Salary : $94,260.00 - $114,540.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-HQ-0W091
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Headquarters
Opening Date: 08/20/2026
Closing Date: 9/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT, is currently seeking a Budget Manager to support the financial integrity and stewardship of the agency through strategic budgeting and financial management. This position serves as a key resource for complex programs, providing advanced budget expertise that supports informed decision-making and ensures agency resources align with statewide priorities. Working closely with executive leadership, the Office of Financial Management, legislative staff, and other stakeholders, this role helps strengthen the agency's financial accountability and credibility. The successful candidate will also promote collaboration and knowledge sharing within the budget office through technical guidance, training, and mentoring. This position plays an important role in ensuring WSDOT can effectively manage public resources and continue delivering safe, reliable transportation services to the communities of Washington.
What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the Budget Manager will:

• Serve as the Central Budget Office subject-matter expert for complex programs and budget issues.
• Interpret and apply state financial laws, policies, and practices to ensure budget compliance.
• Monitor spending, resolve budget variances, and recommend process or policy improvements.
• Develop and review decision packages, fiscal notes, allotments, financial reports, and budget documents.
• Implement budget strategies aligned with agency, OFM, Governor, and legislative priorities.
• Provide strategic budget guidance to leadership, programs, and external stakeholders.
• Provide budget training, mentoring, outreach, and technical assistance.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and audit-ready financial data and records.

Qualifications

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

• Budget Management and Processes: Demonstrating proficiency in developing, managing, and monitoring large, complex budgets; knowledge of state budget processes to develop, implement, and evaluate financial strategies, efficiencies, and savings that promote responsible resource management and measurable public benefit; ability to promote fiscal accountability and alignment with organizational goals.
• Analytical and Critical Thinking: Ability to apply advanced analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills to objectively evaluate information, accurately interpret and apply complex laws and legal principles, rules, policies and procedures, identify issues, communicate contrary points of view and support sound decision-making to achieve department objectives.
• Professional and Ethical Conduct: Ability to perform duties thoroughly and properly, learn from mistakes, maintain professional relationships, maintain confidentiality when appropriate, and apply ethical application of knowledge, skills, and behavior to perform tasks at a high standard.
• Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others - proven success in fostering and developing constructive and collaborative organizational-wide relationships, with ability to lead through communication and trust building, seeking and welcoming different perspectives towards shared outcomes.
• Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growing - Demonstrated ability to self-reflect, identify personal and professional strengths and growth areas and adapt to new challenges.
• Work independently with attention to detail - strong sense of meticulousness, demonstrating an ability to work independently, thoroughly review and analyze data, detect errors, and ensure all work is accurate, timely, and error-free
• Technology Proficiency: Advanced knowledge and proficiency using technology, financial systems, databases, spreadsheets to analyze data, identify trends, develop reports or dashboards, and present fiscal information. Ability to learn new systems, troubleshoot technology issues, and explain system outputs and requirements to others.
• Organizational and Project Management: Skills to effectively organize, prioritize and manage multiple concurrent assignments, balance competing priorities while delivering accurate, quality and timely work in a fast-paced environment.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Relationship Management: Advanced skills in building and maintaining trust and constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
• Effective Communication: Advanced skills in effectively communicating complex fiscal information, legal principles and policies to advance our department mission and maintain trust and alignment with the highest levels of state government.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Schedule flexibility and/or additional hours may be required during peak work periods, such as budget development and allotment preparation and legislative session.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Experience working specifically in state government budgeting, for example in a central budget office, or similar.
• Demonstrated competence with statewide financial systems, such as the Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS), Agency Budget System (ABS), Salary Projection System (SPS), and Fiscal Note System (FNS).
• Experience in communicating with staff of the Legislature and Office of Financial Management (OFM) or similar entities in other jurisdictions.
• Achieve excellent results with little need for oversight.

Important Notes

• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• 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 Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in 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

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.

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
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.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the en