Budget Manager

Budget Manager

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently seeking a Budget Manager to support the financial integrity and stewardship of the agency through strategic budgeting and financial management. This position serves as a key resource for complex programs, providing advanced budget expertise that supports informed decision-making and ensures agency resources align with statewide priorities. Working closely with executive leadership, the Office of Financial Management, legislative staff, and other stakeholders, this role helps strengthen the agency's financial accountability and credibility.

The successful candidate will also promote collaboration and knowledge sharing within the budget office through technical guidance, training, and mentoring. This position plays an important role in ensuring WSDOT can effectively manage public resources and continue delivering safe, reliable transportation services to the communities of Washington.

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

• Serve as the Central Budget Office subject-matter expert for complex programs and budget issues.
• Interpret and apply state financial laws, policies, and practices to ensure budget compliance.
• Monitor spending, resolve budget variances, and recommend process or policy improvements.
• Develop and review decision packages, fiscal notes, allotments, financial reports, and budget documents.
• Implement budget strategies aligned with agency, OFM, Governor, and legislative priorities.
• Provide strategic budget guidance to leadership, programs, and external stakeholders.
• Provide budget training, mentoring, outreach, and technical assistance.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and audit-ready financial data and records.

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

• Budget Management and Processes: Demonstrating proficiency in developing, managing, and monitoring large, complex budgets; knowledge of state budget processes to develop, implement, and evaluate financial strategies, efficiencies, and savings that promote responsible resource management and measurable public benefit; ability to promote fiscal accountability and alignment with organizational goals.
• Analytical and Critical Thinking: Ability to apply advanced analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills to objectively evaluate information, accurately interpret and apply complex laws and legal principles, rules, policies and procedures, identify issues, communicate contrary points of view and support sound decision-making to achieve department objectives.
• Professional and Ethical Conduct: Ability to perform duties thoroughly and properly, learn from mistakes, maintain professional relationships, maintain confidentiality when appropriate, and apply ethical application of knowledge, skills, and behavior to perform tasks at a high standard.
• Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others: Proven success in fostering and developing constructive and collaborative organizational-wide relationships, with ability to lead through communication and trust building, seeking and welcoming different perspectives towards shared outcomes.
• Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growing: Demonstrated ability to self-reflect, identify personal and professional strengths and growth areas and adapt to new challenges.
• Work independently with attention to detail: Strong sense of meticulousness, demonstrating an ability to work independently, thoroughly review and analyze data, detect errors, and ensure all work is accurate, timely, and error-free
• Technology Proficiency: Advanced knowledge and proficiency using technology, financial systems, databases, spreadsheets to analyze data, identify trends, develop reports or dashboards, and present fiscal information. Ability to learn new systems, troubleshoot technology issues, and explain system outputs and requirements to others.
• Organizational and Project Management: Skills to effectively organize, prioritize and manage multiple concurrent assignments, balance competing priorities while delivering accurate, quality and timely work in a fast-paced environment.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Relationship Management: Advanced skills in building and maintaining trust and constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
• Effective Communication: Advanced skills in effectively communicating complex fiscal information, legal principles and policies to advance our department mission and maintain trust and alignment with the highest levels of state government.

The following qualifications are also required:

• Schedule flexibility and/or additional hours may be required during peak work periods, such as budget development and allotment preparation and legislative session.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also demonstrate:

• Experience working specifically in state government budgeting,…