President & CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT SAIF

For more than a century, SAIF Corporation has played a central role in protecting Oregon’s workers and strengthening workplaces across the state. As Oregon’s largest workers’ compensation insurance carrier, SAIF serves more than 53,000 policyholders and protects more than half a million workers. Its customers span the breadth of Oregon’s economy, from small businesses to major employers, as well as the state and most cities, counties, school districts, and first responder organizations.

SAIF is a not-for-profit, state-chartered public corporation with a distinctive mandate: to make workers’ compensation widely available, affordable, and accessible while providing extraordinary service to Oregon’s workers and employers. It operates with a public mission while competing in the commercial insurance market. In 2025, SAIF processed nearly 37,000 claims and provided benefits to almost 61,000 injured workers and beneficiaries. Its work extends well beyond claims and insurance coverage. Through deep expertise in workplace safety and prevention, SAIF works alongside employers to reduce injuries and advance its vision of making Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work.

SAIF’s approximately 1,200 employees bring deep expertise and a strong commitment to the organization’s mission. The organization has a collaborative, service-oriented culture, with employees who care deeply about their work and the people they serve. Headquartered in Salem with six offices statewide, SAIF manages approximately $5.3 billion in assets held to meet its obligations to Oregon workers and employers. SAIF is governed by a five-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor.

MISSION OF THE ROLE

Shape the next century of an organization essential to Oregon’s workers, employers, and communities. 

The Chief Executive Officer will lead SAIF into its next chapter, setting a clear, compelling direction for the enterprise and translating that direction into priorities, decisions, and results. The President & CEO will position SAIF to remain financially strong, competitive, and deeply connected to the workers and employers it exists to serve.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of an organization with an unusual combination of scale, public purpose, and market presence. The President & CEO will guide SAIF through a period of meaningful evolution, strengthening long-term financial performance, advancing modernization, sharpening organizational focus, and building the capacity needed for the future. At the same time, they will preserve and strengthen the culture and commitment that have earned SAIF the trust of its employees, policyholders, partners, and communities across Oregon.

As SAIF’s chief executive and most visible ambassador, the President & CEO will connect the organization’s internal direction with the broader environment in which it operates. Working closely with the Board, employees, policymakers, business and labor leaders, agents, and employers across the state, this leader will strengthen understanding of SAIF’s role, anticipate changes affecting Oregon’s diverse workers and businesses, and ensure the organization continues to deliver on its mission for generations to come.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND OUTCOMES

Strategic Leadership & Stewardship

• Set a compelling, clear, forward-looking strategy that aligns the enterprise around shared priorities and positions SAIF for long-term success.
• Foster effective governance by building a trusted, transparent partnership with the Board, engaging board members effectively in strategy, governance, financial stewardship, and enterprise performance.
• Lead SAIF’s evolution preserving the mission and organizational strengths while positioning the organization for sustained success.
• Ensure SAIF’s long-term financial strength and sound stewardship of its $5.3 billion in assets, balancing affordability and competitiveness with its enduring obligations to Oregon’s workers and employers.
• Strengthen SAIF’s position in a competitive market, anticipating changes in Oregon’s economy and employer base and positioning the organization to meet evolving needs.

Executive Leadership & Enterprise Performance

• Lead and develop a high-performing executive team that operates with shared accountability for enterprise-wide results.
• Align SAIF's organization and resources with its strategy, positioning the enterprise to execute with focus and clarity.
• Preserve the mission-centered culture and commitment to care that distinguish SAIF while strengthening performance, accountability, and shared ownership for results.
• Ensure SAIF has the leadership and organizational structures and capabilities needed to execute its strategy and meet the demands of the future.
• Advance enterprise modernization, ensuring SAIF’s technology, data, processes, and ways of working support better decisions, stronger service, and greater organizational effectiveness.

External Relations & Leadership

• Build trust and maintain SAIF’s credibility with the Governor’s office, Oregon Legislature, regulators, business and labor leaders, and other key stakeholders, navigating the responsibilities and visibility of a public not-for-profit corporation with sound judgment.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for SAIF, strengthening its relationships, influence, and reputation across Oregon and within the workers’ compensation industry nationally.

Requirements

Essential Qualifications

• A record of enterprise-wide leadership in a large, complex, regulated organization, with significant accountability for financial performance, operations, and external stakeholders.
• Strong financial acumen and experience stewarding substantial financial resources, with an understanding of long-term risk, financial sustainability, and disciplined resource allocation.
• Demonstrated success partnering effectively with a board of directors and navigating a complex external stakeholder environment.
• A track record of leading through significant change, making difficult decisions while building understanding, alignment, and commitment.
• Demonstrated ability to build a diverse, inclusive, high-performing culture where employees with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, respected, and able to contribute fully.
• A genuine commitment to SAIF’s public-purpose mission and to serving Oregon’s workers and employers.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible executive leadership experience required. 

Strongly Preferred Experience

• Experience in insurance, workers’ compensation, financial services, or another industry requiring sophisticated understanding of risk, reserves, and long-term financial obligations.
• Experience in a public-sector, quasi-public, mutual, or not-for-profit organization.
• Experience sponsoring or leading significant enterprise modernization and transformation.
• Experience navigating complex state-level political, regulatory, and business environments.
• MBA, JD, or relevant advanced degree.

Benefits

A highly competitive compensation package including a target annual incentive plan.

Participation in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.