Assistant Secretary, Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

19d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a mission-driven leader to serve as Assistant Secretary for Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery. This is a statewide, court-mandated infrastructure program with long-term implications for transportation system performance, environmental compliance, tribal relations, fiscal stewardship, and public trust. The Assistant Secretary provides executive leadership, strategic direction, and enterprise-level oversight for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery and is accountable for ensuring the program is planned, governed, and delivered in a manner that achieves compliance with the federal court injunction while supporting statewide transportation objectives and long-term system performance. This role sets the overall program vision, establishes performance expectations, and defines delivery frameworks that guide agency efforts across the state. In addition, the Assistant Secretary exercises executive oversight of scope, schedule, budget, and risk, while leading enterprise-wide stakeholder engagement and cross-organizational coordination. The position ensures consistent, integrated program delivery over multiple biennia and aligns resources, priorities, and decision-making structures to meet legal obligations and agency goals.

Requirements

Demonstrated ability to lead and direct large, multidisciplinary teams, major programs, or complex operational units at an executive or senior leadership level.
Demonstrated ability to establish governance structures, performance expectations, and accountability systems across diverse functional areas.
Demonstrated ability to manage under high visibility and scrutiny while responding effectively to stakeholder concerns and organizational needs.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic plans, manage enterprise-level risk, and oversee large budgets and complex program portfolios.
Experience overseeing large-scale capital, infrastructure, or technically complex programs with significant public impact and fiscal responsibility.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex situations, think strategically, and make sound executive-level decisions.
Experience overseeing core operational functions such as budgeting, finance, procurement, contract administration, project controls, performance reporting, and risk management.
Demonstrated ability to manage consultant teams, contractors, and blended delivery or matrixed teams.
Demonstrated ability to represent an organization effectively with executive leadership, elected officials, tribes, partner agencies, and the public.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships, negotiate complex or sensitive issues, and resolve disputes, claims, or delivery challenges.
Demonstrated commitment to service-oriented leadership, including proactive responsiveness to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated growth mindset through continuous learning, adaptability, and development of self and others.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within state government or other large, complex public-sector organizations.
Knowledge of legislative processes, intergovernmental coordination, and governmental authorities.
Legislative or policy development experience at the local, state, or federal level.
Knowledge of transportation systems, capital delivery, and infrastructure program management.
Familiarity with the programs, functions, and organizational structure of a Department of Transportation or similar agency.
Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to transportation planning, funding, and delivery.
Demonstrated success delivering large-scale capital or multi-modal infrastructure programs with significant public or legislative visibility.
Demonstrated ability to organize and lead complex projects or enterprise initiatives from planning through delivery.
Advanced ability to build partnerships, mentor and develop senior staff, and represent the agency across all phases of program or project delivery.
Advanced ability to assess enterprise risk, negotiate difficult differences, and develop creative, effective solutions to complex organizational or delivery challenges.

Responsibilities

Provide executive stewardship and governance for the Fish Passage Barrier Correction Delivery Program, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements, executive direction, and agency priorities.
Establish program-wide delivery frameworks, performance expectations, and accountability structures to guide planning, design, and construction activities across regions and functional disciplines.
Exercise executive oversight and strategic direction for program scope, schedule, budget, risk, resource allocation, and multi-biennial planning and investment strategies, intervening as necessary to address systemic delivery barriers.
Collaborate with other Assistant Secretaries to integrate fish passage delivery with WSDOT’s capital program, engineering standards, asset management practices, and operational priorities.
Identify, evaluate, and manage program-level risks related to legal compliance, environmental permitting, fiscal performance, delivery capacity, and stakeholder impacts.
Coordinate with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice on legal strategy, compliance matters, and contract remedies related to program delivery and court-mandated requirements.
Serve as WSDOT’s executive representative and spokesperson, including establishing and maintaining government-to-government relationships with affected tribes and engaging with the Legislature, Governor’s Office, agencies, and local partners.
Oversee executive-level program reporting and accountability, including statutory, legislative, Gray Notebook, and executive reporting to WSDOT leadership and other oversight bodies.