Job Description
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 seeking a strategic and highly experienced leader to serve as the Gateway Program Deputy Administrator, providing executive-level oversight for delivery of the $2.83 billion SR 167 and SR 509 Gateway Program. This position plays a critical role in advancing planning, financing, environmental compliance, design, and construction activities across a portfolio of Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build contracts, ensuring successful, cost-effective program delivery. Reporting to the Program Administrator, this role engages with legislators, elected officials, the Transportation Commission, FHWA, regional partners, and internal WSDOT divisions to resolve complex policy and funding issues, develop transportation system plans and financial strategies, and implement innovative delivery approaches including design-build and environmental streamlining initiatives. The Gateway Program Deputy Administrator provides executive leadership to ensure alignment, accountability, and integration across all program elements while navigating complex political, regulatory, and stakeholder environments. A strong candidate will demonstrate expertise in large-scale program delivery, transportation finance and funding strategy, policy development, executive leadership, and strategic problem-solving skills. What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Gateway Program Deputy Administrator will: Provide administration and leadership for the Gateway Program through planning, strategizing, organizing, overseeing and controlling the work performed by the Gateway Program staff. Ensure that appropriate and optimum levels of resources are available for all disciplines. Work with local agencies, tribes and other governments to create partnerships that will meet both the needs of WSDOT and these other parties. Build consensus with program executive committees of elected officials and/or industry organizations, headquarters construction and bridge design offices, to develop solutions and enhance construction contracts and project delivery. Approve/recommend workforce actions such as new hires, promotions, transfer, corrective/disciplinary actions, and establishment of positions in accordance with the state personnel rules. Oversee engineering activities and contract compliance for assigned highway construction projects, including design-build, progressive design-build, and design-bid-build contracts associated with the Gateway Program. Oversee the resolution of any design and construction related problems and negotiate as necessary. Oversee resolution of contractual disputes and claims. Qualifications To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required: Senior Level Leadership: Demonstrated experience directing large, complex, multi-modal capital transportation programs with multi-billion-dollar budgets, from planning and environmental review through design, construction, and closeout. Transportation/Civil Engineering Knowledge : Demonstrated professional-level knowledge of transportation and civil engineering principles, practices, and standards, including environmental and highway design laws and regulations. Extensive Contract Administration: Demonstrated contract administration experience resolving contract disputes and issues using different construction delivery methods including design-build and progressive design-build. Complex Issue Resolution: Demonstrated experience independently analyzing and resolving highly complex, high-risk, and politically sensitive engineering, interagency, and public-facing issues with significant organizational or public impact. Executive, Legislative, and Public Advising: Demonstrated experience communicating and advising executive leadership, legislators, division and regional leadership, media representatives, and the public on complex technical, policy, or project-related matters. Authorized Public Representation: Demonstrated experience representing an organization as an authorized spokesperson