Cascadia Transportation Operations Director

Washington Department of Natural Resources; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Paid Leave

Tuition Assistance

Benefits package

Job summary

Washington State Department of Transportation seeks a forward‑thinking Cascadia Director of Operations to guide planning and development of the Cascadia High‑Speed Rail and I‑5 programs. You will oversee studies, funding strategies, environmental reviews, design, construction, and future operations in collaboration with regional, state, and international partners.

This leadership role drives executive level planning, risk management, and performance objectives for a complex, multi‑jurisdictional

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve highly complex policy, engineering, interagency issues with significant impact.
• Strong working knowledge of public-sector finance, budgeting, programming and project delivery processes.
• Ability to navigate policy direction, funding, public trust, safety, or operational outcomes with sound judgment.
• Experience solving complex transportation or programmatic problems requiring cross‑disciplinary coordination.
• Demonstrated capability to translate policy into measurable objectives and accountable execution across large organizations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic planning, risk assessment, contracts, and program controls for Cascadia initiatives.
• Provide executive oversight and guidance on program and financial management, legal issues, and sensitive disclosures.
• Lead cross‑jurisdictional collaboration with federal, regional, and international partners to advance Cascadia and I‑5 programs.
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies and performance metrics across large multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Support headquarters and regional divisions to build effective partnerships for successful program delivery.

Skills

Complex Issue Resolution

Public Sector Finance and Governance

Leadership in Decision‑Making

Integrated Problem Solving

Policy Formulation and Organizational

Growth Mindset

Service‑Oriented

Education

Advanced degree or equivalent

Job description

Washington State Department of Transportation seeks a forward‑thinking Cascadia Director of Operations to guide planning and development of the Cascadia High‑Speed Rail and I‑5 programs. You will oversee studies, funding strategies, environmental reviews, design, construction, and future operations in collaboration with regional, state, and international partners.

This leadership role drives executive level planning, risk management, and performance objectives for a complex, multi‑jurisdictional