Salary : $122,200.00 - $149,612.00 Annually
Location : King County - Seattle - Belltown, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26DOT-WSF-9W158r
Department: Dept. of Transportation
Division: Washington State Ferries
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: 8/6/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Opportunity

WSF, a division of WSDOT, is currently seeking a Preservation Production Control & Inspections Manager to provide strategic leadership over fleet-wide vessel preservation, production control, and inspection operations that support the long-term reliability, safety, and operational readiness of Washington State Ferries' vessels. Collaborating with vessel engineering, maintenance, operations, and shipyard partners, this position ensures preservation and maintenance activities are executed in accordance with established engineering, quality, and regulatory standards. This unique leadership opportunity oversees fleet-wide preservation and inspection programs supporting 21 passenger and vehicle ferries, with a growing fleet expected to expand to 26 vessels by 2035, while leading a multidisciplinary team of inspection and quality professionals and serving as the technical authority for preservation inspection standards. The role plays a critical part in the successful execution of vessel preservation, maintenance, drydock, layup, retrofit, and recapitalization projects, directly influencing approximately $250 million in vessel preservation and maintenance contracts each biennium. Through inspection oversight and quality assurance activities, this position helps protect Washington State Ferries' long-term capital investments while ensuring safe, reliable service for millions of passengers each year and advancing the agency's mission of fleet reliability, operational readiness, and continuous improvement.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the Preservation Production Control & Inspections Manager will:

• Track preservation project progress, milestones, testing, trials, acceptance criteria, and compliance with safety, environmental, material, and procedural standards across the WSF fleet.
• Assign and coordinate inspectors for preservation, retrofit, and recapitalization projects based on technical expertise while balancing workloads across facilities and project types.
• Supervise Construction Project Coordinators, Inspector Specialists, and Eagle Harbor quality and scheduling staff supporting fleet maintenance and preservation production activities.
• Manage investigations, root cause analyses, quality assurance, corrective actions, and resolution of contract nonconformance and systemic production deficiencies.
• Recruit, train, mentor, evaluate, and develop inspection staff, including succession planning and advancement of Inspector Specialists into leadership and engineering support roles.
• Establish and maintain fleet-wide preservation inspection standards and ensure consistent inspection quality, documentation, and technical compliance across shipyards and facilities.
• Monitor workforce capacity, resource sufficiency, and fleet material condition trends, and provide technical reporting and staffing recommendations to leadership as fleet demands expand.
• Serve as the subject matter authority on preservation inspection practices, lifecycle cost impacts, and emerging maritime maintenance and preservation trends.

Qualifications

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

• Core Leadership & Behavioral Competence
  • Service-Oriented - Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.
  • Growth Mindset -Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Technical & Maritime Engineering Competence
  • Demonstrated expertise in vessel systems including structural, coatings/preservation, electrical, propulsion, and mechanical disciplines. Ability to evaluate material compliance, corrosion control systems, coatings, and preservation methodologies.
  • In-depth knowledge of maritime maintenance standards, inspection protocols, and lifecycle asset management practices.
  • Experience interpreting and validating contract specifications, test procedures, trial standards, and acceptance criteria.
  • In-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks (e.g., USCG, ABS, OSHA, environmental compliance standards) related to vessel operations and preservation.
• Project & Portfolio Management
  • Experience managing multiple concurrent projects across geographically distributed facilities.
  • Proficiency in tracking project milestones, budgets, schedules, and contractor performance.
  • Ability to balance short-term operational demands with long-term fleet recapitalization efforts.
• Leadership, Workforce Planning, & Resource Management
  • Substantial experience supervising technical staff and/or subordinate supervisors in a complex operational environment.
  • Experience recruiting, training, and developing technical staff. Skill in performance management, including coaching, mentoring, and progressive discipline.
  • Ability to forecast workforce needs in a growing operational environment.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for technical and executive audiences. Ability to translate complex technical issues into clear business impacts.
• Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement, Safety & Regulatory Compliance
  • In-depth knowledge of inspection systems, nonconformance tracking, and corrective action processes.
  • Experience standardizing procedures across multiple sites or projects.
  • Strong understanding of workplace safety standards and risk mitigation in industrial/maritime environments.
  • In-depth experience ensuring compliance with environmental and safety regulations.
  • Substantial experience conducting root cause analyses for equipment, system, or operational failures.
  • Ability to synthesize technical data into actionable insights and recommendations.
  • Understanding of fleet lifecycle cost modeling and long-term asset strategy. Strong analytical skills related to asset condition, reliability, and lifecycle cost modeling.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Experience with maritime preservation programs, shipyard operations, or vessel maintenance oversight.
• Experience working within a public sector or highly regulated environment.
• Experience with ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems or similar quality frameworks.
• Experience supporting large-scale capital programs or fleet lifecycle planning initiatives.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible hybrid/remote work options and is eligible for telework up to 1-2 days per week. In-person work is required at local commercial shipyards, Eagle Harbor, Building 2901, and occasionally aboard vessels, based on operational needs.
• The salary listed includes the legislative approved 5% salary premium for positions in King County.
• 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 Pr