Engineering Director, Flood Mitigation

Position Overview:

The Engineering Director Flood Mitigationserves as a senior executive leader responsible for overseeing the strategic planning execution and successful delivery of Harris Countys large-scale neighborhood drainage improvement initiatives and long-term infrastructure resiliency programs. Reporting directly to the Office of the County Engineers executive leadership the Director provides vision direction and management for all drainage-related capital projects ensuring alignment with the Countys flood mitigation priorities disaster recovery goals and community resilience strategies.

This role has broad authority over the end-to-end lifecycle of complex capital programsincluding planning design permitting right-of-way acquisition procurement construction inspection contract administration project controls and stakeholder communication. The Director leads multidisciplinary teams may oversee Assistant Directors and Senior Project Managers and coordinates extensively with internal divisions consulting engineers contractors public officials and community partners to ensure timely cost-effective and high-quality project delivery.

The Director may serve as the primary liaison representing the department in high-profile public forums interagency meetings and executive-level decision-making sessions.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership for the Countys drainage improvement portfolio overseeing hundreds of active design and construction projects totaling significant capital investment.
• Establish long-range program goals priorities standards and performance expectations aligned with countywide flood mitigation and resiliency strategies.
• Develop strategic plans for subdivision drainage programs major infrastructure upgrades and community-level resiliency initiatives.
• Lead policy development strategic program planning and continuous improvement initiatives across all drainage project delivery functions.
• Direct the planning scheduling design permitting procurement construction and closeout of capital drainage and resiliency projects.
• Oversee project performance through project management system(s) ensuring accurate tracking of cost schedule scope documentation and reporting.
• Implement and monitor quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) standards across all program phases.
• Ensure accurate compliance with regulatory frameworks including FEMA HUD (CDBG-DR) USACE and state/local permitting authorities.
• Lead mentor and oversee management teams including Assistant Directors Senior Project Managers and support staff.
• Establish workforce strategies to support recruitment training performance management and succession planning.
• Allocate staffing resources across multiple programs and ensure appropriate workload distribution for optimal efficiency.
• Serve as the departments primary representative for drainage capital programs in meetings with Commissioners Court elected officials community organizations and intergovernmental partners.
• Coordinate closely with federal and state agencies including FEMA GLO HUD TxDOT HCFCD and local municipalities.
• Lead public engagement for major capital projects including community meetings workshops and communication campaigns.
• Oversee program budgets financial planning and capital allocations for drainage improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state funding requirements and oversee preparation of mandated reports and documentation.
• Lead long-term capital planning project prioritization and funding strategies incorporating risk assessments and cost/benefit analyses.
• Develop implement and maintain division Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency accountability and regulatory alignment.
• Oversee internal audits process evaluations and performance improvement initiatives related to drainage capital project delivery.
• Manage division-wide governance processes and report program status to executive leadership.
• Serve as Acting Executive Director/Deputy in the absence of senior leadership.
• Provide expert guidance with County leadership on drainage and resiliency matters and participate in emergency response activities as needed.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering or relevant field.
• Registered Professional Engineer in Texas or Registered Professional Engineer in any other state but be able to achieve TEXAS P.E. within six months of employment

Experience:

• Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in engineering construction or infrastructure project delivery.
• At least seven (7) years in senior leadership roles directing complex drainage or public infrastructure programs.

Knowledge Skill & Abilities (KSAs):

• Expert knowledge of drainage infrastructure design permitting and construction.
• Mastery of project management principles including project controls risk management budgeting and scheduling.
• Strong fiscal management skills with experience overseeing large capital budgets and grant-funded projects.
• Exceptional communication negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to build consensus and maintain strong working relationships with executive leaders elected officials regulatory bodies and community stakeholders.

Certifications:

• PMP Certification
• Certified Floodplain Manager Certification (CFM)

General Information:

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

Full-Time Regular 40 hours per week.

Subject to early mornings late evenings weekends and holidays at times depending upon the project or workload.

Salary:

Commensurate with experience based on 26 pay periods.

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Occasional driving of a vehicle with automatic and four-wheel drive controls.
• Frequent standing and walking; prolonged sitting for extended periods of time.
• Frequent stooping bending reaching lifting and carrying items up to 10 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
• Extensive use of a video display terminal (computer monitor).
• Occasional sorting filing shelving and handling documents books files materials and equipment.
• Frequent standing and walking on rough uneven or rocky surfaces and ground during field visits.

While performing the duties of this job the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time:

• Approximately 90% of duties will be performed indoors in a normal office environment with acceptable lighting temperature air conditions and noise levels.
• Approximately 10% of duties will be performed outdoors where there will be exposure to heat cold moisture air pollution wind and dust.
• Must be willing to work in various weather and working conditions when visiting a field location.

FEATURED BENEFITS:

Medical vision and dental insurance.

Wellness.

Professional development opportunities.

Flexible spending accounts.

457 deferred compensation plans.

Retirement pension (TCDRS).

Transportation assistance (Metro Ride Sponsor Program).

Disability and life insurance.

Harris County is a Qualified Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).