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Washington State Ferries
Recruitment Announcement
ABOUT WSDOT
The Washington State Department of Transportation is the steward of a multi-modal transportation system and responsible for ensuring that people and goods move safely and efficiently. In addition to building, maintaining, and
operating the state highway system, WSDOT is responsible for the state ferry system, and works in partnership with
others to maintain and improve local roads, railroads and airports, as well as to support alternatives to driving, such
as public transportation, bicycles, and pedestrian programs.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE’S FERRY SYSTEM
Washington’s ferry system is the largest in the United
States, serving eight counties within Washington and
the Province of British Columbia in Canada. Counties
served include Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Pierce,
San Juan, Skagit, and Snohomish Counties.
The Ferries Division has approximately 1,800employees,
22 vessels, 20 terminals, and a dedicated maintenance
facility at Eagle Harbor. Washington State Ferries
carry over 23 million passengers and 10.2 million
vehicles including passenger vehicles, school and transit
buses, and commercial vehicles that deliver goods and
services to the citizens of the Puget Sound. For the
2013-2015 biennium, the operating budget of the
ferry system is approximately $484 million, of which
approximately $310 million is expected to be recovered
from fare box revenues. The capital investment budget
principally for three new vessels, system preservation
and rehabilitation is approximately $379 million, with
sources including dedicated state tax revenues, bonds
and federal grant dollars. Significant expenditures for
new vessel construction and terminal preservation and
improvement are programmed for the future.
The principal objectives of the system include:
• Operate the system safely, securely and efficiently
with the highest degree of on-time performance,
meeting the needs and convenience of customers.
• Maintain, preserve and improve assets including
vessels and terminals.
• Protect and enhance the system’s fiscal position
through sound fiscal management to sustain and
improve service.
• Maintain an efficient and high performance
workforce culture.
The focus for the next five years at Washington
State Ferries (WSF) will be to maintain the Ferries
extraordinary safety record, increase the number of
available, well-trained crew and staff; provide oversight
of terminal and fleet operations; create ways for WSF
to communicate and engage with staff throughout
WSDOT; offer added possibilities for WSF staff to
participate in Lean initiatives; and establish substantive
opportunities for customers and stakeholders to offer
ideas on how to make the system better.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Washington State Ferries Recruitment Announcement
The ferries division is currently recruiting for
three leadership positions:
• Director of Marine Operations
• Director, Vessel and Terminal Maintenance
• Director, Community Services and Planning
For these important roles the Assistant Secretary seeks
capable and unifying leaders that will inspire positive
change and innovation in the Ferries Division and improve
the overall performance of WSF. These critical roles require
energetic, visionary and effective leaders. Candidates should
be dynamic and decisive, and excel in both high-performing
internal management and external relations.
The successful candidates will report directly to WSDOT’s Assistant Secretary over the Ferries Division and serve on
the senior leadership team. The overarching core competencies the Division is seeking in candidates are:
LEADING CHANGE
LEADING PEOPLE
BUILDING COALITIONS
Creativity and Innovation: Ability
to generate new and innovative
approaches to problem solving that
are effective and responsive.
Build Talent Pools: Hire, mentor
and develop a qualified, diverse staff.
Partnering: Builds alliances and
collaborates across boundaries to
build strategic relationships. Build
public trust in government.
Flexibility: Adjust quickly to
changing priorities and conditions.
Lean Management: Streamline and
remove processes that do not bring
value to the customer.
Strategic Vision: Ability to translate
big-picture vision and goals into
plans that are realistic and effective.
Results Driven: Measure success and
set high standards of performance.
Business Acumen: Ability to manage
human, financial and information
resources strategically.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Washington State Ferries Recruitment Announcement
Director of Marine Operations
The Director of Marine Operations has overall
responsibility for approximately 1,100 represented
employees engaged in Ferries operations, including
fleet (deck and engine), terminal operations,
program management and operations center (watch
center, supervisors and dispatch). The Director
provides strategic direction and leadership for all
operational elements of the business to include:
developing and implementing policies and standards
to provide safe, reliable and efficient marine
transportation to the public.
programs and policies that ensure budgetary control
and cost containments are met; ensure effective and
efficient management of marine operations through the
selection, development and motivation of department
employees; establish positive partnerships with labor
union representatives and participate in the collective
bargaining process; and develop a harmonious work
environment where employees are valued, encouraged
to learn and develop and where innovation is rewarded.
Other responsibilities include: establish, coordinate
and implement strategic initiatives that improve
terminal and vessel operations and service delivery;
develop annual staffing needs fleet-wide to ensure the
Ferry system is prepared to meet services standards;
direct budget preparation and coordinate budget
expenditures; develop, implement and maintain
A bachelor’s degree with at least five years experience
in a senior leadership role within a maritime or other
transportation organization that involves leading a
diverse staff and management of significant funds. An
advanced degree is a plus. The annual salary range for
this position is $103,224 - $125,952.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Washington State Ferries Recruitment Announcement
Director, Vessel and Terminal Maintenance
The Director of Vessel and Terminal Maintenance
provides leadership and direction for vessel
maintenance and preservation, Eagle Harbor
Maintenance Facility, vessel design and capital vessel
construction. This position oversees approximately
550 represented employees. The incumbent develops
and implements policies, procedures and standards
to provide safe, reliable and efficient marine
transportation service. Responsibilities include:
maintenance department strategic and long-range
planning; development and management of vessel
lay-up schedule; and establishing cost containment
initiatives that align with budgetary targets. This
position impacts system-wide safety with ultimate
responsibility for providing safe and reliable vessels
and terminals for the transportation of $22 million
passengers and $11 million vehicles annually. The
primary focus is on strategic fleet and terminal
maintenance planning, policy development, budgeting
and resource management.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
A bachelor’s degree with at least five years experience in
a senior leadership role within a maritime organization
that involves leading a diverse staff and management
of significant funds. Experience in vessel maintenance,
repair, construction and preservation is desirable.
USGC licensed as a Chief Engineer of Motor Vessels
is preferred. An advanced degree is a plus. The annual
salary range for this position is $103,224 - $125,952.
Additional responsibilities include: establish and
coordinate major maintenance with Operations and
Service Planning; ensure compliance with all regulatory
agencies including the United State Coast Guard; form
and lead the implementation of organizational policies
and strategies for safe, reliable, and efficient customer
service delivery; construct organizational policies
and strategies for identification of maintenance,
preservation, and improvement needs in order to
deliver the WSF vessel capital and maintenance
program effectively and efficiently; develop strategies
for responding to media, the legislature, and the
Transportation Commission enabling ongoing
effective communications; direct strategies for labor
negotiations for bargaining units; and direct activities
related to material procurement, inventory and
warehousing of assets.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Washington State Ferries Recruitment Announcement
Director, Community Services and Planning
The Director of Community Services and Planning
is responsible for developing department-wide
strategic planning, community outreach programs,
and championing customer service for Washington
State Ferries. This position oversees approximately 20
employees (most are represented by labor) involved
in planning, communication and customer services.
This position ensures long-range strategic plans for the
operational and capital direction of the Washington
State Ferries system are in place. The incumbent leads
fare policy development and administers programs to
enhance customer experience. In addition, the role
requires the integration of federal, state, regional and
local policies to foster a positive image for WSF. In
addition, this position oversees the call center and is
a key representative with external partners including
Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation
Policy Board, Transportation Operator’s Committee
and Ferry Advisory Committee; ensures that tariff
recommendations are developed for the Washington
State Transportation Commission; and oversees all
customer service functions and major initiatives such as
vehicle reservations or changes to fair and fee programs.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:
A bachelor’s degree with at least five years experience in
a customer service leadership role within a maritime or
other transportation organization. A planning degree
is desired and an advanced degree is a plus. The annual
salary range for this position is $91,596 - $111,768.
BENEFITS
Outstanding benefits including health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; vacation, sick, military and
civil leave; dependent care assistance program; employee advisory service; deferred compensation plans; educational
benefits program; 11 paid holidays; and state retirement plans.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET
Washington State Ferries Recruitment Announcement
APPLICATION PROCESS
LIVE AND WORK IN A GREAT STATE
If you are interested in these positions, submit a cover
letter, salary history, and a current resume. Please
indicate in the subject line of your email which job(s)
you are applying for.
Washington State offers a total work/life package of
pay, benefits, flexibility and workplace opportunities
to help you get the most out of your career and out
of life. Washington State is a great place to work,
play, and be a part of a community. Washington
offers a quality of life that is unsurpassed.
If you have questions regarding this announcement,
please call Marissa Karras at 360-956-1336. The
position will remain open until filled. In order to be
considered for the first round of interviews, please
submit your application materials by May 15th, to
marissa@karrasconsulting.net. It is the department’s
intent to fill this position as soon as possible.
Candidate evaluation will be ongoing, and it will be
to the applicant’s advantage to submit application
materials as soon as possible.
The State of Washington is an equal opportunity
employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the
diversity of its workforce. We will provide assistance in
the recruitment, application and selection process to
applicants with disabilities who request such assistance.
The Ferries Division is headquartered in downtown
Seattle. The City of Seattle is a coastal seaport city
and with nearly 635,000 residents. Seattle is the
largest city in the Pacific Northwest region and
one of the fastest-growing cities in the United
States. Ringed by snow-capped mountain peaks.
Crisscrossed by fresh and salt waterways. Home to
urban centers, villages and vibrant neighborhoods,
Seattle is an incredible place to live. Spectacular
natural surroundings, world-class education systems,
thriving urban centers, vibrant neighborhoods and
a lively arts and culture scene are just some of what
makes Puget Sound a great place to live. Outdoor
activities are especially plentiful given the area’s
natural beauty and mild climate. Hiking in the
Olympic or Cascade Mountains, kayaking in Lake
Union, or cycling on one of many rails-to-trails
paths are just a few of the options available. Seattle
is viewed as a progressive and innovative city where
people are outgoing and friendly.
1802 BLACK LAKE BLVD SW, SUITE 101 • OLYMPIA, WA 98512
360-867-1410 • WWW.KARRASCONSULTING.NET