Agreements and Policy Specialist (TE3)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Transportation Engineer 3 to serve as an Agreements and Policy Specialist within the Utilities, Railroad & Agreements (URA) Office in Lacey, WA. This role involves assisting regions and headquarters offices in developing, reviewing, and administering agreements in compliance with state laws and agency policy to support WSDOT’s transportation programs and business needs. The specialist will act as a technical resource for agreement development, policy and legal compliance, quality assurance, training, and process improvement, ensuring agreements are accurate, legally sufficient, and aligned with state and federal requirements. The position also focuses on building partnerships across WSDOT and with external stakeholders, while improving the tools and processes for agreement management.

Requirements

Demonstrates advanced experience using a wide range of computer software, analyzing database information, preparing professional reports, and developing and delivering presentations.
Demonstrates strong attention to detail and the ability to ensure materials and data are accurate, complete, properly formatted, and meet quality standards.
Effectively manages multiple assignments, competing deadlines, electronic and physical records, and organized workflows.
Provides responsive customer service and communicates effectively to clarify requirements, provide updates, and support stakeholder needs.
Works effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and contributes to a respectful, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
Demonstrated experience with policy work or agreement/contract development and administration.
Knowledge of federal regulations, RCWs, WACs, and their relationship to one another.
Knowledge of transportation design, engineering, project delivery principles, and processes.
Ability to clearly explain complex policy concepts, communicate effectively through written, verbal, and presentation formats, and resolve complex disputes.
Ability to absorb new information, navigate change and complexity, and initiate and lead continuous process improvement.
Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
Takes action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Ability to work effectively across offices, disciplines, and teams and build strong working relationships.
Demonstrates persistence, self-motivation, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities, policies, and organizational needs.
Knowledge of WSDOT project management practices and project delivery.
Knowledge of WSDOT policies and procedures related to intergovernmental agreements.

Responsibilities

Serve as the department lead for agreement development and related processes and policies, assisting regions and Headquarters offices with questions, reviews, templates, and agreement language.
Develop and deliver agency-wide and specialized training, coordinate special topics and identify subject matter experts as guest speakers.
Train users on the functions and use of the agreement review database and maintain user resources.
Develop agreements required by the Development Division or other offices as requested.
Assist Agreement Managers with entering agreements into TRAINS and processing invoices.
Maintain the Agreements Manual and provide input on other agency manuals.
Ensure appropriate use of non-financial, payable, and reimbursable agreements under the URA Office.
Maintain and modify standard form agreements to reflect changes in state and federal law, Office of the Attorney General guidance, agency needs, and engineering and project delivery practices.
Maintain and improve the agreement review database, URA webpages, SharePoint resources, and other outreach tools.
Serve as a liaison with offices including Accounting & Financial Services, Audit, Maintenance, Risk Management to integrate goals in a cohesive manner.
Develop and maintain strong working relationship with the Office of the Attorney General to ensure all agreements and appropriate tools within the URA Office are legally sufficient.
Lead process improvement efforts and identify opportunities to apply LEAN principles to agreement processes.
Research policies, legislative actions and agency manuals and assess their impact on terms of agreements.
Conduct stakeholder outreach to gather information regarding revisions to agreement templates, manuals, tools, and processes.
Complete monthly and annual reporting on agreements, including public contract reporting, database reports, audit research, and specialized reporting as requested.