Civil Rights and Strategic Initiatives Program Manager - Washington State Ferries

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 manages the world s longest floating bridge, leads an award‑winning Active Transportation Plan, holds the record for the world’s widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is an essential part of Washington s transportation network. Every year, we carry nearly 20 million passengers across Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands on more than 400 sailings a day. Our dedicated teams with over 2,100 people work together to serve our communities and shape the future of ferry travel.

WSDOT is currently seeking a thoughtful and experienced leader to serve as our Civil Rights & Strategic Initiatives Program Manager. In this role, you will provide strategic direction for division‑wide civil rights, equity, and accessibility programs, ensuring measurable outcomes in compliance, service delivery, and continuous improvement across one of the nation’s largest ferry systems. Working with a high degree of independence, you will lead policy and initiative development, collaborate with teams across WSF, and respond to evolving legal requirements and community expectations directly shaping how WSF serves the public, supports its workforce, and lives its values.

As we navigate a once‑in‑a‑generation transformation to decarbonize our system — guided by our core values Serve, Respect, Trust, Grow, Navigate — and bold strategic priorities Service Excellence, Improved Communication and Empowered People — there’s never been a more meaningful time to come aboard at Washington State Ferries.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the WSF Civil Rights and Strategic Initiatives Program Manager will:

• Lead and oversee division‑wide civil rights, equity, and accessibility programs to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements and equitable service delivery.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and guidance that translate civil rights laws and regulations into operational practice.
• Plan and manage program resources, including budgets, grants, contracts, and performance measures.
• Coordinate and lead cross‑divisional teams to implement civil rights and equity initiatives across Washington State Ferries operations and programs.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report program outcomes, exercising independent judgment to adapt programs in response to evolving legal, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Uphold WSF’s strategic priorities (Service Excellence, Improved Communication, and Empowered People) and values (Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate), ensuring they are embedded in WSF’s culture through leadership actions.

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

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to set direction, establish priorities, and lead programs with division‑wide or statewide impact.
• Program and Policy Management: Ability to translate strategic objectives into operational policies and programs in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Equity and Accessibility: Demonstrated commitment to civil rights, equity, and accessibility, and ability to apply equity‑centered approaches to decision‑making.
• Financial and Resource Management: Ability to manage public resources, including budgets and/or grants, ensure compliance, and use data to support program improvement.
• Collaboration, Communication, and Judgment: Ability to build effective partnerships, communicate complex information to diverse audiences, analyze information, and exercise sound independent judgment.

It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:

• Change Leadership and Innovation: Experience leading organizational change and developing solutions in areas without precedent.
• Advanced Strategic…