Program Assistant
- Washington State Ferries State of Washington Dept. of Transportation
- 3.4 Seattle, WA Job Details Full-time $60,060
- $86,460 a year 17 hours ago Benefits Paid holidays Tuition reimbursement Loan forgiveness Qualifications Record keeping Workflow management (operations management method) Writing skills Research Task prioritization Office management Managing executive calendars Technical Proficiency Stakeholder relationship building Full Job Description Description The first consideration and/or preference is with current Washington State Ferries OPEIU members 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 leads an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, manages the world's longest floating bridge, 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 WSF, a division of WSDOT, is currently seeking a Program Assistant to provide critical support to the Director and Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (QHSE) team. This position plays an important role in supporting safe, reliable ferry operations by ensuring efficient coordination of administrative functions, departmental communications, reporting, and office operations. Serving as a key point of support for the department, this role helps maintain organized and effective daily operations that contribute to WSF's mission of public service to the communities we serve. Through professionalism, adaptability, and a commitment to WSF's values of Serve, Grow, Trust, Respect, and Navigate, this position supports the continued success of the QHSE program and the ferry system as a whole. 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. What to Expect Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you/the Program Assistant will: Provide administrative support to the Director, including managing the departmental inbox, coordinating approvals, tracking deadlines, and maintaining confidentiality. Prepare and distribute correspondence, reports, presentations, and departmental communications. Track budgets, invoices, expenditures, and payments; coordinate issue resolution with Accounting. Serve as departmental timekeeper by reviewing timesheets, monitoring leave usage, ensuring payroll compliance, and resolving discrepancies. Coordinate meetings, events, travel arrangements, office operations, purchasing, inventory, and visitor access. Maintain departmental files, databases, records, website content, and vehicle and equipment documentation. Support personnel functions including onboarding, separations, interviews, service awards, and employee reimbursements. Conduct research, prepare reports and data summaries, respond to inquiries, and support department programs and records management. 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 Qualifications To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required: Administrative Coordination & Office Operations Ability to manage a high-volume administrative workload in a professional office environment, including scheduling, correspondence, document processing, records management, and tracking tasks across multiple concurrent priorities. Demonstrates skill in organizing workflows, setting priorities, and meeting established deadlines. Written & Verbal Communication Ability to produce clear, professional written communications including correspondence, reports, and other business documents. Demonstrates skill communicating effectively — both orally and in writing — with a diverse range of employees, external organizations, and members of the public. Technology Proficiency Ability to use productivity software to support office operations, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and Adobe Acrobat, to prepare documents, maintain records, manage information, and support team workflows. Judgment & Confidentiality Ability to exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information, applying discretion appropriately in situations involving personnel matters, organizational decisions, or other confidential content. Demonstrates trustworthiness and professional integrity. Relationship Management Ability to establish and sustain productive working relationships with colleagues, internal departments, public agencies, and external partners. Demonstrates professionalism, responsiveness, and a collaborative approach across diverse stakeholders. Growth Mindset Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth — seeks out feedback, adapts to changing priorities and organizational needs, and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement. Service-Oriented Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others — anticipates needs, responds reliably, and approaches the support role with initiative and a focus on enabling the success of the team. It is preferred that qualified candidates also have: Public Agency Experience Familiarity with the operational environment of a public agency, including awareness of administrative procedures, public records obligations, and the conventions of government or publicly accountable organizations. Important Notes The first consideration and/or preference is with current Washington State Ferries OPEIU members The current work schedule includes approximately one day per week in the office, with the remainder performed remotely. In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position. For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28of the Washington Administrative Code. WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov Why WSDOT Work-Life Balance
- We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals' lifestyle. Paid Leave
- In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year! Tuition Assistance
- Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness. Plan For Your Future
- WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options.
Employees also have their choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information. Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT? How to Apply Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the "Work Experience" portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible. In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application: An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date. An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role. Contact details for a minimum three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the "References" section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment. Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity. WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed Recruiter. WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov Contact Us For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter at . Please be sure to reference 26DOT-WSF-A0107 in the subject line.
