Salary : $80,496.00 - $108,228.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-OR-32698
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Olympic Region
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 9/30/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSDOT's Olympic Region Multimodal Planning Office is seeking a to serve as our Multimodal Planning Team Lead. This position advances our transportation planning efforts and provides tactical leadership for the Olympic Region Multimodal Planning Team in Lacey, WA. This team conceptualizes and delivers transportation planning studies, fulfills obligations of WSDOT's State Planning and Research (SPR) program, and coordinates efforts with metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO), and local agencies throughout the region. The candidate selected for this role will proactively engage with national and state dialog and research to strengthen regional planning efforts and inform decision-making. This position contributes to a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports equal opportunity and belonging.
What to Expect

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

• Lead corridor and regional planning studies and SPR activities, including project scheduling, resource allocation, , and project management.
• Analyze transportation data, conduct research and community engagement, and use GIS and other software to develop planning studies, maps, and displays.
• Oversee staff and consultants, coordinate scopes, schedules, budgets, and workloads, and communicate project status, findings, and recommendations to WSDOT management, regional leadership, and agency partners.
• Travel to, from, and between project sites, some of which may be in remote locations within Olympic Region.
• Independently monitor local agency work programs, schedules, meeting calendars, and agendas, and proactively identify and engage in local agency, MPO, and RTPO activities.
• Represent WSDOT with public agencies, transit agencies, tribal nations, elected officials, community groups, and the public by responding to inquiries, facilitating communication, providing updates and presentations, addressing public disclosure requests, and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Assemble, collect, and critically evaluate data needed for traffic operations and travel demand modeling technical analysis.
• Lead and develop staff by providing coaching, feedback, mentorship, performance evaluations, training, and workload management while monitoring assignments, schedules, hours, leave, and performance to meet changing regional priorities.

Qualifications

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

• Transportation Planning Experience: Advanced knowledge of transportation planning principles and current related federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and guidance documents. Experience developing, reviewing, and editing transportation or environmental-related technical documents, reports, and correspondence.
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to use critical problem-solving skills, tact, strategic judgement, logical thinking, common sense, and tenacity to independently approach complex challenges while staying within the parameters of good practice.
• Collaborative Approach: Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated track record of working effectively with others and independently achieving project objectives.
• Written Communication: Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with others through formal and informal writing consistent with the standards of established English grammar and composition.
• Communication Proficiency: Skills to communicate complex information effectively and professionally to diverse audiences, including those with non-technical backgrounds, using oral, written, and visual means, via telephone, email, text, written memoranda, reports, video conferencing, computer conferencing, in-person presentations, and other methods.
• Engagement Experience: Experience preparing for and conducting stakeholder and public meetings, collecting and recording meeting information; and preparing written summaries.
• Technical and Digital Literacy: Proficiency with Windows based computers and software such as MS Office Suite, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, and Outlook; Cloud computing; virtual meeting software, such as MS Teams; and various software applications used to develop calculations, documents, spreadsheets, estimates, and project scheduling.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Ability to perform site visits in the field outdoors, and possibly in inclement weather, during daytime or nighttime.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain; perform duties low to the ground or at ground level; and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel occasionally, including overnight travel, within Washington State for field visits, meetings, training, and other business needs.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Supervisory Skills: Experience with hiring, developing, supervising, mentoring, coaching, and performance managing diverse teams.
• Project Management Experience: Experience with project management including scope, schedule and budget development; consultant procurement; consultant contract negotiation; project progress and deliverable tracking; deliverable review; and contract compliance review.
• Interagency and Stakeholder Coordination: Knowledge and experience working with local and state agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, and tribal nations.
• Travel Demand Modeling Experience: Familiarity with Travel Demand Modeling principles and theories.
• Transportation Operations Modeling Experience: Familiarity with traffic operations principles and theories, Highway Capacity Manual procedures, and signalized and non-signalized intersection analysis procedures.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers the potential for telework, flexible and/or compressed work weeks based on business needs and supervisory approval.
• 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.

Why WSDOT

• 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. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• 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. Go to for more information.

Check out this video to learn more:
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.

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at . Please be sure to reference 26DOT-OR-32698 in the subject line.
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