Division:	Ferries
Recruitment Number:	WMS 08-044
Location:	Seattle (Belltown)
Salary:	$96,276 to $123,486 annually depending on qualifications
Posting Date:	Friday, June 13, 2008
Closing Date:	Friday, July 11, 2008

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Position Profile: This is not a job but rather a career opportunity in a one of a kind position. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Ferries System is an integral part of Washington’s transportation infrastructure. If it does not run efficiently 365 days a year, it is equivalent, if not worse to the collapse of any major highway system. The Deputy Chief for Construction and Operations is a key position in this infrastructure and is responsible for operations and construction management of the largest ferry system in the United States – 24 vessels and 20 terminals throughout Puget Sound.  

Reporting to the Ferries System Chief, this executive position serves five important roles. They are: (1) Managing the construction of new vessels; (2) Working with the United States Coast Guard to ensure the maintenance and safety requirements for existing fleet vessels are met; (3) Constructing, updating and preserving ferry terminals; and, (4) Overseeing the operations of ferry service on 10 routes; and, (5) Improving levels of customer service.

At this time, the position’s most critical aspect is the oversight responsibilities associated with the construction of five new vessels over the next four years. At an estimated cost in excess of $300 million, the new Deputy Chief will be under intense scrutiny to ensure this project is completed on time and within budget. In addition, the Deputy Chief will be working on a long-term preservation plan for vessels in the existing fleet in collaboration with the United States Coast Guard. Finally, the Deputy Chief will develop the capital plan for ferry terminal upgrades and new construction.

To accomplish these tasks, the Deputy Chief will need to be a maritime expert with significant fleet operations and construction experience. He or she will assist the Ferries System Chief in establishing relationships with shipyards, recommending operating efficiencies and improving customer service.

The successful candidate will:

 

• Manage available funds to successfully accomplish Ferries System biennial programs within legislatively authorized levels. 
• Assume key role in the negotiation of contractual agreements to construct new vessels for the fleet. 
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with federal, state and local governments and agencies with interests in Ferries System services. 
• Demonstrate sound decision-making and good judgment on a constant basis.

 

Desired qualifications include:

 

• Clear and effective communication skills both in the written and oral form.
• Hands-on knowledge of engineering (civil and marine) and operations (terminal and vessel).
• Senior-level operations experience preferably in a maritime setting.
• Demonstrated experience creating and maintaining beneficial and positive relations with labor unions.
• Experience and knowledge of Coast Guard policies and regulations as they pertain to passenger vessels.
• Experience managing and directing large capital and operating budgets.

 

Compensation:  $96,276 to $123,486 annually depending on qualifications.
Outstanding benefits including health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; vacation, sick, military and civil leave; dependent care assistance program; employee assistance program; deferred compensation plans; educational benefits program; 11 paid holidays; and state retirement plans.

How To Apply: To be considered for this position, please email the following (combined into one document) to hqhr [at] wsdot [dot] wa [dot] gov (subject: WMS 08-044) by 5:00 p.m. on July 11, 2008 in this order:

Letter of Interest.
Chronological Resume.
Applicant Profile (optional).

Be prepared to provide references at the time of interview. Application assessment will be ongoing and the hiring authority reserves the right to interview and offer the position at any time during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant’s advantage to apply as early as possible. Interested applicants are encouraged to personally contact the recruiter.

Electronic application materials in Word format are preferred; however, hard copies may be sent to:

hqhr [at] wsdot [dot] wa [dot] gov Subject: WMS 08-044	or	WSDOT - Headquarters Office of Human Resources Attn: Ted Koska, Recruitment Manager PO Box 47310 Olympia, WA 98504-7310 Phone: 360.705.7509 FAX: 360.705.6849

Division:	Washington State Ferries
Recruitment Number:	WMS-08-043
Location:	Seattle- Belltown Area
Salary:	$82,932-$106,356 annually depending on qualifications
Posting Date:	Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Closing Date:	Thursday, June 26, 2008

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Position Profile: 

The Chief Naval Architect reports through the Director of Maintenance, Preservation and Engineering to the Ferries Division Assistant Secretary and is the agency’s foremost advisor on vessel design issues. As a registered Professional Engineer, the Chief Naval Architect provides critical input to policy development, implementation, and application as it pertains to vessel capabilities and limitations for existing and future ferry vessel design and ensures that vessel design, design changes, modifications, operations, construction, and repairs meet regulatory agency requirements and satisfy fundamental engineering principals, in addition to good marine practice for safety, security, operability, feasibility, maintainability, and reliability for the intended operating environment.

The employee in this position will be required to:
• Lead and manage the Vessel Design Branch and make work assignments for 15 employees. Direct the resources of 6 engineering consulting firms on approved tasks
• Review and assess design alternatives for correcting existing fleet problems, renovations resolving obsolescence issues, and meeting emerging regulatory agency requirements
• Review and accept design deliverables from contractors
• Develop budgetary trade-offs and reallocate funds to vessel design projects in accordance with agency and supervisor’s strategic intent
• Prioritize design projects in accordance with agency and supervisor’s strategic intent
• Make human resource management decisions including performance assessments, over- time assignments/requests, vacation requests, and hiring of new employees in accordance with guidance and strategic intent of supervisor
• Take to the supervisor decisions regarding program priorities, budget submittal approval, and contractor task approval

 

The successful candidate will:

• Be a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Washington in the field of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering or other allied fields (e.g. Mechanical, Electrical), or must be a Registered Professional Engineer in the same disciplines in a different state and able to become a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Washington within 6 months
• Have a strong background in the engineering, ship design, and construction of ships and boats licensed to carry passengers
• Have knowledge of engineering of shipboard structure, outfitting, machinery, piping, electrical, HVAC, and mechanical systems
• Have experience planning, scheduling, and managing large projects
• Have knowledge of engineering and design in accordance with the requirements of classification societies and regulatory agencies such as the American Bureau of Shipping, American Society of Testing Materials, U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Public Health Service
• Have knowledge of applicable sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), International Maritime Organization (IMO) as they apply to ferry operations, maintenance, preservation, and improvement
• Have knowledge of Labor & Industries, WISHA, and OSHA requirements for worker access and safety plus knowledge of specific requirements of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Washington State Law as it applies to ADA 
Desired qualifications include:

 

• The ability to synthesize varying engineering disciplines and manage consultant work
• The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• The ability to work, liaison, and coordinate with other organizations, both internal and external, and to develop strategies and execution plans
• The ability to coach, mentor, and train staff
• Experience in long range planning
• The ability to develop, manage, and execute budgets; develop and implement decisions
• Experience using a personal computer as a tool for a variety of technical and managerial functions

• Ethical standards of conduct, integrity and honesty
• Ability to act in the public interest
• A commitment to the Department’s quality, diversity, and public service values

 

Compensation:  $82,932-$106,356 annually depending on qualifications.
Outstanding benefits include health, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; vacation, sick, military and civil leave; dependent care assistance program; employee assistance program; deferred compensation plans; educational benefits program; 11 paid holidays; and state retirement plans.

How To Apply: Please send a letter of interest, a detailed resume, a minimum of three employment references with current phone numbers and addresses, and a completed Applicant Profile Form (pdf 77 kb) (optional) by 8:00 am on Thursday, June 26, 2008. The letter of interest should indicate how you meet the qualifications as shown on this announcement.

Electronic application materials in Word format are preferred; however, hard copies may be sent to:

WSFRecrutiment [at] wsdot [dot] wa [dot] gov Subject: WMS-08-043	or	Washington State Ferries Office of Human Resources 2901- 3rd Avenue, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98121-1042 FAX: (206)515-3489

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If you have decided to apply for this position, we would appreciate your voluntary cooperation in responding to the Applicant Profile Form. This information will assist in ensuring equal employment opportunity and is strictly confidential, available only to authorized personnel.

Agency Profile: The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) values its employees, challenges them to continuously improve the way we do business, to meet and exceed the needs of our customers, and to carry out their duties in an ethical manner. WSDOT is a multi-modal transportation agency in one of the fastest growing areas of the country, responsible for planning, building and operating a complex highway system in addition to operating a large ferry system and freight and passenger rail system. 

Washington State Ferries operates the largest ferry fleet in the United States. Twenty-eight ferries cross Puget Sound and its inland waterways, carrying over 26 million passengers to 20 different terminals. From Tacoma, Washington, to Sidney, British Columbia, WSF travels up and down the Sound, acting as a marine highway for commercial users, tourists, and daily commuters alike. There are over 1800 dedicated employees who have made Washington State Ferries the most popular tourist attraction in the state.