Tribal Liaison (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 addition to maintaining over 20000 lane miles of state highway and 4100 bridges WSDOT leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan manages the worlds longest floating bridge and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

The Opportunity

WSDOT is currently seeking a Transportation Planning Specialist 4 to serve as the Tribal Liaison for all tribal concerns acting as the primary point of contact between WSDOT and the federally recognized Tribes within the Eastern North Central and South Central regions. The Tribal Liaison ensures compliance with applicable laws policies and directives including the National Historic Preservation Act Executive Order 21-02 and the Centennial Accord and advances WSDOTs commitments to equity diversity inclusion and environmental stewardship. This role is pivotal in fostering and maintaining meaningful government-to-government relationships ensuring that Tribal sovereignty interests and perspectives are fully integrated into transportation planning project development construction and maintenance activities.

What to Expect

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

• Serve as the primary lead for Tribal transportation and transit topics establishing cultivating and maintaining strong respectful positive and effective government-to-government communications and relationships.
• Assist with tribal consultations related to the Health Environment for All (HEAL) Act compliance.
• Develop implement and maintain tribal coordination procedures and protocols for represented regions and facilitate and document tribal consultation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Section 106 and Executive Order 21-02.
• Provide expert advice and mentoring across all disciplines engaging with tribal governments or working on projects and maintenance activities with tribal implications needing tribal consultation processes.
• Oversee the facilitation and coordination of tribal input into represented regions activities plans studies procedures timetables and projects.
• Support multimodal transportation planning efforts by participating in coordination with tribal governments metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) regional transportation planning organizations (RTPO) local agencies and WSDOT program staff to advance integrated transportation planning outcomes.
• Lead technical planning efforts working groups site visits and data collection activities as assigned.
• Support the development of innovative planning approaches by identifying emerging practices and contributing to process improvements within assigned planning efforts.

Qualifications

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

• Communication Facilitation & Public Engagement:
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate complex transportation environmental regulatory policy information clearly effectively to technical & non-technical audiences. clearly and effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Demonstrated ability to facilitate meetings consultations workshops and discussions involving diverse stakeholders and perspectives.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop professional written materials including reports briefing documents consultation records presentations correspondence and recommendations.
  • Demonstrated ability to represent the agency professionally when working with tribal governments elected officials partner agencies community members & other stakeholders.
• Leadership:
  • Demonstrated ability to provide leadership guidance and technical direction to interdisciplinary teams & partners in support of complex transportation planning or programs activities.
  • Demonstrated ability to mentor & support staff regarding consultation practices community engagement & equitable transportation planning.
  • Experience developing policies procedures training materials guidance documents or best practices.
• Transportation Planning & Program Coordination:
  • Demonstrated competency in applying multi modal transportation planning principles community engagement practices and intergovernmental coordination strategies to transportation programs or initiatives.
  • Experience coordinating complex planning efforts involving multiple organizations jurisdictions disciplines.
  • Experience providing planning recommendations and technical guidance to support project development environmental review and agency decision-making.
  • Experience integrating community tribal environmental equity and mobility considerations into transportation planning processes.
• Policy Analysis Research & Problem-Solving:
  • Experience analyzing complex issues involving transportation planning tribal interests environmental considerations & regulatory requirements.
  • Demonstrated ability to research evaluate & synthesize information from multiple sources to develop recommendations and inform decision -making.
  • Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment & make independent decisions when addressing complex sensitive or potentially competing issues.
• Project Management:
  • Experience independently managing multiple complex assignments priorities deadlines and stakeholder commitments.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop work plans track progress coordinate resources and ensure completion of deliverables.
  • Demonstrated initiative accountability attention to detail and ability to work independently with general direction.
• Technology & Data Management:
  • Demonstrated proficiency in using business application & technology tools to develop reports presentations correspondence spreadsheets virtual meeting materials & other planning documents.
  • Ability to learn & apply agency-specific systems databases & project tracking.
• 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 work during inclement weather on uneven or steep terrain and within highway right of way in all weather conditions typical of the State of Washington.
• Ability to travel as required to attend meetings consultations field visits trainings conferences and interagency coordination sessions. Travel may include day trips or limited overnight stays often within the represented regions or adjacent areas including Idaho and Oregon.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Tribal Relations & Community Engagement Experience:
  • Experience working directly with federally recognized Tribes tribal governments tribal organizations or Indigenous communities.
  • Experience leading or supporting government-to-government including coordinating activities.
  • Experience developing and maintaining effective partnerships between government agencies and Tribal governments.
• Transportation Planning Experience:
  • Experience applying multimodal transportation planning principles land use planning concepts environmental considerations or community engagement strategies to transportation programs projects or planning initiatives.
  • Experience supporting transportation projects corridor studies planning studies or infrastructure programs involving multiple jurisdictions organizations or disciplines.
• Environmental & Regulatory Experience:
  • Experience supporting environmental review processes including NEPA SEPA Section 106 consultation or related regulatory processes.
  • Experience coordinating with environmental professionals project managers engineers consultants and regulatory agencies.
• Public Engagement & Facilitation Experience:
  • Experience planning and facilitating public meetings workshops stakeholder engagement activities or community outreach events.
  • Experience developing engagement strategies for communities with diverse needs and perspectives.

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 .

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:

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 .

Contact Us

For inquiries about this posting you may contact the assigned Recruiter at . Please be sure to reference 26DOT-ER-60958 in the subject line.