Salary : $158,964.00 - $198,672.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number: 26DOT-HQ-0E270-1
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 09/23/2026
Closing Date: 10/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking a mission-driven leader to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery. Fish Passage Barrier Correction is a statewide, court-mandated infrastructure program with long-term implications for transportation system performance, environmental compliance, tribal relations, fiscal stewardship, and public trust. The Assistant Secretary provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and enterprise-level oversight for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery and is accountable for ensuring the program is planned, governed, and delivered in a manner that achieves compliance with the federal court injunction while supporting statewide transportation objectives, and long-term system performance. This role sets the overall program vision, establishes performance expectations, and defines delivery frameworks that guide agency efforts across the state.

In addition, the Assistant Secretary exercises executive oversight of scope, schedule, budget, and risk, while leading enterprise-wide stakeholder engagement and cross-organizational coordination. The position ensures consistent, integrated program delivery over multiple biennia and aligns resources, priorities, and decision-making structures to meet legal obligations and agency goals.
What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Secretary will:

• Provide executive stewardship and governance for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery Program, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements, executive direction, and agency priorities.
• Establish program-wide delivery frameworks, performance expectations, and accountability structures to guide planning, design, and construction activities across regions and functional disciplines.
• Exercise executive oversight and strategic direction for program scope, schedule, budget, risk, resource allocation, and multi-biennial planning and investment strategies, intervening as necessary to address systemic delivery barriers.
• Collaborate with other Assistant Secretaries to integrate fish passage delivery with WSDOT's capital program, engineering standards, asset management practices, and operational priorities.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage program-level risks related to legal compliance, environmental permitting, fiscal performance, delivery capacity, and stakeholder impacts.
• Coordinate with the Washington State Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice on legal strategy, compliance matters, and contract remedies related to program delivery and court-mandated requirements.
• Serve as WSDOT's executive representative and spokesperson, including establishing and maintaining government-to-government relationships with affected tribes and engaging with the Legislature, Governor's Office, agencies, and local partners.
• Oversee executive-level program reporting and accountability, including statutory, legislative, Gray Notebook, and executive reporting to WSDOT leadership and other oversight bodies.

Qualifications

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

Executive Leadership & Organizational Management

• Demonstrated ability to lead and direct large, multidisciplinary teams, major programs, or complex operational units at an executive or senior leadership level.
• Demonstrated ability to establish governance structures, performance expectations, and accountability systems across diverse functional areas.
• Demonstrated ability to manage under high visibility and scrutiny while responding effectively to stakeholder concerns and organizational needs.

Strategic Planning & Program Oversight

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans, manage enterprise-level risk, and oversee large budgets and complex program portfolios.
• Experience overseeing large-scale capital, infrastructure, or technically complex programs with significant public impact and fiscal responsibility.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex situations, think strategically, and make sound executive-level decisions.

Operational & Financial Management

• Experience overseeing core operational functions such as budgeting, finance, procurement, contract administration, project controls, performance reporting, and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage consultant teams, contractors, and blended delivery or matrixed teams.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Demonstrated ability to represent an organization effectively with executive leadership, elected officials, tribes, partner agencies, and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships, negotiate complex or sensitive issues, and resolve disputes, claims, or delivery challenges.

Service & Growth Orientation

• Demonstrated commitment to service-oriented leadership, including proactive responsiveness to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated growth mindset through continuous learning, adaptability, and development of self and others.

It is preferred that qualified applicants also demonstrate these additional competencies:

Public Sector & Government Knowledge

• Experience working within state government or other large, complex public-sector organizations.
• Knowledge of legislative processes, intergovernmental coordination, and governmental authorities.
• Legislative or policy development experience at the local, state, or federal level.

Transportation & Infrastructure Expertise

• Knowledge of transportation systems, capital delivery, and infrastructure program management.
• Familiarity with the programs, functions, and organizational structure of a Department of Transportation or similar agency.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to transportation planning, funding, and delivery.

Advanced Leadership & Delivery Experience

• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale capital or multi-modal infrastructure programs with significant public or legislative visibility.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and lead complex projects or enterprise initiatives from planning through delivery.

Advanced Relationship & Problem-Solving Skills

• Advanced ability to build partnerships, mentor and develop senior staff, and represent the agency across all phases of program or project delivery.
• Advanced ability to assess enterprise risk, negotiate difficult differences, and develop creative, effective solutions to complex organizational or delivery challenges.

Important Notes

• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• Application review will begin on October 7, 2026. Candidate selection may take place at any time thereafter. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.
• 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

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 of 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.

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

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.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

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. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

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.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness