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Office of the County Engineer · 19 hours ago

Engineering Director, Flood Mitigation

Houston, TX

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

10+ years exp

The Office of the County Engineer is seeking an Engineering Director for Flood Mitigation to oversee Harris County’s drainage improvement initiatives and infrastructure resiliency programs. This senior executive role involves strategic planning, project management, and collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of capital projects and alignment with flood mitigation priorities.

Government Administration

Comp. & Benefits

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

Civil EngineeringDrainage Infrastructure DesignProject ManagementPMP CertificationCertified Floodplain ManagerFiscal ManagementConsensus BuildingCommunication SkillsNegotiation SkillsPresentation Skills

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