Executive Assistant | Assistant Secretary, Fish Passage Program

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!

WSDOT is seeking an experienced and highly organized Executive Assistant to provide confidential executive‑level administrative support to the Assistant Secretary for the Fish Passage Program (FPP). In this critical role, you will manage complex administrative operations, coordinate executive priorities, and provide strategic support that enables the Assistant Secretary to lead statewide efforts delivering the FPP in alignment with agency goals, statewide transportation objectives, and federal court requirements.

You will serve as a trusted resource, exercising a high degree of independence, sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism while collaborating with executive leadership and providing guidance to administrative professionals across the agency. Our top candidate will possess exceptional organizational and communication skills, the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment, strong knowledge of executive administrative practices, and a commitment to confidentiality, customer service, and operational excellence.

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

• Maintain executive calendar and schedule multiple complex appointments with high‑level staff and other government executives and partners.
• Ensure Assistant Secretary is aware of status deadlines and priority of work activities according to known needs, preferences and personal judgment.
• Create and format documents electronically including itineraries, presentations, spreadsheets, and other related documents.
• Serve as communication liaison between the Assistant Secretary, FPP staff, and other partners; relay assignments to staff, information to and coordinate with subordinate units, stakeholders, and partner agencies.
• Manage delicate or tense situations with utmost sensitivity and discretion, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism and sharing information only with those authorized.
• Independently compose and type correspondence on behalf of the Assistant Secretary; edit and proofread correspondence for signature and process and distribute correspondence.
• Track and manage all WSDOT Referrals and Governor Referrals received by FPP. Edit, format and garner the Assistant Secretary’s approval of responses provided by FPP staff.
• Manage FPP’s fiscal notes; obtain the Assistant Secretary’s approval and ensure that due dates are met.
• Serve as the Assistant Secretary’s travel coordinator including flights, lodging, ground transportation, daily itineraries, factoring time zones, coordinating the presentation/talking points prepared and approved, etc.
• Monitor and manage office supply inventory.

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

• Executive Administrative Support:Progressively responsible, recent and substantial demonstrated experience providing professional‑level administrative support to senior‑level managers.
• Confidentiality & Professional Judgment:Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion, professionalism, sound judgment, and political awareness while representing executive leadership.
• Government & Administrative Knowledge:Experience and in‑depth knowledge of government organization and administrative procedures, government functions, office methods and procedures, research and data collection, and state and agency functional and personnel policies.
• Communication & Professional Relationships:Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, compose, edit, and proofread professional…