Civil Engineering Department Director

Impact Recruitment; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Impact Recruitment is partnering with a growing Houston-based engineering firm to place a Director who will shape the Civil Engineering Department, drive technical excellence, and lead the firm toward market leadership. The role emphasizes operational strength, quality assurance, and strategic growth across core markets.

The Director will oversee staffing, budgets, and performance, while providing technical oversight, coordinating with municipal agencies, and advancing business development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas required.
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive civil engineering experience.
• Minimum 3+ years in leadership/management roles.
• Demonstrated experience in site development and transportation engineering.
• Proven success in department or team leadership.
• Strong understanding of Texas regulatory frameworks and municipal standards.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily Civil Engineering Department operations.
• Manage staffing levels, workload distribution, and resource planning.
• Monitor project performance, schedules, budgets and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements and safety protocols.
• Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accountability for department financial performance.
• Effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support business development efforts including proposal preparation and client presentations.
• Build and maintain relationships with municipal agencies, developers, contractors, and public & private sector clients.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Regulatory compliance

Client relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas

Tools

AutoCAD Civil 3D

Bluebeam

Microsoft Office

Google Earth Pro

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Position Summary

Impact Recruitment is partnering with a growing engineering firm in Houston, Texas. This position plays a critical leadership role in shaping the future of the Civil Engineering Department and supporting the continued growth of the firm. The Director will help establish long‑term operational strength, technical excellence, and market leadership within the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management

• Oversee daily Civil Engineering Department operations
• Manage staffing levels, workload distribution, and resource planning
• Monitor project performance, schedules, budgets and profitability
• Ensure compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements and safety protocols
• Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement initiatives
• Maintain accountability for department financial performance
• Effectively communicate with both internal and external stakeholders

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Provide technical guidance, oversight and review of engineering deliverables
• Ensure QA/QC adherence to engineering standards
• Maintain awareness of evolving industry standards, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies
• Serve as Engineer of Record (EOR) as required
• Promote best practices in design, documentation, and project execution

Business Development & Client Relations

• Support business development efforts including proposal preparation, client presentations, strategic pursuits and fee development
• Build and maintain strong relationships with municipal agencies, developers, contractors, and public & private sector clients
• Identify new opportunities and maintain key client relationships
• Financial and performance management: develop and manage department budgets, monitor key financial metrics including revenue targets, profitability, utilization rates, backlog growth, and participation in annual planning and forecasting
• Optimize project performance and department profitability

Core Markets Supported

• Commercial or Public Works site development, including retail, mixed‑use, industrial, multi‑family developments, emergency service districts, municipal and county facilities, port and other government‑related facilities
• Transportation – roadway design, traffic improvements, municipal infrastructure, public works projects
• Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) – utility coordination, utility mapping, conflict analysis, infrastructure planning support
• Industrial/Energy Services – horizontal directional drilling (HDDS), roadway and waterway crossing permits coordination, plan & permit submissions and approvals with municipalities, county, state, federal, or MUD agencies

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas
• Minimum 10–15 years of progressive civil engineering experience
• Minimum 3+ years in leadership/management roles
• Demonstrated experience in site development and transportation engineering
• Proven success in department or team leadership
• Strong understanding of Texas regulatory frameworks and municipal standards

Technical Capabilities

• Grading & earthwork cut/fill volume calculations (using surfaces & cross sections)
• Balancing earthwork for cost efficiency
• Slope design & ADA compliance
• Pad elevations & drainage flow patterns
• Utility design preparing utility exhibits
• Water demand calculations (fire flow, peak demand)
• Sanitary sewer design (gravity flow, slope, capacity)
• Lift station sizing (if needed)
• Pipe sizing using velocity & flow requirements
• Pavement design (transportation & site)
• Flexible pavement design (TxDOT or AASHTO methods)
• Traffic loading (ESAL calculations)
• Subgrade evaluation (CBR, soil conditions)
• Pavement thickness design
• Traffic & transportation producing roadway & driveway plan sheets & supporting quantity calculations
• Annotating drainage plan sheets & assisting with stormwater design, including hydraulic analysis of roadside ditches
• Evaluating driveway culvert capacities & clearances
• Trip generation & distribution (ITE‑based)
• Turning movement analysis
• Sight distance (stopping, intersection)
• Signal warrant analysis (for larger projects)
• Construction cost & bid preparation
• Plan production & design full site layout (grading, drainage, utilities, paving)
• Plan/profile sheets for roadway & utilities
• Drainage area mapping & exhibit preparation
• Erosion & sediment control plans (SWPPP/SWQMP)
• Coordination of plan & permit submissions and approvals with municipalities, county, state, federal, or MUD agencies

Required Software

• AutoCAD Civil 3D
• Bluebeam
• Microsoft Office
• Google Earth Pro
• Adobe Acrobat

Preferred Qualifications

• Established relationships within the Houston regional engineering and development community
• Experience working with municipal utility districts (MUDs), Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), local municipalities, Harris and/or surrounding counties
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• SUE certification or related utility coordination expertise
• Ability to communicate, coordinate and direct land surveying staff for project‑specific needs

Impact Recruitment is an equal opportunity employer. Impact Recruitment does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, or terms or conditions of employment on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, medical condition as defined under state law, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. Impact Recruitment also provides reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals to assist in the hiring process and to qualified individuals with disabilities in the performance of essential job functions, as required by federal, state, or local law.