WSF Deputy Director of Administration - Washington State Ferries

State of Washington; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid remote work option

Job summary

Washington State Ferries (WSF), a division of WSDOT, seeks a senior management professional to lead administrative functions supporting safe, reliable ferry service. You will provide strategic leadership for accounting, purchasing, contracts and consultant services, and business development.

You will strengthen financial stewardship, oversee compliance with GAAP and GASB, monitor funding and expenditures, and guide senior leadership with actionable insights while developing the organization and

Qualifications

• Public‑Sector Business Integration: Expert knowledge of integrating accounting, procurement, contracts, purchasing, and business functions within a large public‑sector enterprise.
• Fiscal Compliance: Advanced knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, OFM policies, and related fiscal statutes.
• Public Resource Management: Skill in directing large‑scale public resources and aligning fiscal decisions with long‑term organizational sustainability.
• Policy Development and Enforcement: Skill in developing, approving, and enforcing division‑wide administrative and financial policies.
• Risk Management and Internal Controls: Knowledge of enterprise risk management frameworks and internal control systems within complex governmental organizations.
• Capital and Federal Funding Oversight: Knowledge of financial oversight requirements for large capital infrastructure programs and federally funded activities.
• Strategic and Operational Decision‑Making: Skill in making high‑impact strategic and operational decisions within delegated authority.
• Organizational Leadership: Skill in leading managers and professional staff across multiple organizational layers.
• Executive and Stakeholder Communication: Skill in communicating complex financial and administrative matters to executive leadership, oversight agencies, and legislative stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily Administration Department operations, aligning performance with strategic goals, approving reports and correspondence, and promoting collaboration.
• Lead accounting, purchasing, contracting and consultant services, and business development in alignment with the Director’s strategic direction.
• Oversee legal services and marine contract development and administration; coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office on risk and legal matters.
• Maintain accounting standards and fiscal controls, ensuring compliance with WSDOT and OFM policies, the state’s Budget and Accounting Act, GAAP, and GASB standards.
• Monitor funding and expenditures, analyze trends, and advise senior leadership; oversee reporting tools and financial information for internal and external audiences.
• Direct facility management and maintenance across multiple locations.
• Manage hiring, succession planning, evaluations, development plans, training, and progressive discipline; coach managers and exercise delegated appointing authority.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace that supports diversity, employee development, recognition, innovation, and organizational goals.
• Uphold WSF’s strategic priorities (Service Excellence, Improved Communication, Empowered People) and values (Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, Navigate), ensuring they are embedded in WSF’s culture through leadership actions.

Skills

Public-Sector Financial Management

GAAP & GASB Knowledge

Strategic Leadership

Executive Communications

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.

Washington State Ferries (WSF)

WSF is an essential part of Washington's transportation network. Every year, we carry nearly 20 million passengers across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands on more than 400 sailings a day. Our dedicated teams with over 2,100 people work together to serve our communities and shape the future of ferry travel.

The Opportunity

WSF, a division of WSDOT, is currently seeking a senior management professional to lead key administrative functions that support safe, reliable ferry service. This position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for accounting, purchasing, contracts and consultant services, and business development. By strengthening financial stewardship and ensuring effective business operations, this leader helps WSF deliver dependable service to the communities that rely on Washington’s ferry system.

What To Expect

• Manage daily Administration Department operations, aligning performance with strategic goals, approving reports and correspondence, and promoting collaboration.
• Lead accounting, purchasing, contracting and consultant services, and business development in alignment with the Director’s strategic direction.
• Oversee legal services and marine contract development and administration; coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office on risk and legal matters.
• Maintain accounting standards and fiscal controls, ensuring compliance with WSDOT and OFM policies, the state’s Budget and Accounting Act, GAAP, and GASB standards.
• Monitor funding and expenditures, analyze trends, and advise senior leadership; oversee reporting tools and financial information for internal and external audiences.
• Direct facility management and maintenance across multiple locations.
• Manage hiring, succession planning, evaluations, development plans, training, and progressive discipline; coach managers and exercise delegated appointing authority.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace that supports diversity, employee development, recognition, innovation, and organizational goals.
• Uphold WSF’s strategic priorities (Service Excellence, Improved Communication, Empowered People) and values (Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, Navigate), ensuring they are embedded in WSF’s culture through leadership actions.

Qualifications

• Public‑Sector Business Integration: Expert knowledge of integrating accounting, procurement, contracts, purchasing, and business functions within a large public‑sector enterprise.
• Fiscal Compliance: Advanced knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, Office of Financial Management (OFM) policies, the Budget and Accounting Act, and related fiscal statutes.
• Public Resource Management: Skill in directing large‑scale public resources and aligning fiscal decisions with long‑term organizational sustainability.
• Policy Development and Enforcement: Skill in developing, approving, and enforcing division‑wide administrative and financial policies.
• Risk Management and Internal Controls: Knowledge of enterprise risk management frameworks and internal control systems within complex governmental organizations.
• Capital and Federal Funding Oversight: Knowledge of financial oversight requirements for large capital infrastructure programs and federally funded activities.
• Strategic and Operational Decision‑Making: Skill in making high‑impact strategic and operational decisions within delegated authority.
• Organizational Leadership: Skill in leading managers and professional staff across multiple organizational layers.
• Executive and Stakeholder Communication: Skill in communicating complex financial and administrative matters to executive leadership, oversight agencies, and legislative stakeholders.

It Is Preferred That Qualified Candidates Also Have

• Transportation and Enterprise Operations: Experience managing financial and administrative functions within transportation, marine, or enterprise‑funded operating environments.
• Capital Program Financial Management: Experience overseeing financial management of major capital infrastructure programs.
• Legislative and Oversight Coordination: Experience working directly with legislative staff, OFM, or executive oversight entities.
• Federal Grant and Procurement Compliance: Knowledge of federal grant administration, procurement compliance, and funding eligibility requirements.
• Enterprise Systems Modernization: Experience leading implementation or modernization of enterprise financial, procurement, or revenue systems.
• Delegated Executive Leadership: Experience serving in an acting executive or division‑level leadership capacity with delegated authority.

Important Notes

• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• 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 Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non‑represented positions can be found in Chapter 357‑28 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 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Benefits Overview

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. 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.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).

Social Security: 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.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness: 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.

Holidays: Full‑time and part‑time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Sick 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 accrual. 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.

Vacation (Annual Leave): 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 non‑overtime 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‑rate 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.

Military Leave: Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave: 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.

Additional 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.

Updated 01-07-2026