TWDB - 25-64: Director of Flood Science & Community Assistance (Director II- IV)

The mission of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is to lead the state's efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas and its citizens. Our mission is a vital part of Texas' overall vision and the state's mission and goals that relate to maintaining the viability of the state's natural resources, health, and economic development.

To accomplish our goals of planning for the state's water resources and providing affordable water and wastewater services, the TWDB provides water planning, data collection and dissemination, financial assistance, and technical assistance services to the citizens of Texas. The tremendous population growth that the state continues to experience and the recurrent threat of severe drought only intensify the need for the TWDB to accomplish its goals in an effective and efficient manner.

Only applicants who apply with a State of Texas application via the CAPPS online application system will be considered for this position. First time applicants will need to create an account https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Login in the CAPPS online application system at https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Jobs. Please visit our job opportunities page at https://tinyurl.com/How-to-Apply-in-CAPPS for more information about the Texas Water Development Board and answers to frequently asked questions. To view this position in greater detail, visit the CAPPS online application system.

Texas Water Development Board’s Mission - Leading the state’s efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas. 

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) offers competitive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending, and flexible work alternatives so you can have a work/life balance! For more information about these benefits and more visit http://www.twdb.texas.gov/jobs/benefits.asp.

The Texas Water Development Board does not discriminate on basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability in employment or provision of services, programs, or activities. 

***Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications***

Salary Ranges:

• Director II:  $9,439.83/month to $10,300.00/month***
• Director III: $10,383.83/month to $11,200.00/month***
• Director IV: $11,422.16/month to $12,500.00/month***

General Description

Performs advanced to highly advanced (senior-level) work developing strategic direction for and administering the daily operations and activities of the Texas Water Development Board’s Flood Science & Community Assistance Division (FSCA). Work involves overseeing agency flood science and technical assistance programs to support state flood planning efforts and overseeing state and federal flood mitigation assistance grants and community outreach programs. Oversees multiple departments with complex administrative functions and a highly specialized workforce. Establishes long-term and short-term goals and objectives. Develops technical guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations. Develops schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals. Coordinates and evaluates divisional activities. Develops and evaluates budget requests and monitors 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 Office of Water Science and Conservation.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversees all FSCA operations, activities, and projects.
• Provides administrative, strategic, and technical direction and guidance to support regional and state flood planning and community floodplain management activities.
• Provides strategic direction and effective leadership and management of FSCA staff and programs.
• Oversees state flood modeling and mapping programs to inform stakeholders of flood risk including the development of technical standards and procedures and technical execution of flood models and data for mapping flood hazards.
• Oversees administration of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grants, and certain state Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) projects.
• Oversees the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) community outreach programs.
• Oversees federal grants through the FEMA CTP program with available funding.
• 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.
• Leads and supports WSC strategic planning efforts and activities to achieve established strategic themes and goals.
• Works closely with the Director of Flood Planning to ensure a singular agency vision and consistent approach to flood science, planning, mitigation, and floodplain management activities.
• Reviews and evaluates technical reports for flood projects and activities.
• Provides presentations to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Assists with review and analysis of legislation related to the duties of the division and related agency activities.
• Oversees procurement, execution, and management of professional services contracts.
• 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.
• Monitors and reports on the division’s work activities.
• Authorizes the 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 the division’s performance and recommends and leads to improvements.
• Supports the division’s 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, Geographic Information Services, or a related field.
• Work Experience:
  • Director II:
    • Eight years of relevant professional experience in flood-related work such as flood modeling and mapping, flood science and research, flood planning and mitigation, floodplain management, or other closely related technical work.
    • Five years of relevant professional experience leading projects, programs, and supervising staff (including multi-disciplinary teams) that includes developing, managing, and monitoring budgets, personnel, and other complex administrative functions.
  • Director III:
    • Ten years of relevant professional experience in flood-related work such as flood modeling and mapping, flood science and research, flood planning and mitigation, floodplain management, or other closely related technical work.
    • Seven years of relevant professional experience leading projects, programs, and supervising staff (including multi-disciplinary teams) that includes developing, managing, and monitoring budgets, personnel, and other complex administrative functions.
  • Director IV:
    • Twelve years of relevant professional experience in flood-related work such as flood modeling and mapping, flood science and research, flood planning and mitigation, floodplain management, or other closely related technical work.
    • Nine years of relevant professional experience leading projects, programs, and supervising staff (including multi-disciplinary teams) that includes developing, managing and monitoring budgets, personnel, and other complex administrative functions.
• Experience with FEMA, the NFIP, and floodplain management.
• Experience managing contracts and writing and producing technical reports.
• Relevant experience and education may be substituted for each other on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree from an accredited college or university in Civil/Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, Physical/Natural/Environmental Sciences, 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 minimum years of professional technical experience in flood-related work for each level of Director classification (Director II-IV).
• More than minimum years of progressively responsible professional work experience managing projects, programs, and staff (including multi-disciplinary teams) for each level of Director classification (Director II-IV).
• Experience in using Geographical Information Systems to evaluate and present geospatial data.
• Experience with hydrologic, hydraulic, hydrodynamic, or other computational/numerical models.
• Experience administering or supervising state and federal grant programs.
• Experience with flood research and advancements in flood science, modeling, mapping, or data processing.
• Experience with public speaking and education/training such as with media, elected officials, conferences, and the public.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the Flood Science & Community Assistance Division.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of state and federal flood programs and floodplain management in Texas
• Knowledge of hydrologic and hydraulic principles and procedures as applied to pluvial, riverine, and coastal systems.
• Knowledge of relevant hydrologic/hydraulic/hydrodynamic models, including standard models and methods used to develop FEMA Base Level Engineering (BLE).
• Knowledge of the NFIP, FEMA flood hazard mapping, Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and floodplain management.
• Knowledge of the FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance grant program.
• Knowledge of relational database concepts, common data standards, and data management practices.
• 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 Teams, Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• 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 persist 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 to maintain regular progress on assignments and meet deadlines.
• Ability to stand/sit/move to perform activities such as retrieve/replace files in a large file system for boxes up to 30 lbs.
• Ability and willingness to travel 25% 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 shifts 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.

All interested candidates should apply with a State of Texas application via the CAPPS online application system. First time applicants will need to create an account https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Login in the CAPPS online application system https://tinyurl.com/CAPPS-Jobs. Please visit our job opportunities page https://tinyurl.com/How-to-Apply-in-CAPPS for more information about the Texas Water Development Board and answers to frequently asked questions. To view this position in greater detail, visit the CAPPS online application system.

Texas Water Development Board, Stephen F. Austin Building

1700 North Congress Ave., Room 670, Austin, Texas 78701

Please contact Human Resources for accommodation requests.

Phone: (512) 475-2142

Email: HR(AT)twdb.texas.gov