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Director of Human Resources, Safety, and Employee Experience (EMS4)

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 a Director of Human Resources, Safety, and Employee Experience to provide executive leadership for agency-wide workforce and safety programs serving approximately 7,500 employees across the state. Reporting to the Assistant Secretary for Finance and Administrative Services, this role sets the strategic direction for human resources, safety, and employee experience initiatives that enable the agency to deliver a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation system.

As a member of the senior leadership team, you will lead a large, multidisciplinary organization and ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of HR services, safety programs, and workforce strategies across all divisions, regions, and Washington State Ferries. You will lead an organization of approximately 140 employees, including two Deputy Directors, and oversee an operating budget of approximately $25 million. You will shape policies, guide labor relations strategy, and influence agency-wide decisions that impact employees, operations, and the communities WSDOT serves. This role plays a critical part in advancing a culture of safety, inclusion, and accountability—ensuring the agency attracts, develops, and retains a high-performing workforce while maintaining compliance in a complex, highly regulated environment.

What to Expect

This position combines executive leadership, strategic planning, and operational oversight across HR, safety, and employee experience functions.

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

Lead enterprise-wide human resources strategy, aligning workforce initiatives with agency goals and ensuring consistent service delivery across all divisions and regions.
Direct labor relations strategy, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and dispute resolution in coordination with statewide partners.
Oversee compliance with employment laws, EEO requirements, and federal funding certifications, including investigation of workplace complaints and delivery of required training programs.
Provide executive oversight of leave administration, accommodations, workers’ compensation, and return-to-work programs.
Lead statewide recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies, using workforce data and labor market trends to inform decisions.
Direct classification and compensation programs, including allocation authority and coordination with statewide compensation initiatives.
Oversee HR operations, systems, and data integrity, ensuring accurate reporting and effective system integration.
Direct agency training and workforce development programs, including leadership development and performance management systems.
Lead HR services and labor relations for Washington State Ferries, navigating one of the most complex labor environments in state government, addressing unique maritime workforce and regulatory requirements.
Direct statewide safety, industrial hygiene, and wellness programs, establishing policies, ensuring compliance, and promoting a culture of safety.
Oversee safety compliance, risk management, incident investigation, and hazard mitigation strategies across diverse work environments.
Lead employee experience initiatives, including workforce strategy, employee engagement, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and organizational development efforts.
Collaborate with executive leadership to support organizational change, workforce planning, and culture initiatives.

Qualifications

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

Executive Leadership and Workforce Strategy: Ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and deliver enterprise-wide HR programs by setting vision, aligning priorities, and ensuring accountability.
Strategic Workforce Planning: Ability to translate organizational goals into integrated workforce strategies, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, and employee engagement.
Labor Relations and Risk Management: Ability to develop and execute labor relations strategies, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and dispute resolution in a highly regulated environment.
Compliance and Investigations: Ability to ensure compliance with employment laws, EEO requirements, and safety standards, including leading investigations and mitigating organizational risk.
Stakeholder Engagement and Influence: Ability to build collaborative relationships and influence outcomes across executive leadership, employees, labor partners, and external stakeholders.
Safety Program Leadership: Knowledge of comprehensive workplace safety programs, including policy development, compliance, training, and incident management, and ability to foster a culture of safety and accountability.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to use data, metrics, and performance outcomes to inform strategy, improve programs, and support organizational goals.
Operational and Organizational Leadership: Ability to manage large-scale programs, budgets, and teams while driving continuous improvement and organizational effectiveness.
Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness totakeaction tomeet the needs ofothersbybuilding collaborative relationships,incorporating diverseperspectives, andresponding effectively tostakeholder needs in a dynamic organizational environment.
Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates adaptability, driving continuous improvement, and fostering ongoing professional growth for self and others.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

Public Sector Expertise: Experience applying HR and safety practices within a large public agency or highly regulated environment.
State Government Knowledge: Understanding of Washington State government operations, including budget development, policy implementation, and program delivery.
Integrated Workforce Strategy: Experience aligning HR, safety, and employee experience programs into a unified, enterprise-wide delivery model.
Industry Knowledge: Understanding of transportation, construction, maritime, or other safety-sensitive industries and their workforce implications.
Professional Development Commitment: Demonstrated ongoing professional growth through advanced training, certifications, or continued learning in HR, labor relations, or organizational leadership.

Important Notes

This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options. The incumbent normally must telework from a location within Washington State or a bordering county and must be available for periodic in-person meetings and field visits.
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 individual’s 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 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-0E052 in the subject line.

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