19-65- Director of Flood Science & Community Assistance (Director III)
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Job Description Summary
Performs highly advanced (senior-level) work developing strategic direction for and administering daily operations and activities of the Texas Water Development Board’s newly created Flood Science & Community Assistance Division. Work involves (1) establishing a successful floodplain modeling and mapping program to support state flood planning efforts, (2) overseeing existing mapping activities supported through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) program, and (3) overseeing state and federal flood grants and outreach programs. Work involves establishing goals and objectives; developing technical guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating division activities; developing and evaluating budget requests; and monitoring budget expenditures. Recruits and hires qualified staff. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Deputy Executive Administrator of the Water Science and Conservation Office.
Essential Job Functions
- Guides the creation of the Flood Science & Community Assistance Division and implementation of flood science programs to support regional and state flood planning.
- Establishes, and oversees a state flood mapping program to inform stakeholders of flood risk and to support regional and state flood planning, including the development of technical standards and procedures for an internal floodplain mapping program.
- Evaluates and oversees technical execution of floodplain models and data for mapping floodplains.
- Oversees federal grants through the FEMA CTP program.
· Oversees state and federal flood grants and outreach programs.
- Provides effective leadership and management of staff, programs, and the division.
- Encourages, develops, and maintains partnerships with federal, state, and local entities participating/seeking participation in state and federal flood mapping, mitigation, outreach, or grant programs.
- Work closely with the Director of Flood Planning to ensure a singular agency vision and consistent approach to flood planning.
- Reviews and evaluates technical reports for floodplain mapping and mitigation; provides presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Assists with review and analysis of legislation related to the duties of the division.
- Presents agency and program information to external stakeholders and state, local, and federal entities, including providing testimony and serving as a resource witness to legislative staff and committees.
- Oversees procurement, execution, and management of technical services contracts.
- Manages all project activities within the division, providing technical direction and guidance.
- Monitors and reports division work activities.
- Authorizes division hiring, separations, disciplinary actions and employee performance rewards.
- Assigns job duties, conducts performance evaluations, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and monitors and measures performance against goals.
- Evaluates division performance and recommends and leads improvements.
- Supports division administrative requirements related to organization, budget, and personnel.
- Ensures the provision of quality customer service from the division to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Manages the performance of direct reports, to include, timely completion of performance appraisals, and follow-through on disciplinary actions as needed.
- Maintains confidential and sensitive information.
- Ensures individual and team files (electronic and hard versions) are appropriately maintained and timely disposed of in accordance with the agency’s records retention procedures and schedule.
- Maintains required certifications and licenses and meets the continuing education needs and requirements of the position to include, attending mandatory training courses.
- May be required to operate a state or personal vehicle for business purposes.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
· Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Physical/Natural/Environmental Sciences, or related field.
- Five years of professional technical experience in flood-related work including: flood mitigation planning; flood risk studies; flood modelling and mapping; or other closely-related technical work.
- Three years of progressively responsible professional work experience managing projects/programs and supervising staff (including multi-disciplinary teams).
- Experience and graduate school education may be substituted for one another on a year-for-year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
· Graduate degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrologic/Hydraulic Modeling, Geographic Information Services, or related field.
· Licensed as a Professional Engineer by the State of Texas.
· Certified as a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM).
- More than five years of professional technical experience in flood-related work.
· More than three years of progressively responsible professional work experience managing projects, programs, and staff (including multi-disciplinary teams).
- Experience managing contracts and writing and producing technical reports.
- Experience in using Geographical Information System technology to evaluate and present geospatial data.
· Experience with hydrologic, hydraulic, hydrodynamic, or other computational/numerical models.
· Experience with the FEMA and NFIP.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to state and federal flood programs and floodplain management in Texas, and to the principles and practices of public administration and management.
· Knowledge of hydrologic and hydraulic principles and procedures as applied to riverine and coastal systems.
· Knowledge of relevant hydrologic/hydraulic/hydrodynamic models, including standard models and methods used to develop FEMA Base Level Engineering.
- Knowledge of the NFIP, FEMA flood hazard mapping, Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and floodplain management.
- Possesses necessary skills and comprehensive knowledge to perform the job.
- Skills in strategic and critical thinking, negotiation, and decision-making.
- Skills in project management and grant/contract administration, including time-management and prioritization.
- Skills in mediation and facilitation to assist customers and stakeholder groups throughout the state.
- Skills in communicating with elected, local, state, and federal officials, stakeholders, and the media.
- Skills in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, and Access.
- Skills in use of internet, email, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software.
· Ability to lead projects and perform duties as assigned without direct supervision.
- Ability to adhere to work schedules, follow procedures with respect to leave, and submit accurate timesheets by prescribed deadlines.
- Ability to make mature, objective decisions and identify areas of potential problems.
- Ability to perform effectively and willingly when changes occur in scope and nature of the work and work environment.
- Ability to perform routine and non-routine work assignments accurately and on-time with little or no supervision.
- Ability to perform assigned duties and improve work habits and/or output.
- Ability to complete assigned work, on time, neatly and in order with infrequent errors.
- Ability to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner and persists until tasks are completed.
- Ability to interpret policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Ability to provide prompt, courteous and accurate assistance and clear and concise communication to agency staff, as well as to employees of other political entities and the public both verbally and in writing.
- Ability to work with others in a team environment and cooperate with supervisors, co-workers, and others.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and schedule work in order to maintain regular progress on assignments and meet deadlines.
- Ability to stand/sit/move with no physical limitations or aids to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
- Ability and willingness to travel 20% of the time, primarily within the State of Texas.
- Ability to operate a vehicle (state or personal) for state business and maintain a driver’s license and driving record that complies with state and agency requirements.
- Ability to work days that may exceed 8 hours, including early mornings, nights, and weekends.
- Ability to train others.
- Ability to assign and/or supervise the work of others.