Multimodal Planning Team Lead (TPS4)

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 leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity WSDOT’s Olympic Region Multimodal Planning Office is seeking a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 to serve as our Multimodal Planning Team Lead. This position advances our transportation planning efforts and provides tactical leadership for the Olympic Region Multimodal Planning Team in Lacey, WA. This team conceptualizes and delivers transportation planning studies, fulfills obligations of WSDOT’s State Planning and Research (SPR) program, and coordinates efforts with metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO), and local agencies throughout the region. The candidate selected for this role will proactively engage with national and state dialog and research to strengthen regional planning efforts and inform decision-making. This position contributes to a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace culture that supports equal opportunity and belonging.

What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Lead corridor and regional planning studies and SPR activities, including project scheduling, resource allocation, , and project management.
• Analyze transportation data, conduct research and community engagement, and use GIS and other software to develop planning studies, maps, and displays.
• Oversee staff and consultants, coordinate scopes, schedules, budgets, and workloads, and communicate project status, findings, and recommendations to WSDOT management, regional leadership, and agency partners.
• Travel to, from, and between project sites, some of which may be in remote locations within Olympic Region.
• Independently monitor local agency work programs, schedules, meeting calendars, and agendas, and proactively identify and engage in local agency, MPO, and RTPO activities.
• Represent WSDOT with public agencies, transit agencies, tribal nations, elected officials, community groups, and the public by responding to inquiries, facilitating communication, providing updates and presentations, addressing public disclosure requests, and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Assemble, collect, and critically evaluate data needed for traffic operations and travel demand modeling technical analysis.
• Lead and develop staff by providing coaching, feedback, mentorship, performance evaluations, training, and workload management while monitoring assignments, schedules, hours, leave, and performance to meet changing regional priorities.

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

• Transportation Planning Experience: Advanced knowledge of transportation planning principles and current related federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and guidance documents. Experience developing, reviewing, and editing transportation or environmental-related technical documents, reports, and correspondence.
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving: Demonstrated ability to use critical problem-solving skills, tact, strategic judgement, logical thinking, common sense, and tenacity to independently approach complex challenges while staying within the parameters of good practice.
• Collaborative Approach: Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated track record of working effectively with others and independently achieving project objectives.
• Written Communication: Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with others through formal and informal writing consistent with the standards of established English grammar and composition.
• Communication Proficiency: Skills to communicate complex information effectively and professionally to diverse audiences, including those with non-technical backgrounds, using oral, written, and visual means, via telephone, email, text, written memoranda, reports, video conferencing, computer conferencing, in-person presentations, and other methods.
• Engagement Experience: Experience preparing for and conducting stakeholder and public meetings, collecting and recording meeting information; and preparing written summaries.
• Technical and Digital Literacy: Proficiency with Windows based computers and software such as MS Office Suite, including Excel, Word, SharePoint, and Outlook; Cloud computing; virtual meeting software, such as MS Teams; and various software applications used to develop calculations, documents, spreadsheets, estimates, and project scheduling.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Ability to perform site visits in the field outdoors, and possibly in inclement weather, during daytime or nighttime.
• Ability to traverse rough, steep, and uneven terrain; perform duties low to the ground or at ground level; and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel occasionally, including overnight travel, within Washington State for field visits, meetings, training, and other business needs.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Supervisory Skills: Experience with hiring, developing, supervising, mentoring, coaching, and performance managing diverse teams.
• Project Management Experience: Experience with project management including scope, schedule and budget development; consultant procurement; consultant contract negotiation; project progress and deliverable tracking; deliverable review; and contract compliance review.
• Interagency and Stakeholder Coordination: Knowledge and experience working with local and state agencies, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Transportation Planning Organizations, and tribal nations.
• Travel Demand Modeling Experience: Familiarity with Travel Demand Modeling principles and theories.
• Transportation Operations Modeling Experience: Familiarity with traffic operations principles and theories, Highway Capacity Manual procedures, and signalized and non-signalized intersection analysis procedures.

Important Notes

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position offers the potential for telework, flexible and/or compressed work weeks based on business needs and supervisory approval.
• 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.
• 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 are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• 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. 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.

Contact Us For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at [email protected]. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-OR-32698 in the subject line.