Director, Capital Projects Vertical

Director, Capital Projects

The Director, Capital Projects is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing the delivery of vertical capital construction projects within the Office of the County Engineer (OCE). This position provides leadership and technical oversight for the Capital Projects Vertical group. The Director manages the entire project lifecycle, including project planning, design development, permitting, procurement, contract negotiation and administration, construction management, inspection, project controls, closeout, and warranty administration.

Projects may include administrative buildings, public facilities, and other vertical construction initiatives supporting County operations. The position works closely with internal County departments, consultants, contractors, and external agencies to ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with County standards, applicable building codes, and regulatory requirements.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need special services or accommodations, please call  or email  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.

• Provide executive leadership for OCE's vertical capital projects portfolio, overseeing multiple concurrent projects across all phases of 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 vertical capital project delivery, including planning, design, permitting, procurement, construction, inspection, closeout, and warranty phases.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with building design and construction activities with applicable building codes, life-safety requirements, accessibility standards, and County design criteria.
• Prepare, review, and support Commissioners Court agenda items, including professional services contracts, construction contracts, amendments, additional fees, change orders/field alterations, and funding requests.
• Provide strategic oversight and executive-level guidance to project managers and team leads 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, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Direct, mentor, and hold accountable team leads, 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.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university in Engineering, Architecture, 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

OR

Possession of, or ability to obtain within six months registration as a Registered Architect in the State of Texas

Experience:

• Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in vertical capital project delivery, building design, construction management, or program management.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex building projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders in a public-sector or institutional…