Director, Capital Projects Horizontal

Position Overview

The Director, Capital Projects, is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the delivery of horizontal capital construction projects within the Office of the County Engineer (OCE). This position provides leadership and technical oversight for the Capital Projects Horizontal group. The Director manages the entire project lifecycle, including project planning, engineering design, environmental coordination, permitting, utility coordination, right-of-way acquisition, procurement, contract negotiation and administration, construction management, inspection, project controls, closeout, and warranty administration.

Projects may include roadways, bridges, drainage systems, sidewalks, trails, transportation improvements, and other civil infrastructure initiatives supporting County operations and the public. The position works closely with internal County departments, consultants, contractors, utility providers, municipalities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with County standards and applicable regulatory requirements.

• Provide executive leadership for OCE’s horizontal capital projects portfolio, overseeing multiple concurrent projects across all phases of planning, design, and construction.
• Establish division-wide project delivery standards, performance expectations, and priorities in alignment with County policies and OCE objectives.
• Exercise authority over the full lifecycle of horizontal capital project delivery, including planning, engineering design, environmental review, permitting, utility coordination, right-of-way, procurement, construction, inspection, closeout, and warranty phases.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with civil engineering design and construction activities with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including County design criteria, roadway and drainage standards, accessibility requirements, environmental regulations, and traffic control standards.
• Prepare, review, and support Commissioners Court agenda items, including professional services contracts, construction contracts, interlocal agreements, amendments, additional fees, change orders/field alterations, right-of-way matters, and funding requests.
• Provide strategic oversight and executive-level guidance to project managers and team leaders on negotiations, scope development, risk management, and contractor performance.
• Establish and oversee quality assurance and quality control standards to ensure consistency, accuracy, and quality of project deliverables.
• Serve as a senior point of coordination and escalation for internal County departments, consultants, contractors, utility providers, municipalities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Direct, mentor, and hold accountable team leaders, project managers, and technical staff for performance, professional development, and project outcomes.
• Determine staffing strategies and allocate resources across projects to support workload balance, efficiency, and timely delivery.
• Oversee project performance through management systems and review reporting on schedule, budget, risks, and delivery metrics for leadership.
• Provide leadership support during emergency response, recovery efforts, or high-priority County initiatives as required.
• Respond decisively to changing priorities and critical issues to ensure continuity of operations and project delivery.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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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.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related 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