Regional Administrator | Olympic Region

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking a Regional Administrator to provide executive leadership for the Olympic Region. This role oversees the delivery of transportation programs and services across Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, and Thurston counties. The position reports directly to the Assistant Secretary for Regions and leads regional operations within the Governor's and Secretary of Transportation's policy direction. The Regional Administrator guides multidisciplinary teams responsible for program management, project development, engineering, environmental services, construction, maintenance and operations, planning, safety, communications, local programs, and administrative services. This role is responsible for ensuring customer-focused, cost-effective, and timely delivery of transportation programs and services by establishing regional priorities, driving organizational performance, developing high-performing leaders, and fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. The Regional Administrator also serves as the region's primary ambassador and spokesperson, building and maintaining strong partnerships with elected officials, tribal governments, local agencies, regional organizations, business and community leaders, and other key stakeholders to advance transportation priorities, strengthen public trust, and support successful program delivery.

Requirements

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management: Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex organizations through multiple levels of management and establish strategic vision, goals, performance measures, and accountability systems and balance short-term operational needs with long-term strategic objectives. Skills to direct leadership of multiple divisions, departments, regions, or business units; develop and mentor leaders and management teams.
Transportation Program and Infrastructure Leadership: Demonstrated ability to direct complex transportation, infrastructure, public works, engineering, construction, maintenance, operations, or capital improvement programs and make decisions involving asset preservation, safety, mobility, environmental considerations, and funding constraints. Skills to integrate planning, design, environmental review, construction, maintenance, and operations functions to achieve organizational objectives and lead through crises and emergency situations.
Public Sector Leadership and Governance: Demonstrated ability to operate effectively within a governmental or a highly regulated environment and interpret and implement laws, regulations, executive directives, policies, and administrative requirements. Advanced expertise and knowledge of professional transportation and civil engineering practices and standards, and environmental and highway design laws and regulations. Skills to exercise sound judgment in politically sensitive situations and serve as an executive responsible for personnel actions. Experience in a leadership role within state, federal, tribal, county, municipal, or other public-sector organizations and/or experience working with elected and appointed officials.
Strategic Planning and Execution/Financial and Resource Management: Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans aligned with organizational priorities, translate strategic objectives into measurable operational outcomes and balance competing priorities, risks, resources, and stakeholder interests. Skills to deliver complex programs and initiatives on schedule and within budget and manage competing funding priorities and resource constraints. Skills to direct large operating and capital budgets, allocate resources strategically to achieve organizational objectives, and exercise fiscal stewardship and accountability. Experience having responsibility for multimillion-dollar budgets.
Stakeholder Engagement and External Relations: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with officials, tribal governments, community leaders, businesses, partner agencies, and advocacy organizations. Skills to represent an organization as a spokesperson and executive ambassador; build coalitions and facilitate consensus among groups with competing interests. Skills to communicate complex technical and policy issues to diverse audiences.
Growth Mindset and Service-Oriented: Fosters a culture of inclusion, collaboration, continuous improvement, and employee engagement. Promotes workplace safety and employee well-being. Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives. Leads organizational change and transformation initiatives. Takes action to meet the needs of others and actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.

Nice To Haves

Transportation Expertise: Knowledge of state transportation systems, highway operations, maintenance, construction, and multimodal transportation programs. Knowledge of transportation funding and programming processes.
Tribal Relations: Experience consulting and partnering with Tribal governments. A solid understanding of government-to-government relationships.
Legislative and Policy: Experience working directly with legislative bodies, congressional offices, or executive-level policy development.
Emergency Management: Experience leading transportation or public infrastructure operations during emergencies, natural disasters, or major incidents.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction to three Assistant Regional Administrators managing the many regional program areas ensuring the region's goals are met.
Provide leadership and direction to the region Public Information Officer/Communications Manager, and the Executive Assistant.
Provide direction for regional transportation planning and budgeting.
Align region processes and efforts with WSDOT’s Strategic Plan, Executive Orders, and agency priorities.
Solve problems involving dealing with coordination, legal, social, environmental, engineering and fiscal matters to meet project scope, budget and delivery timelines.
Serve as a member of WSDOT, State or nationally appointed policy teams and committees.
As an appointing authority, approve new hires, promotions, transfers, corrective/disciplinary actions, and establishment of positions in accordance with the state personnel rules.
Model leadership and performance characteristics that promote professionalism, integrity, accountability and public service.
Drive to multiple worksites across the region and state in support of agency operations and program objectives.
Facilitate partnerships/consensus among legislators, local officials, citizens, and other internal and external forces through the complex process of public involvement and legal, environmental, engineering and fiscal constraints associated with producing projects on schedule, within budget that meet needs of parties involved.