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 seeking a highly experienced engineering professional to serve as the Engineering Manager – Construction and provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for Eastern Region’s transportation construction program. This position leads a diverse organization of engineering and construction professionals, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and engineering standards. The candidate selected for this role will build collaborative relationships with regional and statewide leaders, external partners, and community stakeholders while exercising significant independent judgment to resolve complex engineering, construction, contract administration, workforce, and program delivery issues. If you are interested in taking on the challenge of leading the teams responsible for administering capital construction projects throughout Eastern Washington, we strongly encourage you to apply.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Plan, lead, strategize, organize, and control the construction work performed by the organization.
• Ensure the optimal use of the organization's resources and enhance employee effectiveness through timely appraisals and professional development opportunities.
• Act for the Assistant Regional Administrator (ARA) for Construction in their absence.
• Provide leadership for all Construction engineering activities; coach, mentor and guide the managers of the construction offices.
• Review construction projects, interpret the contract documents, and provide guidance to the Project Engineers.
• Coordinate Eastern Region construction activities with Headquarters, other State, City, and County agencies, as well as transit organizations, the State of Idaho, and Canada.
• Collaborate with the Engineering Manager - Development to manage workforce and workload amongst the project offices.
• Ensure strong communication is maintained between executive management, Design, Construction, support groups and Maintenance organizations for region design and construction projects.
• Develop and implement strategies for safety throughout the organization, and facilitate safety to the travelling public, State and contractor workforce.

Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:

• Leadership & Employee Development: Demonstrates the ability to lead, develop, and mentor supervisors, managers, engineers, and professional staff. Builds an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment that supports employee engagement, workforce development, and succession planning. Provides clear expectations, coaching, performance feedback, and accountability.
• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrates the ability to develop and implement strategies that support organizational goals, legislative commitments, and agency priorities. Makes sound decisions in complex and changing environments while balancing safety, scope, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder needs.
• Program & Project Delivery: Demonstrates the ability to lead the delivery of complex transportation engineering or construction programs involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and significant public impact. Applies risk-based decision-making to achieve successful project outcomes.
• Construction & Contract Administration: Demonstrates experience interpreting engineering plans, specifications, policies, procedures, and construction contract requirements. Demonstrates the ability to resolve complex project issues, contract disputes, claims, and change-order negotiations.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, employees, contractors, local agencies, tribal governments, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and the public. Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships that support successful project delivery.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates the ability to manage organizational resources, workloads, staffing needs, and competing priorities. Uses data and performance measures to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Current registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington State or the ability to obtain Washington State registration through reciprocity within six months of appointment.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to travel independently throughout Washington State to attend meetings, inspect project sites, respond to emergencies, and support program delivery.
• Ability to attend key meetings, events, and activities in-person, including occasional trips to various regional offices, HQ in Olympia, and other locations throughout the state for statewide training and coordination meetings.
• Ability to be available after hours as needed to respond to emergencies.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Transportation Project Delivery: Demonstrated experience leading transportation construction, project delivery, or engineering programs of significant size, complexity, and public visibility.
• Demonstrated experience administering design-build and design-bid-build transportation projects.
• Organizational Leadership & Change: Demonstrated experience building collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary teams and organizational boundaries.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, workforce planning, and succession planning initiatives.
• Staff Development: Demonstrated experience coaching, mentoring, and developing supervisors, managers, or professional engineering staff.
• Federal-Aid Project Stewardship: Demonstrated knowledge of federal-aid project delivery requirements and stewardship responsibilities.
• Transportation Program & Risk Management: Demonstrated experience working with transportation design, environmental, construction, program management, and maintenance functions. Demonstrated ability to identify, evaluate, and mitigate program and project risks.

Important Notes

This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs. This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options, with the expectation that the employee work on-site 2 -3 days per week. The specific telework schedule is subject to change per business needs. 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. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.

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. Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:

• An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
• An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
• Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.

Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity. 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 olivia.dietrich@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-ER-6W052e in the subject line.