Salary: $102,672.00 – $131,676.00 Annually
Location: Thurston County – Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Job Number: 23DOT-HQ-0W470
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 10/10/2023
Closing Date: 10/31/2023 at 11:59 PM Pacific

Learn more about this position and apply today at WSDOT’s Government Jobs website.

About WSDOT:

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world’s longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world’s widest tunneling project.

The Opportunity:

WSDOT Multimodal Planning and Data Division is seeking a collaborative leader to serve as the Statewide Transportation Planning Manager. The Statewide Transportation Planning Manager leads a team of seven professionals to develop and deliver statewide multimodal plans and establish strategic policy direction for statewide planning. The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys taking on challenges, values the opportunity to inform and influence significant agency decisions, has a strong desire to make a difference, and practices a management style that empowers others. This position coordinates across WSDOT divisions and regions and with cities, counties, regional and metropolitan planning agencies, tribes, and state agency partners. In this role, you will work to ensure WSDOT system investments are planned, funded, and delivered through an integrated and performance-based process. You will lead long-range plans and policy initiatives to improve WSDOT’s ability to mitigate, prepare for, and respond to emergencies and combat climate change. And you will ensure statewide plans result in a transportation system that provides equitable services, improves multimodal access, and supports Washington’s long-term resilience.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Statewide Transportation Planning Manager will:

  • Deliver and implement statewide plans such as the long-range statewide multimodal transportation plan, highway system plan, and other plans of statewide scale.
  • Lead the development of statewide multimodal planning policies, strategies, and actions and oversee the preparation of recommendations, planning documents, reports and presentations for executive leadership, agency staff, and stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with internal and external customers including federal and state agencies, the commission, regional transportation planning organizations, cities, counties, tribes, and transit agencies.
  • Develop, execute, and report on plan implementation activities.
  • Establish a center of excellence in statewide transportation planning and support and coordinate statewide modal/system plans across the agency.
  • Provide subject matter expertise in statewide multimodal transportation planning including participation in advisory committees.
  • Lead the development of a statewide planning community of practice across modes, regions, and disciplines to advance the practice and deliver statewide planning work at the agency that is coordinated and consistent, meets statutory requirements, and generates meaningful policy recommendations and actionable results.
  • Lead the development and implementation of work to advance performance-based planning and align investment decisions with statutory direction and the agency strategic plan.
  • Support the development of statewide planning policy such as health in transportation, equity and environmental justice, resilience, integration of Transportation Systems Management and Operations into planning, and planning for cooperative autonomous transportation.
  • Lead, coach, and develop unit staff as they structure teams and develop work plans to achieve expected outcomes.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:

  • Advanced knowledge of administration of governmental programs, policies and operations usually acquired through:
    • An advanced university degree (Masters, JD, PhD) in a related discipline such as planning, public policy, public administration, engineering, or a closely related field. 
    • At least ten (10) years of experience in transportation planning, urban planning, public policy, public administration, community planning or related field. 
  • Ability to clarify purpose, focus efforts, and achieve results through strategic planning processes including:
    • Developing collaborative processes and coordinating and integrating work across the agency.
    • Applying creativity and expertise to adapt and apply national best practices to WSDOT policies and processes. 
    • Working with agency leadership to recommend pathways to resolve challenging policy issues.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and facilitate group processes including:
    • Representing WSDOT with the public and federal, state, and local agency staff and framing messages to fit the audience.
    • Staying current with changes in planning requirements and communicating them to stakeholders.
    • Active listening and integrating the views of all concerned into discussions and decisions.
    • Establishing good interpersonal relationships and gaining agreement from others to support ideas or take action without direct authority.
  • Ability to foster a culture of belonging to ensure all voices are heard, considered, and valued when decisions are made and implemented.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

  • At least five (5) years of experience supervising employee teams.
  • Ability to apply human resource management methods including:
    • Coaching, mentoring, developing, and training staff toward effective delivery of program outcomes.
    • Tracking and reporting program or office performance against goals.
  • Ability to align and manage organizational resources to achieve program outcomes including:
    • Monitoring and managing budgets.
    • Overseeing procurement and administration of consultant contracts.

Important Notes 

  • This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options. The official duty station and/or frequency of telework for this position will be determined based on candidate preference and overall business needs.
  • In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code. 
  • WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.wa.gov.

Why WSDOT 

  • Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
  • Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees 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. Go to State Benefits for more information. 

Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply:

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. 

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application: 

  • An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
  • An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
  • Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment. 

Please click the “APPLY” button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.
 
Contact Us:

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Rachel Giese at GieseR@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 23DOT-HQ-0W470 in the subject line.