manager. The CRO collaborates with the Chief Information Security Officer and IT leadership on cybersecurity strategies and leads efforts to ensure that the agency’s critical business operations are resilient in the face of disruptions.
Please review the position description for more information.
Salary Information
This position is in classification Program & Policy Manager (pay schedule/range 81-01), with an annual salary between $120640 - $131040, plus excellent benefits.
Pay for current and new state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan in effect at the time of appointment.
To learn more about ETF’s total compensation package, please visit our Total Rewards Calculator!
Job Details
ETF offers hybrid remote/office work. If interested in hybrid remote/office work, this can be discussed in more detail during the interview process. The selected employee(s) must report to ETF’s office on the first day of employment. In addition, the employee may need to report to ETF on short notice as operational needs require. All employees are expected to be headquartered and work within the state of Wisconsin.
ETF does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.
Prior to any appointments for position(s) filled from this announcement, candidates may be subject to a comprehensive criminal background check to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the duties required of the position.
A 2-year Career Executive trial period or 1-year probationary period may be required.
Requirements
Qualifications
Minimally Qualified candidates will have experience in all the following:
Coordinating enterprise-level risk and compliance functions from an organizational perspective
Applying or monitoring privacy, business continuity, fraud prevention, and/or governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) controls
Communicating complex risk activities and information to a wide variety of audiences (e.g., executives, cross-divisional teams, or oversight partners)
Supervising multidisciplinary staff across multiple risk domains (e.g., continuity, privacy/fraud, compliance).
In addition, Highly Qualified candidates will also have experience with some of the following:
Management experience leading an enterprise risk management program at the highest organizational level
Developing or overseeing an organization-wide risk management framework, including participating in or leading efforts to define risk appetite/tolerance and establish escalation processes
Advising governing boards, executive councils, or external regulators on enterprise risk matters and mitigation priorities
Degree or certification in risk management, auditing, and/or compliance
How To Apply
To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application. To be considered for this position, you must attach a resume and letter of qualifications addressing your training and experience with the qualifications listed above.
Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your eligibility for further consideration. For helpful tips, please review our instructions for developing your resume and letter of qualifications.
Online applications that do not include all requested materials may not be considered. Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.
Current Career Executives or those with reinstatement eligibility to Career Executive status should complete the application process described above by the stated deadline.
The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.
For applicant questions or employment inquiries contact ETF Human Resources: ETFJobs@etf.wi.gov, 608-267-2199. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.
ETF is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.
Deadline to Apply
Application materials are due by 11:59 pm on November 26, 2025.
