Central Budget Manager (WMS2)

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!

The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking a Central Budget Manager to help safeguard the agency’s financial integrity and credibility. As part of the Budget & Financial Analysis (BFA) Division, this role brings together advanced budgeting expertise and a statewide perspective to support effective financial decision-making and ensure budgets align with priorities set by the Transportation Secretary, Office of Financial Management (OFM), the Governor, and the state Legislature.

As a strategic leader, you will guide budget planning, advise executive leadership, and partner across programs to ensure financial decisions are data-informed, transparent, and aligned with organizational goals. This position offers the opportunity to influence high-level funding strategies, improve financial processes, and lead a team dedicated to delivering accurate and timely budget services. You will lead budget development and oversight for programs of strategic importance, supporting investments that impact transportation systems across Washington.

What to Expect
This role supports statewide programs and requires coordination across multiple teams and stakeholders. Occasional in-person meetings or collaboration may be required, depending on operational needs.

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, you will:

• Serve as the Headquarters Budget Office subject matter expert for programs as assigned.
• Implement short and long-term budget strategies, which require understanding the priorities of the Governor, the Secretary, and the Legislature.
• Provide training, mentoring, and one-on-one technical assistance to program professionals on developing and implementing the biennial and supplemental budgets, as well as coordinating or developing allotments and detailed spending plans, writing fiscal notes, decision packages, and other communications.
• Provide strategic direction or recommendations to the Assistant Director of Budget and other executives on program budget matters.
• Prepare and/or review for external publication budget and other documents such as written narratives, charts/graphs, and presentation materials to ensure appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, and quality.
• Review, analyze and monitor spending plans for assigned programs; coordinate with program staff to investigate and resolve budget related issues.
• Investigate, develop, and provide recommendations for responses to inquiries from legislative staff, legislators, executive staff, and other entities as they pertain to assigned programs.
• Develop comprehensive, strategic, and detailed budget information in response to inquiries within the framework of department policies, state law, and general budgeting practices.
• Prepare, review, analyze and coordinate budget-related documents such as agency request decision packages to ensure information is accurate, complete, and consistent.

• Budget Development & Management:Demonstrates the proficiency to develop, manage, and monitor large complex budgets while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities; knowledge of state budget processes and the ability to promote fiscal accountability and alignment with organizational goals.
• Analytical & Critical Thinking: Ability to apply advanced analytical, statistical, and problem-solving skills to objectively evaluate information, accurately interpret and apply complex laws and legal principles, rules, policies and procedures, identify issues, communicate contrary points of view and support sound decision-making to achieve department objectives.
• Professional & Ethical Conduct: Ability to perform duties thoroughly and properly, learn from mistakes, maintain professional relationships, maintain confidentiality when appropriate, and apply ethical application of knowledge, skills, and behavior to perform tasks at a high standard.
• Technology Proficiency: Advanced knowledge and proficiency using technology, financial systems, databases, spreadsheets to analyze data, identify trends, develop reports or dashboards, and present fiscal information. Ability to learn new systems, troubleshoot technology issues, and explain system outputs and requirements to others.
• Organizational & Project Management: Skills to effectively organize, prioritize and manage multiple concurrent assignments, balance competing priorities while delivering accurate, quality and timely work in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaboration & Partnership Building:Advanced skills in building and maintaining trust and constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
• Effective Communication: Advanced skills in effectively communicating complex financial information, legal principles and policies to advance our department mission and maintain trust and alignment with the highest levels of state government.
• Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
• Service-Oriented: Demonstrates a willingness to take action to meet the needs of others.

• Public Sector Budgeting:Experience working with state government budgets, legislative processes, or public funding structures.
• Advanced Financial Systems:Experience using financial management systems and tools to support budgeting and reporting. Examples include: the Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS), Agency Budget System (ABS), Salary Projection System (SPS), and FiscalNote System (FNS).
• Government Stakeholder Communication:Experience in communicating with staff of the Legislature and Office of Financial Management (OFM) or similar entities in other jurisdictions.

• This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
• This position is eligible for remote work up to 100%, per supervisor approval.
• 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 applicableCollective Bargaining Agreements. Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found inChapter 357-28 of 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 visitwww.uscis.gov

• 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. As such, there are a number of flexible schedule options available, including telework options for eligible positions.
• Paid Leave– In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees mayearn 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.
• PlanFor 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 toState 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.

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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.

Contact Us
For inquiries aboutthis posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter atRachel.Giese@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference26DOT-HQ-0W102 in the subject line.