Director, Capital Projects Vertical

Harris County; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 185,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Vision insurance

Dental insurance

Wellness program

Professional development

FSAs

457 plan

Retirement pension

Transit assistance

Disability insurance

Life insurance

PSLF eligibility

Job summary

Harris County is seeking a Director, Capital Projects to lead the vertical construction program within the Office of the County Engineer. You will guide multi-project delivery from design through warranty, ensuring compliance with codes and county criteria while balancing schedule and budget.

The role requires a strong engineering background, public-sector experience, and PMP or equivalent project controls expertise. It is a full-time, executive-facing position based in Houston, Texas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a closely related field.
• Registered Professional Engineer in Texas or eligible and able to obtain Texas P.E. within six months of employment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within six months, registration as a Registered Architect in the State of Texas or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• 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 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.

Skills

Vertical construction knowledge

Project controls software

Leadership

Budget and schedule management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Engineering/Architecture/Construction Management degree

Texas PE license or architect registration eligibility

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Position Overview

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.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• 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.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail].

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 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 environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Strong knowledge of vertical construction practices, building systems, and construction sequencing.
• Working knowledge of building codes, permitting processes, life-safety requirements, and accessibility standards.
• Ability to manage scope, schedule, and budget across multiple capital building projects.
• Proficiency with project management and project controls software.
• Ability to read, interpret, and review construction documents and technical reports.
• Strong leadership, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders in a complex organizational environment.

Preferences

Education

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related field.

Experience

• Experience overseeing vertical capital projects for governmental or large institutional clients.

Certifications

PMP Certification

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

Salary Range: $185,000 – $199,000 annually

Physical Demands and Environmental Exposure

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Occasional driving of a vehicle with automatic and four-wheel drive controls.
• Frequent standing and walking; prolonged sitting for extended periods of time.
• Frequent stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and carrying items up to 10 pounds with occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds.
• Extensive use of a video display terminal (computer monitor).
• Occasional sorting, filing, shelving, and handling documents, books, files, materials, and equipment.
• Frequent standing and walking on rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces and ground during field visits.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time:

• Approximately 90% of duties will be performed indoors in a typical office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, air conditions, and noise levels.
• Approximately 10% of duties will be performed outdoors, where there will be exposure to heat, cold, moisture, air pollution, wind, and dust.
• Must be willing to work in various weather and working conditions when visiting a field location.

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.