RESEARCH ANALYST

Job Requisition ID: 55832
Opening Date: 05/01/2026
Closing Date: 05/22/2026
Agency: Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois
Salary: $80,614-$125,758 (Springfield), $86,645-$132,046 (Lisle)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: DuPage; Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Merit Comp Code: Agency Excluded from Collective Bargaining Coverage

Please follow the directions below when applying for this position.

**DO NOT CLICK THE APPLY BUTTON**

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE VISIT THE TRS WEBSITE:

Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) is one of the largest public pension systems in the United States. We provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits to teachers, administrators and other public-school personnel employed outside the city of Chicago.

TRS serves over 456,000 members and manages a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio for the exclusive benefit of the membership.

TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois governed by a Board of Trustees. Full-and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental and vision coverage. All employees hired after August 17, 2001 participate in the TRS retirement pension plan. Employees also have the option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans. The TRS pension plan is a participating reciprocal system under the Illinois Pension Code Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.

Learn more about careers at TRS: Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) is one of the largest pension systems in the United States. We provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits to teachers, administrators and other public-school personnel employed outside the city of Chicago. The System serves over 462,000 members and had assets of $83.7 billion as of February 28, 2026. TRS is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees.

Delivering expert pension service to Illinois public educators as they earn their promised retirement security.

Under the direction of the Director of Research the Research Analyst supports the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) through advanced research, data analysis, and policy evaluation. This position plays a key role in analyzing actuarial, financial, and legislative data to inform decision-making and ensure TRS remains compliant with state and federal regulations.

The Research Analyst will work closely with actuaries, TRS legislative consultants, and internal leadership to evaluate the financial and operational impacts of proposed legislation, assist in actuarial and statistical data collection, and develop analytical tools and reports to support strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in data analytics, public policy, and quantitative research, as well as the ability to clearly communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Collect, analyze, and interpret financial, actuarial, and statistical data to support internal reporting, forecasting, and legislative analysis.
• Conduct research on proposed legislation and evaluate potential impacts to TRS funding, benefits, and operations; prepare summaries and cost analyses for leadership and legislative audiences.
• Serve as a secondary liaison between the Research Department and the TRS actuary, Illinois State Actuary, and other external partners to coordinate data and ensure accuracy of reports and assumptions.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance Power BI dashboards, SQL-based reports, and other analytical tools to visualize and communicate key insights to leadership and stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Actuarial Valuation, and Experience Analysis reports.
• Support the development and documentation of business processes, workflows, and data management standards to improve efficiency and data integrity.
• Respond to internal and external data requests, including legislative inquiries, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and state or federal agency data calls.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with IT, Finance, and Communications teams to ensure alignment and consistency in reporting and analysis.
• Assist with presenting research findings and analytical insights to the Board of Trustees, senior management, and other stakeholders.
• Stay informed on pension policy trends, economic developments, and emerging data analytics tools and techniques.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; ability to interpret and explain complex data clearly.
• Demonstrated experience using BI and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) and working knowledge of SQL or similar data query languages.
• Understanding of actuarial, financial, or economic concepts as they relate to pension systems, state funding, or public sector finance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with legislators, actuaries, and executive leadership.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively under tight deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management abilities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Familiarity with legislative processes and the ability to interpret statutes and policy proposals preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Analytics, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in a related field and/or experience working with pension or retirement systems preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in data analysis, research, or policy evaluation, preferably in a pension, actuarial, or government setting.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools such as Power BI, SQL, Excel, or Python/R.
• Experience preparing and presenting technical information for executive and legislative audiences.

​Work Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm M-F
Headquarter Location: 2815 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702-3397
Work County: Sangamon or DuPage
Agency Contact: Christina Lonbom
Email: clonbom@trsil.org
Phone #: 217-814-2226
Posting Group: Fiscal, Finance & Procurement

TRS is a non-code state agency.

**APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS**

Candidates must submit applications through the TRS Careers Website:

Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

Please follow all instructions and include all required documents. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

TRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or completing any pre-employment testing, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at (217) 814-2111, or HRServices@trsil.org. Hiring decisions are not based on or affected by political factors, including political sponsorship, affiliation, or support.