Harris County · 1 month ago
Engineering Director, Flood Mitigation
Houston, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expHarris County is seeking an Engineering Director for Flood Mitigation to oversee large-scale neighborhood drainage improvement initiatives and long-term infrastructure resiliency programs. The role involves strategic planning, execution, and management of drainage-related capital projects, ensuring alignment with flood mitigation priorities and community resilience strategies.
Government Administration
Responsibilities
Provide executive leadership for the County’s 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 department’s 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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's 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
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
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
Preferred
PMP Certification
Certified Floodplain Manager Certification (CFM)
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).
Company
Harris County
Harris County focuses on transportation, public health, housing, justice and safety, the environment, and other issues.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Harris County has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2024 (2)
2022 (2)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Craig B Atkins, CPA
CFO / Director of Financial Services
Araceli "Chely" Chojnacki
Front Receiving COORDINATOR
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