Assistant Secretary, Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery

State of Washington; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible/hybrid remote work options

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks an experienced leader to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery. This role provides executive vision, governance, and enterprise-wide oversight to deliver a statewide infrastructure program compliant with court-mandated requirements.

You will oversee scope, schedule, budget, risk, and cross-organizational coordination, while engaging with tribes, Legislature, and partners to advance statewide

Qualifications

• Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams or programs at executive level.
• Ability to establish governance, performance metrics, and accountability systems.
• Track record of delivering complex programs with public impact.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and direction for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery program.
• Define delivery frameworks, performance expectations, and governance structures.
• Oversee scope, schedule, budget, risk, and cross-agency coordination across regions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

About WSDOT

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal agency with a global reputation for excellence. Our dedicated workforce plans, designs, builds, and operates an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state. In addition to maintaining over 20,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seekinga 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 www.uscis.gov

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.
• 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 State Benefits for more information.

WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter.

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 www.uscis.gov

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [e-mail]. Please be sure to reference ‘Fish Passage’ in the subject line.