Salary : $80,855.03 Annually
Location : Kanawha County, WV
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: DOT27EX003
Department: West Virginia Department of Transportation
Division: Executive Division
Opening Date: 11/14/2026
Closing Date: 11/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
LOCATION OF VACANCY: KANAWHA
Civil Service Type:: Classified-Exempt - This Position is Not Covered Under the DOP Merit System
Skills Based Hiring:: Yes
Nature of Work**Disclaimer-this position will be considered classified-exempt and "at will."The Executive Administrator runs the administrative operation of the Office of the State Highway Engineer and serves as the State Highway Engineer's principal administrative officer. The State Highway Engineer is the senior engineering official of the West Virginia Division of Highways, so the office's business reaches the Division's design, construction, maintenance, and operations programs, its ten highway districts, the Department's executive offices, the Legislature, federal partners, and the public.
This position works with little direction and minimal day-to-day oversight. The State Highway Engineer sets priorities and expects the Executive Administrator to decide how the work gets done, to act for the office within delegated authority, and to bring forward the matters that need the State Highway Engineer's own judgment and awareness. The Executive Administrator owns the systems that keep the office organized: assignment and deadline tracking, correspondence control, document routing, briefing preparation, and records. Because the position regularly speaks for the office to deputy state highway engineers, division directors, district managers, executive staff, elected officials and the public, it requires a professional who carries the authority of the office with judgment, discretion and composure. The position serves in the capacity of personal assistant to the State Highway Engineer primarily and the Deputy State Highway Engineers as needed.
An irregular work schedule may be required, including during weather emergencies, major incidents and the legislative session. Performs related work as required.
Travel may be required; therefore, a valid driver's license is required.Typical Duties and Responsibilities:- Manages the State Highway Engineer's calendar and decides which meetings, requests and documents reach the State Highway Engineer, and in what order.
- Assigns, reviews and evaluates the work of administrative staff assigned to the office, and sets the standards that staff work is held to.
- Coordinates the office's purchasing, P-Card, travel, and budget tracking in compliance with Department and state procedures.
- Acts for the State Highway Engineer on administrative matters within delegated authority, and resolves routine and non-routine issues without waiting for instruction.
- Screens incoming correspondence, requests and issues; resolves those that can be handled at the staff level and refers the rest to the responsible Deputy, division or district with clear instructions and a due date.
- Identifies problems early, gathers the facts and brings the State Highway Engineer a short summary of the options with a recommendation.
- Interprets Division of Highways and Department policies and procedures for staff, districts and the public, and recognizes when a matter requires legal, policy or executive review.
- Drafts correspondence, memoranda, briefing papers, talking points and reports for the State Highway Engineer from general direction, and composes routine correspondence on own initiative.
- Prepares the State Highway Engineer for meetings, legislative hearings and public events by assembling briefing materials, coordinating input from divisions and districts, and confirming facts and figures before they are used.
- Serves as the office's point of contact with the Department's executive offices, deputy state highway engineers, division directors, district managers, federal partners, legislative staff and the public.
- Responds on the State Highway Engineer's behalf to inquiries and concerns from elected officials, constituents and the public, coordinates with districts to resolve them, and confirms that each one receives a response.
- Plans and staffs meetings, including agendas, minutes, action items, and follow-up.
- Handles confidential personnel, legal, procurement and policy matters with discretion.
Skills and Knowledge:- Represents the office with authority and composure in meetings with senior officials, engineers, legislators and the public; handles difficult conversations calmly; keeps confidences; and maintains the confidence of the engineers and officials who work with the office.
- Builds and runs the systems that keep a busy executive office on schedule, manages many priorities and deadlines at once, and keeps accurate records of decisions and commitments.
- Works for extended periods with minimal direction, makes sound decisions within delegated authority, takes ownership of results, and knows which matters to escalate and when.
- Writes clear, accurate and concise correspondence and briefing material for executives, elected officials and the public.
- Knowledge of office management principles, executive support practices and public-sector administrative procedures, including purchasing, travel and records management.
- Knowledge of, or the ability to learn quickly, the organization, programs and terminology of a state highway agency.
- Proficiency with standard office software, including email, calendaring, word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships with engineers, executives, district staff, elected officials and the public.
Minimum Qualifications**Preference may be given to Candidates with these qualifications**TRAINING/EDUCATION
- Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree
- Substitution: Experience above the requirement as described below may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis
EXPERIENCE
- Six (6) years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in administrative, professional, or technical capacity
- Substitution: Successfully completed graduate course work may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.
Other Information - Candidate Contact Name: Keith Persinger
- Phone Number: 304-414-6913
- Email Address: keith.t.persinger@wv.gov
Permanent, full-time employees of the State of West Virginia, receive a wide variety of financial and personal job benefits. Specific information about benefits is available from the hiring agency.
Salary and Wages Direct deposit (twice a month) Promotion Opportunities - With over 20,000 classified positions in state government, there are many opportunities to compete for transfer or promotional appointment.
Medical Insurance Major medical, surgical, prescription drug, and other medical expenses. Choice of plans. The state pays the major part of the premium. Mountaineer Flexible Benefits (Optional Insurance) The Mountaineer Flexible Benefits program allows tax-free deductions for dental, vision, and disability insurance, as well as medical expenses not reimbursed by regular insurance coverage.
Life Insurance The state provides a $10,000 decreasing term life policy with accidental death and dismemberment benefits. Additional group insurance is available.
Retirement Plan The state offers an outstanding defined benefit pension plan. Employee contributes 4.5% of salary (tax-deferred).
Deferred Compensation State employees have a unique opportunity to build retirement savings and reduce today's taxes by participating in a Section 457 deferred compensation plan. A 457 plan is similar to the 401K plans offered by private companies.
Annual Increment Pay The annual increment is $60 for each full year of qualifying service, and is paid in July of each year. This is available to employees with 3 or more years of service.
Holidays Twelve (12) paid holidays in each year.
Vacation 15 to 24 days per year depending on length of service.
Paid Sick Leave We offer an outstanding paid sick leave benefit. Employees earn 1.5 days each month or 18 days per year. There is no limit to the amount of sick leave an employee can accumulate. Full compliance with Family Medical Leave and WV Parental Leave Act. Employee to Employee Leave Donation Program.
Military Leave - Paid Military Leave Training, and Developmental Opportunities We offer many formal in-house training classes. Many agencies also offer tuition reimbursement for job-related training and education provided by approved technical schools and colleges.
Suggestion Award Program Employees may receive monetary award up to 20% of the first year savings for any approved and implemented work improvement suggestion.
Credit Union Flexible Working Hours and Alternate Work Schedules Day Care - State approved child Day Care facilities are located at the Capitol Complex.
Wellness Programs Many state agencies provide special wellness and health related services to employees. Examples include: free health screening, special seminars and presentations, organized health related activities, health contact information, wellness promotion events, and healthy lifestyle information.
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AFFIRMATION: I certify under penalty of law and disqualification that all statements are true and complete. I authorize the State of West Virginia and any agent acting on its behalf to conduct an inquiry into any job-related informationcontained in this application. I release the State of West Virginia and any agent acting on its behalf from any and allliability by reason of the request for such information. I further authorize and request each former employer,educational institution, or organization (including law enforcement agencies) to provide all information that maybe sought in connection with this application.WE DO NOT ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION:Unofficial transcriptsHigh school diplomas or transcriptsBirth certificatesSocial Security CardsDriver's LicensesPassportsThese documents will be removed from your profile if submitted.
- I consent to the above statement.
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