Assistant Director, Budget

Description 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 Budget and Financial Analysis (BFA) division is seeking an Assistant Director in the Central Budget office in Olympia, WA.
The Budget and Financial Analysis (BFA) division provides budget development, advocacy, allotment, monitoring, economic data, and financial analysis services for the department.
As the Assistant Director, you will direct and control the processes to prepare and administer the department’s budget, which for the 2023-25 biennium is approximately $10 billion.
The primary purpose of the Assistant Director is to ensure WSDOT’s financial integrity and credibility are maintained so that important transportation projects and services are delivered.
In this role, you will recommend functional strategies and specific objectives for the budgeting activities and implements the policies, procedures, and practices to accomplish the goals and objectives related to budgeting.
The Assistant Director coordinates the management of data (using multiple, complex financial systems) to ensure that legislative, Office of Financial Management (OFM), and transportation executives and managers are provided with accurate, consistent, and comprehensible information.
In general, this position requires mastery of communication, financial, technical, strategic, tactical, and managerial skills in order to lead a team through the development, implementation, and monitoring a complex department budget.
What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Assistant Director will: Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the office to ensure appropriate and optimum use of resources (dollars and FTEs) through completing timely staff appraisals, identifying professional development opportunities, prioritizing, and planning staff workloads, and rebalancing as needed.
Support effective communications by maintaining the highest standards of personal / professional and ethical conduct while supporting the state's goal for a diverse workforce.
Conduct complex analyses to highlight potential issues, concerns, challenges, and alternatives.
Investigate, develop, and provide responses to inquiries from legislative staff, legislators, executive staff, and other interested parties.
Manage program restructures, which includes providing historical data as required by the Legislative Evaluating and Accountability Program Committee (LEAP).
Plan, recommend, organize, lead, implement, and monitor short and long-term financial policies and operational activities, assuring appropriate, efficient, and effective use of resources are utilized to maximize public benefit.
Annually facilitate the development of biennial and/or supplemental budget requests for submittal to OFM.
Manage the continual implementation of budgets, including variance spending from original plans and allotment processes, and internal and external factors / changes.
Monitor and report on expenditures; reviews and prepares numerous financial reports such as OFM variance report's (external) and the Quarterly Financial Report by program (internal), ensuring compliance with appropriate budget statutes, provisos, and legislative intent.
Review, analyze and provide guidance regarding direction and intent from OFM, legislature, agency executives, and other interested parties in the course of developing and or monitoring budgets.
Manage the development of fiscal notes (estimating agency impacts of proposed legislation) with budget and program managers, serving as the secondary contact person for legislative and OFM staff.
Coordinate, develop, and present materials for executive management, OFM, and legislature including budget documents.
Qualifications To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, statistics, business, public administration, or closely allied field.
At least five (5) years of experience managing a large complex budget.
At least five (5) years of experience representing state agency or elected officials at various meetings or hearings and preparing recommended budget policies for executive review.
At least five (5) years of experience leading budget and/or fiscal staff through a legislative budget cycle including internal budget development, supporting legislative deliberations, agency implementation, and measurement/variance reporting.
At least five (5) years of experience developing budgets and material for executives, OFM, or the Legislature.
Excellent ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
Ability to develop, and facilitate implementing, monitoring, and evaluating efficiencies and savings to promote financially prudent state resource management with measurable public benefit.
Ability to direct and lead partners in a multitude of statewide financial activities involving significant department impact.
Ability to coordinate and gain consensus on critical financial activities involving multiple managers and complex issues.
Ability to foster excellent working relationships with OFM, legislative staff, agency staff and other stakeholders.
Skills in negotiating, advocating, public relations, and conflict resolution.
Personnel management skills including performance evaluations, affirmative action in the context of the allocation of resources, and corrective action.
Ability to facilitate team development through coaching, mentoring, motivating, leading, and training.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and comprehension skills.
Ability to create complex and intricate documents in a variety of software such as Excel, Word, and Power Point.
Ability to succinctly and effectively communicate complex financial matters to a general audience and to develop briefing documents targeted for a decision-making process.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also have: At least five (5) years of experience using state budget systems such as the Budget and Allotment Support System and OFM's Fiscal Note System.
Master's degree in accounting, finance, budget, business, public administration, or closely allied field.
Advanced knowledge of project management principles.
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 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 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.
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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 23DOT-HQ-0W100 in the subject line.