Director/Program Director-Construction

Parsons; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons in Houston seeks an experienced Program Director to lead and expand major water and wastewater programs across Texas. You will set strategy, oversee delivery, and build relationships with public and private clients.

The role requires senior leadership, delivery excellence, financial acumen, and a track record of successful large-scale infrastructure programs in the water sector.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering complex water and wastewater infrastructure programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across large-scale projects.
• Strong capability in program delivery, governance, and client relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for large, complex water and wastewater programs across Texas.
• Establish program vision, governance, and performance objectives; oversee planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Lead client meetings, reports, and strategic planning to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next! At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.

Job Description: Parsons is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead and expand major water and wastewater programs throughout the State of Texas. Based in Houston, this executive-level role will be responsible for program strategy, client relationship management, delivery oversight, construction management, team leadership, and business development.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience delivering complex water and wastewater infrastructure programs, managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing construction and program controls, and developing trusted relationships with public-sector and private-sector clients. This position requires a strategic leader who can balance technical delivery, operational excellence, financial performance, and long-term client growth.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Management

• Provide oversight of construction management activities for water and wastewater treatment plants, collection and distribution systems, pipelines, pump stations, reservoirs, lift stations, storage facilities, and related infrastructure.
• Review contractor performance, construction schedules, payment applications, change orders, claims, safety performance, and quality compliance.
• Support constructability reviews, procurement strategies, bid evaluations, and contract negotiations.
• Manage construction risks and facilitate timely resolution of field, contractual, and technical issues.
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure that construction activities align with project safety plans and corporate standards.
• Support the development and implementation of alternative delivery methods, including design-bid-build, design-build, construction manager at risk, progressive design-build, and public-private partnership approaches where appropriate.

Program Delivery

• Provide executive leadership for large, complex water and wastewater programs across Texas.
• Establish program vision, goals, governance structures, delivery strategies, and performance objectives.
• Direct the planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout of infrastructure programs.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contractual, regulatory, and quality requirements.
• Lead program controls, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, change management, quality, and document control.
• Oversee the coordination of engineering, construction management, program management, environmental, permitting, procurement, and commissioning teams.
• Identify and resolve project and program-level issues before they affect cost, schedule, quality, or client satisfaction.
• Implement best practices, standardized processes, and performance metrics across the program portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including environmental, utility, procurement, and construction requirements.

Client and Stakeholder Relationships

• Serve as the senior point of contact for key clients, including municipalities, water authorities, regional agencies, utilities, industrial clients, and other public-sector entities.
• Build and maintain trusted, long-term relationships with client executives, elected officials, board members, regulators, contractors, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• Lead executive-level client meetings, program reviews, strategic planning sessions, and issue-resolution discussions.
• Anticipate client needs and proactively identify opportunities to improve program outcomes.
• Develop communications strategies that clearly convey program status, risks, financial performance, accomplishments, and upcoming priorities.
• Represent Parsons at industry events, professional associations, community meetings, and client-facing forums throughout Texas.

Business Development and Growth

• Develop and execute strategic growth plans for water and wastewater services across Texas.
• Identify, qualify, and pursue new program management, engineering, construction management, and infrastructure opportunities.
• Lead client account planning and maintain an active pipeline of potential pursuits.
• Develop capture strategies, pursuit plans, teaming arrangements, and win strategies.
• Participate in proposal development, including technical approaches, staffing plans, project understanding, pricing strategies, presentations, and interviews.
• Establish and maintain relationships with owners, utilities, engineering firms, contractors, and industry partners.
• Monitor market trends, capital improvement programs, funding opportunities, regulatory developments, and infrastructur