What are the responsibilities and job description for the HQ Hydraulics Fish Passage Design Manager - Olympic Region (WMS3) position at State of Washington Dept. of Transportation?
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 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 is seeking an experienced, civil, environmental, or water-resources engineer and mission-driven leader to join our State Hydraulics Office as the Fish Passage Design Manager in Lacey, WA. This is a unique opportunity to lead some of Washington’s most challenging fish passage, stream restoration and transportation water-crossing projects. If you have a strong background in hydraulics, fish passage, stream restoration, geomorphology, scour or related water-resources engineering and are ready to apply that expertise at a statewide level, this position offers an opportunity to make a lasting difference.
As the Fish Passage Design Manager, you will lead the Fish Passage Section serving the Olympic Region while also providing statewide technical leadership for fish passage, stream restoration, and streambed scour design. You will work alongside engineers, project teams, Tribal governments, regulatory agencies, and other partners to turn complex environmental and transportation challenges into practical, resilient solutions where rivers, fish, infrastructure, and the public safety intersect. Your work will directly influence how WSDOT designs and delivers transportation projects that restore fish passage, protect communities and infrastructure, improve stream function, and keep Washington moving. You will also help shape statewide engineering practices, mentor technical professionals, advance practical, resilience solutions that balance environmental stewardship with the needs of a modern transportation system. If you are looking for a leadership role where your technical expertise can influence projects, policy, and engineering practices across Washington, we want to hear from you.
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:
- Lead statewide fish passage and stream restoration policy and standards by developing, implementing, and enforcing design criteria, policies, and procedures for fish passage, stream restoration, streambed scour, and hydraulic practices.
- Direct the Fish Passage Design program and provide statewide technical authority by leading the Olympic Region Fish Passage Design Section and serving as the final technical authority for complex, high-risk design decisions.
- Ensure quality and consistency in project delivery by overseeing and approving hydraulic and restoration design products and ensuring deviations from standards are technically justified, documented, and approved.
- Guide multidisciplinary project delivery across scoping, design, and construction for Fish Passage, Mega, Improvement, and Chronic Environmental Deficiencies projects.
- Provide advanced hydraulic engineering expertise through complex analyses of hydrology, hydraulics, scour, lateral migration, and by establishing guidance for bridge hydraulics, water crossing design, and habitat-integrated restoration.
- Strengthen workforce expertise by mentoring, training, coaching, and developing staff, consultants, and project engineers statewide.
- Coordinate with partners and represent WSDOT with regulatory agencies, Tribal governments, federal partners, and technical organizations at regional and national levels.
- Support program integration and infrastructure resilience by contributing to bridge scour, stormwater retrofit, major drainage, and chronic environmental deficiency programs, including budgeting, policy updates, and long-term strategy.
- Provide emergency response leadership by serving as a statewide hydraulic expert during emergency events and providing technical analysis, risk assessment, and executive-level communication.
- Advance WSDOT’s values by incorporating environmental stewardship, safety, responsive service, innovation, and long-term sustainability into decisions and project delivery.
Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following competencies are required:
- Technical Leadership in Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering: Applies advanced expertise in fish passage, stream restoration, streambed scour, and transportation hydraulics to guide complex design, construction, and restoration solutions.
- Policy Development and Implementation: Leads development, interpretation, and implementation of complex engineering and environmental policies and ensures consistent application of standards.
- Strategic Leadership and Organizational Alignment: Sets direction and priorities for programs with statewide impact and aligns multidisciplinary teams, resources, and stakeholders to achieve agency goals.
- Program and Financial Management: Applies management principles to program delivery, budgeting, resource allocation, prioritization, and performance management across large-scale programs.
- Project Delivery and Execution Excellence: Directs complex, multidisciplinary projects through development, design, and construction while ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance.
- Decision-Making Under Uncertainty: Exercises independent judgment in high-risk or ambiguous situations and balances technical, financial, environmental, and legal considerations.
- Change Leadership and Continuous Improvement: Leads organizational change and process improvements that enhance efficiency, consistency, and quality.
- Collaborative Leadership and Influence: Builds relationships across organizational boundaries, including internal teams, executive leadership, regulatory agencies, Tribal governments, and industry partners, and influences outcomes without direct authority.
- Workforce Leadership and Development: Leads, mentors, and develops staff and indirect reports while building technical capacity and accountability.
- Communication and Executive Presence: Communicates complex technical and policy information clearly to executives, engineers, stakeholders, and external partners.
- Stakeholder and Regulatory Engagement: Coordinates with federal, state, and local agencies, Tribal governments, and industry partners to achieve compliant and collaborative outcomes.
- Systems Thinking and Integration: Integrates engineering, environmental, operational, and policy considerations to develop practical, forward-looking solutions.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
In addition to the competencies above, the following are also required:
- A valid driver's license.
- Registration as a Professional Engineer in Washington State.
- Ability to obtain WSDOT Water Crossing and Stream Restoration Design and Documentation Certification within six months.
- Ability to obtain WSDOT Scour Certification within six months.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:
- Hydraulic and Transportation Engineering Expertise: Demonstrates advanced expertise in hydraulic engineering and transportation design and construction and/or advanced academic preparation in civil engineering or a related field, with emphasis in hydraulics or water resources.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
- 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 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.
Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at Rachel.Giese@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference 26DOT-HQ-0W634 in the subject line.
Benefits:
Health Insurance, Vacation & Paid Time Off, Retirement PlanSalary : $116,400 - $142,488