Position Description
The Harris County Engineering Department (HCED) is one of the premier engineering departments in the country, providing Engineering and Architecture compliance and project delivery to over 4.7 million residents.
The Project Manager within HCED is the primary subject matter expert in their field of expertise and project delivery within HCED. Their duties primarily consist of leading the project delivery team in achieving project goals and objectives through managing resources, facilitating project solutions, identifying and mitigating risk, and promoting team cohesion. This includes assisting with consultant procurement and managing internal and external resources through all phases of the project lifecycle, from programming through closeout. The Project Manager will ensure that quality assurance regulation compliance, utility deconfliction, and permitting are properly executed during all project phases. They will often train and assist Project Managers with their communications to the clients, in-house professionals, and external resources, often leading briefings to county leadership. They will utilize their credentials and expertise as needed on the projects.
The Project manager will be responsible for driving the projects from initiation through warranty with a combination of consultant, contractor, and in-house resources. The County has a very robust portfolio across all fields of engineering, architecture, and construction. The Project Manager will largely manage projects within their field of expertise but occasionally will handle projects and tasks as assigned.
Harris County has one of the best work-life balance schedules in the industry, as well as some of the best 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:
- Assists with the Management and Training of the Team in achieving program goals and objectives through teaching, coaching, mentoring junior staff, resource management, facilitating project solutions, and promoting team cohesion by encouraging a positive, working team atmosphere.
- Provide leadership, responsibility, and accountability to the project delivery team in coordination with the direction of the Team Lead and Division leadership for the effective and efficient management of assigned capital improvement projects.
- Learn, use, and work with staff to promote project controls, tracking, and enhanced reporting using Program Management Software (i.e., eBuilder), which includes advancing projects from planning to design, construction to occupancy, and managing project scopes, costs, schedules, and documents within the software itself.
- Have a solid working knowledge of the team project portfolio to serve as a backup to other Project Managers, Team Leads, and Division leadership.
- Monitor and interact with staff and project teams to balance workload between available resources, identify deficiencies, and initiate solutions.
- Negotiate design fees and verify that the fees are commensurate with the scope of services.
- Manage, coordinate, and synchronize consultant and other related subject matter experts in the preparation of programming and construction documents. This includes developing scopes, goals, and deliverables to ensure client needs and project limitations are captured in the contract documents and design efforts.
- Identify the client/user group’s needs (the design program) and understand the project budget and schedule requirements.
- Proactively identify and address critical schedule, budget, or performance issues with team members and engage management as necessary to resolve issues and mitigate risks before impacting project expectations.
- Conduct the full range of supervisory duties for assigned Project Managers to include (but not limited to): workplace safety, training and development, performance management, staffing, policies and procedures, and balancing workload.
- Assist in emergency response and disaster recovery efforts as needed.
- Perform additional duties as assigned.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email
ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.Requirements
Education
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture.
Experience:
- Minimum of (3) Three years of proven experience managing projects.
- (Candidates should submit a list of projects and/or a portfolio of representative work when applying.)
Licensure:
- Valid driver's license (Texas upon hire), a good driving record, and the ability to drive a County vehicle to various job sites as needed to accomplish tasks and projects.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)
- Strong leadership, accountability, and decision-making skills to manage assigned capital improvement projects in alignment with the Team Lead and Division direction.
- Proficient in project controls, tracking, and reporting using program management software (e.g., eBuilder), including managing project documents, cost data, schedules, and deliverables within the system.
- Ability to maintain awareness of the broader project portfolio and serve as a reliable backup for Project Managers, Team Leads, and Division leadership to support continuity of operations.
- Skilled in balancing workload across available resources, identifying capacity gaps or performance deficiencies, and initiating practical solutions to keep projects moving.
- Strong capability to manage, coordinate, and synchronize consultants and subject matter experts to produce programming, design, and construction documents that meet client needs and project constraints.
- Ability to identify and translate client/user group needs into clear scopes, goals, and deliverables while aligning expectations with budget and schedule requirements.
- Proactive risk management skills, including early identification of schedule, budget, or performance issues, timely escalation, and implementation of mitigation strategies to prevent project impacts.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to provide clear project updates, resolve issues, and support decision-making across staff, consultants, stakeholders, and leadership.
- Ability to adapt quickly and support emergency response and disaster recovery efforts as needed, including shifting priorities and coordinating resources under changing conditions.
NOTE:Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
Education:
- Hold an advanced degree in engineering or environmental science from an accredited university.
Experience:
- Commercial construction experience in the field and preferably in resiliency and sustainability projects.
- Knowledge and Skills:
- LEED-AP
- PMP
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 experience, based on 26 pay periods.
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 up to 25 lbs., frequent walking, standing, sitting, reaching, and ascending/descending stairs.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee 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 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).
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
