Assistant Secretary, Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery
State of Washington
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking an Assistant Secretary for Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery to lead a statewide infrastructure program. The role provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and enterprise-wide oversight to ensure compliance with a federal court injunction while advancing transportation objectives.
You will set the program vision, define delivery frameworks, manage scope, schedule, budget, and risk, and coordinate with tribes,
Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams and major programs at executive level.
- Ability to establish governance structures and accountability across diverse areas.
- Experience managing high-visibility, public-sector initiatives with complex stakeholder needs.
Responsibilities
- Provide executive stewardship for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery Program, aligning with statutory requirements and agency priorities.
- Establish program delivery frameworks, performance expectations, and accountability structures across regions and disciplines.
- Oversee scope, schedule, budget, risk, and multi-biennial investment planning; address systemic delivery barriers.
- Coordinate with other Assistant Secretaries to align with capital programs and asset management.
- Engage with Tribes, Legislature, Governor's Office, and agencies to manage stakeholder relationships.
Skills
Tools
Job description
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 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!
WSDOT is currently seeking a 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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
- 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.
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.
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.
If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific 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.
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.
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.
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.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
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 entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-ratio basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro-ratio basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
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