Position Description

Position Overview:

The position will manage multiple capital improvements, ensuring that projects are constructed following the engineer of record/architect of record's sealed plans and Harris County specifications. The position is supervised by a Senior Project Manager or Capital Infrastructure Projects (CIP) Manager and will work with Harris County, contractors, consulting firms, labs, coordinating agencies, and outside organizations to identify and resolve issues on the job site. Project Managers are successfully delivering Harris County's capital portfolio, comprising numerous projects valued at approximately $100 million per team member across a wide spectrum of public infrastructure. This position ensures that project goals and objectives are achieved through allocating resources, facilitating project solutions, identifying and mitigating risk, and promoting team cohesion. This includes maintaining a solid working knowledge of the Project Manager's portfolio to rapidly respond to inquiries from clients or management, identify systemic challenges, and initiate solutions.

The position may supervise Assistant Project Manager and/or Graduate Engineers. The CIP Division focuses on projects ranging from the design and construction of roads, drainage, bridges, parks, facilities, trails, and bicycle paths. The division oversees multiple teams of engineers, landscape architects, engineers-in-training, computer-aided designers, project managers, construction managers, inspectors, constructability technicians, and consultants working on projects across all fields.

The Project Manager will oversee many types of projects within the Vertical Portfolio, many of which often exceed $100 million in construction costs. The projects within can range from 15-story high-rise renovations and constructions to individual component upgrades, to full-site developments including parks and greenways, to major energy and resiliency initiatives, among others.

Harris County offers one of the best work-life balance schedules in the industry, along with some of the most comprehensive benefits programs available. This includes exceptional health and life insurance, one of the best pension plans in the Country, the Public Service 'Student' Loan Forgiveness Program, as well as our Professional Licensure Training Program, which offers reimbursements for Certifications, Licenses, and related Training.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Deliver projects from pre-planning through close-out.
Develop and negotiate scopes of work, resource allocations, schedules, and cost estimates with clients, consultants, and project teams.
Facilitate consultant procurement and manage both internal and external resources to assemble the project delivery team.
Coordinate with the project team to prepare final deliverables, including engineering reports and/or constructible plan sets.
Ensure deliverables meet client expectations, departmental standards, regulatory requirements, and permitting guidelines.
Evaluate and implement risk management strategies to maintain alignment with project scope, schedule, and budget.
Coordinate and communicate effectively with management, elected officials, external agencies, and the public.
Assist with emergency response and recovery efforts following disasters to ensure safe infrastructure is restored.
Lead teams toward program goals by mentoring staff, allocating resources, facilitating solutions, and promoting a collaborative team environment.
Oversee consultant procurement processes, including contract negotiation, staffing, and budget management.
Promote project controls and reporting through project management software (e.g., e-Builder), ensuring project scope, budget, schedule, and documentation are accurately tracked.
Collaborate with clients and the CIP Inspections & Quality Assurance staff throughout all phases of project delivery, from negotiation to close-out.
Maintain oversight of the entire project portfolio assigned to the Project Management Team; regularly meet with senior management and client stakeholders to provide updates.
Identify and resolve risks related to schedule, budget, or performance, including coordination with subordinate project managers and leadership as needed.
Supervise Assistant Project Managers, Graduate Engineers, consultants, and subject matter experts in the preparation of planning and construction documents.
Ensure adherence to quality assurance practices, risk mitigation, compliance, and permitting using PMI methodologies; work closely with Division leadership on project reporting.
Coordinate with inspectors, design engineers, consultants, and contractors to resolve construction-related issues; maintain a consistent presence in e-Builder.
Conduct pre-construction site walks with Office of the County Engineer department personnel; assist in resolving design issues, utility conflicts, and other field concerns.
Review and recommend approval of change orders related to changed conditions, quality issues, cost reasonableness, and viable solutions.
Understand the client/user group’s needs as outlined in the design program and align with budget and schedule requirements.
Proactively address critical issues affecting schedule, budget, or performance and escalate to management when necessary.
Supervise assigned Project Managers, overseeing safety, training, performance, workload distribution, and adherence to policy and procedures.
Support disaster recovery efforts as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to the smooth operation of the Department.

Requirements

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or similar fields.

Experience:

Minimum of 4 four years of proven experience managing vertical projects; candidates should submit a list of projects and/or portfolio of representative work when applying.

Licensure

A valid driver’s license (Texas upon hire). Applicant must provide and maintain proof of automobile liability insurance upon employment.

Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs):

Proven ability to lead negotiations with consultants, agencies, and stakeholders to secure resources and establish cooperative relationships that support project goals.
Strong knowledge of building products, systems, and construction details.
Familiarity with applicable building codes and regulatory requirements.
Proficient in drawing production with excellent computer-aided design (CAD) skills.
Outstanding communication, coordination, and project management abilities.
Ability to read and interpret construction plans, cost estimates, and technical specifications.
Demonstrated leadership and teamwork skills, with a collaborative and solution-oriented approach.
Adaptable and able to manage shifting priorities and evolving project demands effectively.

Emergency Deployment & Continuity of Operations Requirement:

In accordance with Harris County’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Policy, this position is subject to emergency response and deployment protocols. The employee may be designated as supporting a Mission Essential Function (MEF)

Participate in the classification process of departmental staff based on MEF responsibilities.
Be available for temporary deployment to an alternative work location, role, or telework assignment during emergency events.
Confirm work assignments with their supervisor prior to reporting to any worksite during such events.
Remain flexible in assuming alternative duties as directed to support County operations continuity.

Preferences

Education:

Hold an advanced degree in architecture/engineering from an accredited university.

Experience:

Commercial construction experience in the field
Familiar with the City of Houston, Harris County, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and federal agency/jurisdiction review.

Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs):

LEED-AP
PMP
Licensed by the Texas State Board of Architectural Examiners, OR, licensed by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, or ability to transfer license within 6 months of arriving in Texas.

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 on the project or workload.

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure:

Most assignments will be performed in an office, meeting, or operations command center environment, but some field work may be required. May be required to work extended work hours during activation of disaster recovery operations for an unspecified length of time (varies based on the extent of the event).
This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting to 25 lbs., frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and ascending/descending stairs.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

FEATURED BENEFITS:

Medical, vision, and dental insurance.
Wellness.
Professional development opportunity.
Flexible spending account.
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).

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