Apply on Employer Site

State of Washington · 6 days ago

Puget Sound Gateway Program Administrator (EMS5)

Walla Walla, WA

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$28/hr - $31/hr

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. They are seeking an experienced program administration professional to lead and direct all aspects of the SR 167 and SR 509 Gateway Program, providing strategic leadership over program planning, construction administration, and stakeholder coordination to ensure successful delivery of complex transportation projects.

AssociationCommunitiesEducationEmploymentEventsGovernmentInformation TechnologyNewsNon Profit

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for the Puget Sound Gateway Program, its projects, and positions, building consensus with program executive committees and representing WSDOT to elected officials, Indian tribes, community and business groups, property owners, and other stakeholders

Direct program staff from Megaprograms, Olympic and Northwest Regions, and HQ Divisions to ensure program goals and objectives are achieved

Serve as the primary point of contact for all program activities, representing WSDOT to the media, citizens, local jurisdictions, legislators, tribal agencies, businesses, and stakeholders, and facilitating resolution of transportation issues

Guide WSDOT transportation planning, budgeting, and problem-solving to deliver the program within scope, budget, and schedule, addressing coordination, legal, social, environmental, engineering, and fiscal challenges

Coordinate major projects across the Olympic and Northwest Regions, integrating with Sound Transit’s light rail, access to Sea-Tac International Airport, and ongoing I-5 Master Plan development efforts, ensuring effective collaboration across South King and North Pierce Counties

Serve on WSDOT, state, or nationally appointed policy teams and committees

Ensure adequate resources for all disciplines, provide leadership and career development, approve or recommend workforce actions, and promote safety, morale, and professional growth

Model professionalism, integrity, accountability, and public service, while resolving conflicts and complaints internally or with other agencies, community groups, and stakeholders

Qualification

Executive/Senior Level LeadershipTransportation/Civil Engineering KnowledgeComplex Issue ResolutionPublic Sector FinanceGovernanceExecutive CommunicationRepresentationHigh-Level NegotiationAdaptive Executive LeadershipStrategic JudgmentService-OrientedGrowth Mindset

Required

Executive/Senior Level Leadership: Demonstrated experience directing large, complex, multi-modal capital transportation programs with multi-billion-dollar budgets, from planning and environmental review through design, construction, and closeout

Transportation/Civil Engineering Knowledge: Demonstrated professional-level knowledge of transportation and civil engineering principles, practices, and standards, including environmental and highway design laws and regulations

Complex Issue Resolution: Demonstrated experience independently analyzing and resolving highly complex, high-risk, and politically sensitive engineering, interagency, and public-facing issues with significant organizational or public impact

Executive, Legislative, and Public Advising: Demonstrated experience communicating and advising executive leadership, legislators, division and regional leadership, media representatives, and the public on complex technical, policy, or project-related matters

Authorized Public Representation: Demonstrated experience representing an organization as an authorized spokesperson in public forums, including community meetings, legislative briefings, and executive-level discussions

Public Sector Finance and Governance: Demonstrated working knowledge of public-sector finance, budgeting, programming, and project delivery processes, as well as legislative and governmental decision-making frameworks

Independent Judgment and Discretion: Demonstrated responsibility for exercising independent judgment and professional discretion in situations where decisions affect policy direction, funding, public trust, safety, or operational outcomes

Integrated Problem Solving: Demonstrated experience solving complex engineering or programmatic problems where solutions require integration of technical, regulatory, financial, and stakeholder considerations

Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth

Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others

Preferred

Executive Communication and Representation: Demonstrated executive-level communication effectiveness, including shaping and delivering complex technical, financial, and policy messages to elected officials, executive leadership, stakeholders, and media in high-visibility environments

High-Level Negotiation and External Influence: Demonstrated success leading high-stakes negotiations and influencing outcomes among competing governmental, tribal, jurisdictional, and private-sector interests to achieve strategic transportation objectives

Adaptive Executive Leadership: Demonstrated capacity to assess emerging information, risk, and political context and recalibrate strategic direction, priorities, or delivery approaches to protect program outcomes and public confidence

Strategic Judgment and Decision Authority: Demonstrated experience exercising independent executive judgment over strategic and tactical decisions with material impacts to policy direction, funding, schedule, public trust, and organizational reputation

Public Trust, Transparency, and Stewardship: Demonstrated success establishing and maintaining public trust through transparent governance, ethical decision-making, and responsible stewardship of public resources in politically sensitive environments

Benefits

Work-Life Balance – We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.

Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!

Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.

Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more.

Insurance Benefits – Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses.

Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation – State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness – If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays – Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Sick Leave – Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month.

Vacation (Annual Leave) – Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Military Leave – Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave – Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave.