Assistant Planning Manager (WMS3)

Full Job 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 manages the world's longest floating bridge, leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is seeking an Assistant Planning Manager (WMS3) in Seattle, WA, to join the Management of Mobility Division. As the central transportation planning office for the Puget Sound region, the MoM Division shapes multimillion and even billion dollar projects and programs.

In this role, you will work closely with the Management of Mobility Planning Manager, agency leadership, Northwest Region staff, and teams across Urban Mobility, Access and Megaprogram (UMAM).

Together, you will support the development and delivery of programs and services related to transportation planning and project development.

The position manages the complete streets program in Snohomish and King counties and supports the Northwest Region grant program and the Planning Studies Program, including Planning and Environmental Linkages studies.

Your work in managing the Complete Streets program will ensure consistency with WSDOT’s vision for a safe, sustainable, and integrated multimodal planning system and advance WSDOT’s commitment to a Safe System Approach and the principles of transportation equity and environmental justice.

The work performed by the complete streets program will determine what will be built for high visibility projects.

This is identified collaboratively using data and equitable, inclusive engagement with agencies, tribes, communities, and other identified partners and interested parties.

Your expertise will help ensure projects meet the requirements of Complete Streets legislation.

In addition, you will collaborate with neighboring jurisdictions as well as other staff members in WSDOT to advance efforts to plan, develop and operate equitable streets and networks that prioritize safety, comfort, and connectivity to destinations for everyone.

What to Expect

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Planning Manager will:

• Serve as WSDOT planning representative on planning study and efforts on or affecting state facilities led by cities, counties, and other external partners including transit agencies.
• Provide direction through both written and verbal communication to subordinate employees and consultants supporting complete streets process for Northwest Region projects, leading or executing planning studies, and developing grant strategies and applications.
• Attend virtual and in-person meetings, events and briefings at WSDOT and agency locations and in the community to support staff leading agency and community engagement for projects and studies.
• Coordinate planning study and complete streets predesign workflows with both internal and external partners.
• Serve as project manager for WSDOT led planning studies and complete streets pre-designs.
• Support the Planning Manager on forecasts for workforce staffing needs and the planning work program for current and future biennium.
• Identify and prioritize planning studies for state facilities and facilitate grant strategy development and grant applications.
• Provide strategic input (verbal and written) to cities, counties, metropolitan planning organizations, and at executive and technical advisory committees/groups meetings at the local, regional, and state levels.
• Oversee the development of work products, including complete streets reports, pre-design plans for complete streets projects, planning studies, grant analysis, grant applications, executive briefing memos, external memos, and scopes of work.
• Support and facilitate WSDOT planning efforts that affect multiple projects, regions and/or programs.
• Support other Management of Mobility teams as needed.

Qualifications

This position requires a critical and comprehensive understanding of the planning processes, project delivery

process, project management and related strategic thinking relative to multimodal, equitable, safe

transportation system, complete streets, community engagement (virtual and in-person), corridor planning,

land use planning, transit planning, emergency and operational planning; along with the ability to lead a team

developing effective and innovative transportation solutions to complex technical and operational issues

impacting a broad and diverse range of customers, partners, and stakeholders.

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

• Professional Knowledge & Credentials: Comprehensive knowledge of transportation planning and project delivery across multimodal, equitable, and safe transportation systems, including complete streets, corridor planning, land use planning, transit planning, community engagement (virtual and in person), and emergency and operational planning.
• Transportation Planning & Project Delivery: Demonstrated experience managing and overseeing transportation planning activities integrated into project delivery, including needs development, alternatives development and evaluation, Basis of Design, and project summary documentation.
• Strategic Leadership & Decision Making: Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and direction for complex transportation initiatives, including identifying risks, evaluating options, and making informed decisions in dynamic and high-pressure environments.
• Program & People Management: Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams with full supervisory responsibility, including staffing, performance management, coaching, and workload prioritization, and accountability for individual and program outcomes.
• Policy, Regulatory, & Governance Application: Demonstrated experience interpreting, applying, and ensuring compliance with state and federal transportation laws, regulations, policies, and procedures within planning studies and project delivery activities.
• Innovation & Problem Solving: Demonstrated experience leading innovative and strategic problem solving efforts to address complex technical, operational, and policy challenges impacting transportation programs and stakeholders.
• Communication, Collaboration & Negotiation: Demonstrated experience leading collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders, facilitating consensus, negotiating effectively, and resolving conflicts to achieve shared outcomes.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Managing Performance & Leading Others: Demonstrated experience managing transportation planning teams or programs with responsibility for supervision, mentoring, performance management, and delivery of organizational objectives.
• Decision Making & Strategic Execution: Demonstrated experience translating strategic plans into actionable goals and making sound, independent decisions in complex transportation planning or project delivery environments.
• Partnering & Influencing Others: Demonstrated experience collaborating and negotiating with diverse stakeholders, including executives, public agencies, Tribes, local jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and multimodal partners.
• Managing Work & Resources: Demonstrated experience overseeing transportation projects or planning studies, including budget management, scheduling, consultant oversight, and contract compliance.
• Relevant Experience: Progressive and extensive experience in stakeholder coordination, demonstrating increased responsibility for leading discussions, resolving conflicts, and influencing decisions across internal and external partners.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
• To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the “Contact Us” section of this posting.

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.

• To support timely response to operational needs, in-person collaboration, and regional stakeholder coordination, the incumbent must reside within 60 miles of assigned duty station or be willing to relocate within 60 miles of assigned duty station.
• 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 offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
• 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 recruiter listed.

Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at sidra.fields@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference Assistant Planning Manager #0W438 in the subject line.