Project Engineer

About WSDOT

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is the steward of an integrated, multimodal transportation system that helps to ensure people and goods move safely and efficiently throughout the state. In addition to building, maintaining, and operating the state highway system, WSDOT operates the largest ferry system in the nation, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and recently completed the world's widest tunneling project.

The Opportunity

WSDOT has an exciting opportunity for highly experienced Project Engineer in our North Central Region. This Project Engineer will lead a project engineering office in the delivery of assigned projects listed in the Capitol Improvement and Preservation Program (CIPP). This position reports directly to the Engineering Manager. This position will also lead and manage an engineering office consisting of State Employees and General Engineering Consultant staff. This position is responsible for the delivery of assigned design projects, which requires close coordination and cooperation with staff and support groups, HQ, and project stakeholders to accomplish organizational goals and expectations.

This position provides staff a balanced workplace, which promotes training and development for professional growth and upward mobility, employee safety, workforce diversity, and pride in ownership.

What to Expect

This position's main purpose is to provide leadership, management, and engineering oversight to an office responsible for the delivery of design projects. Projects are expected to be on schedule, within budget, and have appropriate QA/QC to ensure deliveries are biddable, constructible, and maintainable. This position monitors and reports on delivery in conformance with the department's expectations for transparency ·and accountability. This position ensures, through effective management controls and adherence to WSDOT policies, that the best technical standards and practical solutions are incorporated into construction contracts.

• Strategically plan the budget, schedule, and workforce necessary to deliver Capital Improvement and Preservation Program (CIPP) projects.

• Manage an office of professional and technical engineers, including summer interns, temporary employees, and engineering consultants.

• Ensure that all assigned projects are managed in accordance with WSDOT policy and procedures to meet the desired scope, schedule, budget, and documentation for the project.

• Ensure the projects are delivered in an environmentally responsible manner consistent with applicable laws.

• Coordinate with other agencies, utilities, consultants, public entities, the public and internal departments in the development and implementation of project management plans.

• Facilitate agreements between competing interest groups and regulatory agencies, considering the long-term goals of the agency.

• Employ negotiation and problem-solving skills to resolve conflicts with internal organizations, personnel, outside agencies, consultants, and the public.

• Manage and implement GEC agreements and ensure prompt payment for work performed.

• Report on the status of assigned projects to WSDOT Regional and Statewide Executive management to support and improve the accountability of the WSDOT.

• Work closely with region management and region communications to develop and implement project communication/outreach strategies.

• Communicate effectively to other agencies, contractors, tribes, media, and the public. Serve as the point of contact for assigned projects.

• Initiate personnel and staffing actions necessary to carry out program delivery. Provide staff a balanced workplace that promotes training and development for professional growth and upward mobility, employee safety, workforce diversity, and pride in ownership.

Qualifications

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

• Licensed by the State of Washington as a professional engineer.

• Strong engineering background and supervisory experience.

Required competencies and abilities include:

• Excellent knowledge of design and construction principles and practices, contracting methods and procedures, stewardship agreement, and program (budget, schedule, environmental, quality, (etc.).

• Strong skills in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support overall strategy/results; monitoring, measuring performance, and making necessary course corrections to the same.

• Excellent skills in effective communication with employees and the public.

• Ability to evaluate, coordinate, and respond to customers.

• Ability to make timely decisions in the best interest of the department.

• Strong working knowledge of principles of management.

• Knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, and issues.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Two (2) years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed professional engineer in construction and design of highways, bridges and related structures, and four years of demonstrated and progressively responsible managerial/supervisory experience in managing a diverse workforce.

Ability to:

• Create and manage work schedules for multiple employees and tasks.

• Provide strategic leadership, coach, and develop subordinates, solve problems, and make effective decisions.

• Simultaneously manage and monitor the budgets for multiple projects.

• Work with a variety of personalities, mediate solutions and produce positive results.

Skills to:

• Communicate effectively, develop, and implement long-term plans; facilitate agreement between competing interests; and design and deliver highway construction contracts.

• Effectively communicate in both a public setting and interpersonally

• Work with diverse groups and individuals within WSDOT and with various outside agencies and groups in order to complete assigned projects and meet the department's goals and project requirements.

Important Notes

• Valid Washington State License.

• 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, please visit www.uscis.gov

• 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.

Why WSDOT

• Work-Life Balance

• We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals' lifestyle.

• 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 listed Recruiter via email.

Contact us

For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at fieldss@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 24DOT-NCR-2W046 in the subject line.