Project Management & Controls Specialist - 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.

The Opportunity is to join Washington State Ferries’ (WSF) Strategic Leadership Team and provide leadership and support to Design Project Managers, project teams, and stakeholders across the Terminal Engineering design program. This position leads project management and project controls functions for all terminal design projects and staff, with clear authority under the Terminal Design Engineering Manager (and Terminal Engineering Director as applicable) to establish and enforce standards, tools, and reporting expectations.

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 has never been a more meaningful time to come aboard at Washington State Ferries.

All Washington State Ferries employees serve our communities by providing safe and reliable service. We grow by learning and supporting one another. We build trust through clear communication. We treat everyone with respect. Together, we navigate challenges and work to improve how we serve the public. By empowering people, setting clear expectations, and reinforcing WSF’s core values of Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate, you will help advance individual, team, and agency goals that are in the best interest of WSF and the communities we serve.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the Project Management & Controls Specialist will:

• Establish and maintain Project Management/Controls standards, procedures, tools, and expectations across the design portfolio.
• Drive continuous improvement roadmaps for project management and project controls.
• Support cost management: estimates, budgets/forecasts, cost controls, variance/trend analysis, and change order impacts.
• Build and maintain dashboards/reporting (e.g., Power BI/Excel/SharePoint) to track Key Performance Indicators and project health.
• Develop and manage schedules, including an Integrated Master Schedule; baseline, resource load/level, and critical path analysis.
• Track performance using Earned Value Management (EVM); monitor variances, ensure schedule quality/compliance, and recommend corrective actions.
• Manage project data systems: integrate cost data, maintain data models, SharePoint sites, workflows, reports, and digital solutions.
• Serve as WSDOT HQ PM/Risk liaison; supervise/cross-train staff; communicate status and facilitate issue-resolution meetings.
• 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
:

• Project Controls and Performance Management
  :
  Demonstrate expert knowledge of project management and control practices, including scheduling (e.g., critical path), cost and scope control, change management, risk management, and EVM to ensure successful project delivery.
• Project Management Systems
  :
  Utilize advanced project management and scheduling tools including but…