About GCPD

The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) is a special-purpose district created by the Texas Legislature under S.B. 1160, 87th Regular Session, to serve as the non-federal sponsor for the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay (S2G) and Coastal Texas (CTX) coastal storm risk management projects. Partnering with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a 65/35 federal-to-local cost-share, GCPD is responsible for managing nearly $750 million in state appropriations and coordinating one of the largest coastal infrastructure programs in the nation, protecting millions of people and billions of dollars of assets along the Texas Gulf Coast.

GCPD is a small, high-impact organization with a lean professional staff. Every team member plays a meaningful role in delivering a historically significant public infrastructure program.

Position Summary

GCPD is conducting a broad search for Project Managers across two discipline tracks — Engineering and Environmental/NEPA — at three experience tiers (PM I, PM II, and PM III). We are intentionally recruiting across the full experience spectrum to identify the strongest available candidates, whether early-career professionals with exceptional fundamentals or seasoned senior practitioners ready to take on a complex, high-visibility role.

All positions share a common core: technical depth in the candidate's discipline, meaningful contract management responsibility, and the ability to work effectively within the USACE Civil Works project delivery framework. The specific scope, autonomy, and leadership expectations vary by tier, as described below.

Position Tiers

Candidates will be evaluated and placed at the appropriate tier based on their qualifications, experience, and the needs of the program at the time of hire. Applicants should self-identify their target tier in their cover letter, though GCPD reserves the right to offer placement at a different tier.

PM I — Project Manager

Experience: 2–5 years relevant experience

Scope: Supports senior staff; manages discrete task elements under supervision

Contract Role: Assists in contract administration, invoice review, and deliverable tracking

Supervision: None required

Autonomy: Works under direct supervision; escalates decisions to senior staff

PM II — Project Manager

Experience: 7–12 years relevant experience

Scope: Independently manages task orders, consultant deliverables, and budgets; limited supervision

Contract Role: Serves as GCPD technical representative on consultant contracts; manages cost, schedule, and scope

Supervision: May lead junior staff or interns

Autonomy: Works under general direction; resolves routine issues independently

PM III — Senior Project Manager

Experience: 15+ years relevant experience

Scope: Leads multi-disciplinary teams and major program components; exercises independent judgment on complex issues

Contract Role: Leads procurement actions; serves as primary GCPD interface with USACE, consultants, and state agencies

Supervision: Leads and mentors PM I/II staff; significant external coordination responsibility

Autonomy: Works with high autonomy; shapes program strategy and approach

Discipline Tracks

Both tracks require demonstrated contract management competency in addition to the technical qualifications described below. Contract management is not a separate specialty — it is an integrated expectation for all Project Manager positions at GCPD.

Engineering Track:

Core Focus: Design and construction management for coastal infrastructure features (beach nourishment, dune restoration, structural elements, floodgates)

Technical Background: Civil, coastal, structural, or geotechnical engineering; B.S. in Engineering required; graduate degree a plus

Licensing / Certifications: PE required at PM II/III (Texas licensure); EIT acceptable at PM I; board certification (e.g., ASCE BCEE or coastal specialty) preferred at PM III; PMP and CTCM/CTCD preferred across all tiers

Key Technical Skills: Hydraulic/hydrologic analysis, engineering design, construction QC/QA, CAD/GIS workflows, contract drawings review

Contract Management (All Tiers): Review and approve engineer-of-record deliverables; manage A/E task orders; track earned value against NTP/milestone schedule

Key GCPD Program Areas: CTX Beach nourishment, dune restoration, Bolivar Roads Gate System, Section 408 permitting, real estate coordination for easements, CTX ecosystem restoration features, NEPA re-evaluations, Section 7 consultations, mitigation banking, permit compliance monitoring, Sabine to Galveston design and construction

Environmental / NEPA Track:

Core Focus: NEPA documentation, environmental permitting, regulatory coordination, and ecological monitoring for coastal and wetland restoration features

Technical Background: Environmental science, ecology, biology, natural resources, or related field; graduate degree a plus

Licensing / Certifications: Relevant professional certification in environmental science, natural resources, or a related discipline preferred at PM II/III; board-level or senior credential preferred at PM III; PMP and CTCM/CTCD preferred across all tiers

Key Technical Skills: EIS/EA preparation, Section 7/404/10 permitting, USACE policy, biological assessments, GIS

Contract Management (All Tiers): Manage A/E task orders; coordinate submittals; track deliverables and regulatory response deadlines

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Specific duties vary by tier and discipline track. The following represent the core responsibilities common to all Project Manager positions:

Program and Project Coordination

Serve as GCPD's technical point of contact for assigned CTX or S2G features, coordinating with USACE Galveston District project managers, design leads, and regulatory staff.
Manage assigned consultant task orders from NTP through deliverable acceptance, including scope, schedule, budget, and quality oversight.
Review and provide written comments on technical deliverables (design reports, drawings, specifications, environmental documents) to ensure compliance with project requirements and USACE standards.
Maintain project tracking systems and contribute to program-level reporting to the Chief Program Manager.

Contract Administration

Administer GCPD contracts with prime consultants including invoice review, deliverable tracking, and earned value monitoring.
Coordinate with GCPD's Budget, Accounting, and Reporting (BAR) team to ensure expenditures are coded correctly to cost categories and advance funds requests are supported by accurate project-level cost data.
Document contract actions including amendments, task order modifications, and formal correspondence in accordance with GCPD document management standards.
Flag contract performance issues to the Chief Program Manager and coordinate corrective action.

Regulatory and Agency Coordination

Coordinate with USACE, TCEQ, USFWS, NMFS, GLO, and other agencies on permitting, compliance, and project delivery matters relevant to the assigned discipline track.
Support preparation of Section 408 permit applications, NEPA re-evaluations, and real estate submittals as applicable to the assigned track.
Maintain awareness of and compliance with applicable federal and state regulatory requirements including NEPA, Section 404/10, Section 7, and Texas Water Code.

Documentation and Reporting

Maintain audit-ready project files including technical correspondence, deliverable logs, meeting minutes, and contract records.
Prepare and contribute to GCPD's periodic reports to USACE and GLO, including progress narratives, schedule updates, and budget summaries.
Participate in USACE reviews, design conferences, and coordination meetings; prepare and distribute meeting summaries.

Minimum Qualifications

All candidates must meet the following baseline requirements regardless of tier or track:

Bachelor's degree in Civil/Coastal Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, or closely related field.
Minimum 2 years of professional experience in coastal, environmental, or infrastructure project management (PM I); 7 years (PM II); or 15 years (PM III).
Demonstrated experience with consultant contract administration, including deliverable review, invoice processing, and scope/schedule tracking.
Familiarity with USACE Civil Works project delivery processes, terminology, and documentation standards.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; working knowledge of document management systems and project tracking tools.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to represent GCPD professionally in external meetings and written correspondence.

Preferred Qualifications

Engineering Track

Professional Engineer (PE) license in Texas required at PM II and PM III; Engineer-in-Training (EIT) designation acceptable at PM I, with active progress toward PE licensure expected.
Board certification in a relevant coastal, civil, or environmental engineering specialty (e.g., ASCE Board Certified Environmental Engineer or coastal specialty credential) preferred at PM III.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred; Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD) preferred, or ability to obtain within 18 months of hire.
Experience with coastal engineering design, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, or coastal structures.
Familiarity with USACE Engineering Regulation standards and USACE quality management requirements.
Experience with CAD/GIS workflows including review of design drawings and geospatial data management.
Familiarity with USACE Galveston District operations, Sabine to Galveston Project, and the Coastal Texas Project.

Environmental / NEPA Track

Professional certification in environmental science, natural resources, wetland science, or a related environmental discipline preferred at PM II and PM III; a board-level or senior practitioner credential in the relevant specialty is preferred at PM III.
Experience preparing or managing EIS/EA documents under NEPA in a USACE Civil Works or federal infrastructure context.
Familiarity with USACE Regulatory Program (Section 404/10), USFWS Section 7 consultation, and Texas coastal permitting (GLO, TCEQ, TPWD).
Experience with ecosystem restoration design, mitigation banking, or ecological monitoring.
GIS proficiency, including spatial analysis and mapping for environmental compliance applications.

Both Tracks

Experience with state grant management frameworks.
Familiarity with federal and state requirements.
Experience with earned value management, including cost performance tracking against project baselines.
Prior NFS (non-federal sponsor) or USACE experience on a USACE Civil Works project.

Core Competencies

Technical depth in discipline area • Consultant contract administration
USACE Civil Works project delivery • Earned value and schedule management
Cross-functional collaboration • Written and verbal communication
Regulatory and compliance awareness • Adaptability in a small-team environment

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background screening, including criminal history, employment verification, and education verification.
Pursuant to Section 9502.0203(b), Texas Special District Local Laws Code, an individual may not be employed by the District if, within the preceding 24 months, the individual had an interest in, was employed by, or was affiliated with a person who submitted a bid or entered into a contract for a District project.
Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Must maintain reliable transportation; regular travel is expected.

Benefits

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
Retirement benefits through TCDRS (Texas County and District Retirement System).
Group life insurance.
Paid holidays per fiscal year.
Paid vacation and sick leave accruing from date of hire.
Paid parental leave.
Hybrid work schedule.
Professional development and training opportunities.

How to Apply

Application can be found here.

Inquiries should be sent to recruiting@gcpdtexas.com with the subject line "Project Manager Application — [Your Name]:"

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. GCPD reserves the right to close the posting at any time once a qualified candidate pool has been established at one or more tiers. GCPD may hire more than one person from this advertisement.

The Gulf Coast Protection District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. GCPD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

GCPD is an Equal Opportunity Employer • 1150 Gemini St, Suite 4150, Houston, TX 77058

Learn more about this Employer on their Career Site

Project Manager (I / II / III)