Director of Transportation and Economic Development Policy

Director of Transportation and Economic Development Policy

Position open until January 31, 2026. We are continuing to review applications for this role and are excited at the level of interest.

Washington State has seventy-five public port districts. These local government special purpose districts are located in every region of Washington state. They provide critical seaport, airport, marina, and economic development services to communities all over Washington, and serve as one of the most important tools for linking our people and our products to the world. Port districts build infrastructure, create jobs, lead environmental cleanups, and maintain local control of waterfronts, airports, and many other important facilities.

These port districts are represented by the Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA), an established Olympia-based local government association. The WPPA serves as an advocate and liaison for port districts to the state legislature, to state executive agencies and to the governor’s office. The WPPA also provides educational and support services for its members, providing materials, seminars and conferences that keep port officials and staff up-to-date with evolving public policy issues.

The role of the Director of Transportation and Economic Development is to maximize the opportunity for Washington’s public port districts to strategically serve their communities as developers of transportation projects, as creative economic development leaders, and as conveners of the state’s trade‑driven economy. This role is essential to maintaining Washington ports as leaders in these fields, and for this person to be a highly recognized and influential expert in these fields as they undertake this role for WPPA.

• Act as the association's primary policy lead on all issues related to transportation, aviation, trade, economic development, and tax policy.
• Serve as the primary liaison to state and federal transportation agencies and other relevant agencies, including the Washington State Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, and Department of Revenue.
• Staff the association's Trade and Transportation Committee;
  Aviation Committee; and Economic Development Committees.
• Provide staff support to various working groups that cross into the policy areas referenced (e.g., Energy Supply and Grid Reliability Work Group).
• Act as the association's primary legislative lead on transportation, aviation, trade, economic development, and tax policy. Develop, implement, and execute legislative strategies that advance these issues to the shared benefit of WPPA members.
• Serve as the primary liaison with stakeholder groups representing the issues within the portfolio, including trucking and railroad companies, trade associations, aviation‑related trade associations, economic development partners such as Associate Development Organizations and the Washington Economic Development Association.
• Work with the Executive Director and other WPPA staff as a key part of planning and managing association meetings and seminars.
• Maintain a pro‑active awareness of local, state, and federal transportation, aviation, trade, economic development, and tax policy issues – with an eye on opportunities and threats as they relate to Washington ports.
• Regularly communicate with member ports to understand their potential opportunities or obstacles in each issue area; inform and educate them on opportunities and how to be successful players, including through regular communication with Standing Committee members.
• Develop a communication strategy in each issue area to foster and ensure engagement with a variety of stakeholders.
• Develop recommendations for the Executive Director and the Executive Committee on policy questions that arise in the policy portfolio described.
• Be recognized and respected for personal and business ethics; be curious and informed about matters related to trade and transportation; creatively recommend ways Washington ports can make best use of potential opportunities.
• Acquire broad port and general business knowledge and wisdom, including a strong understanding of…