Executive Director, Pollution Control Services

About the role

The Harris County Pollution Control Services Department (HCPCS) protects citizens from environmental impacts through enforcement of state and federal regulations, aiming for clean air, water, and proper waste management. Under the County Administrator, the Executive Director of Pollution Control provides leadership, management, and oversight of all HCPCS operations, develops and implements the department’s mission, vision, and strategic plan, and serves as an advocate for sound environmental policies at local, state, and federal levels.

Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership: Direct divisions, managers, supervisors, and staff; execute mission, vision, strategic plan, goals, and objectives; oversee recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee development; report to the Commissioner’s Court and lead initiatives aligned with the Harris County Strategic Plan.
• Budget and Resource Management: Guide departmental budget requests, prepare budgets, provide fiscal oversight of general funds and grants, and evaluate resource needs for programs, operations, staffing, contracts, and strategic priorities.
• Programmatic and Regulatory Oversight: Establish measurable goals; oversee field monitoring, inspections, sampling, laboratory testing, data collection, community monitoring, and related regulatory activities; develop community monitoring strategies; provide technical and policy support for internal pollution‑mitigation and sustainability strategies.
• Compliance, Enforcement, and Permitting: Ensure interpretation and application of federal, state, and local environmental laws; oversee issuance of violation notices, civil/criminal case recommendations, fines, penalties, and enforcement actions; review and comment on environmental permits.
• Environmental Policy and Legislative Affairs: Develop, direct, and evaluate departmental policies and strategic initiatives; lead pollution control, environmental protection, and climate‑related policy priorities; monitor legislative and regulatory developments; provide policy recommendations and formal responses to governing bodies; advocate for changes to environmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Intergovernmental and Community Partnerships: Build relationships with local, state, and federal agencies; participate in multi‑jurisdictional compliance and enforcement activities; establish data‑sharing agreements with county departments and NGOs; represent PCS in intergovernmental matters.
• Environmental Response and Legal Support: Lead departmental response during environmental emergencies; serve in Incident or Unified Command structures; oversee air, soil, and surface‑water monitoring; coordinate with the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; represent the department in legal proceedings and provide testimony.
• Public and Media Relations: Represent PCS to professionals, stakeholders, and the public; conduct presentations and educational activities; develop strategies to increase public awareness of PCS activities and environmental risks; respond to media inquiries and advocate for sound environmental policies.
• Other Duties: Perform additional duties as assigned, including work before, during, or after emergencies or disasters at departmental discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience supervising professional staff in environmental enforcement, policy, pollution control and response, environmental toxicology, or emergency response.
• Additional relevant experience may be substituted for education on a year‑for‑year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Understanding of principles, practices, and program areas related to environmental toxicology and technical air, water, and soil pollution control.
• Broad knowledge of current developments, literature, and sources of information regarding air, water, and soil quality management.
• Working knowledge of environmental policy, pollution control and response, and emergency response.
• Familiarity with current environmental regulatory issues and strong understanding of relevant rules, regulations, and statutes.
• Knowledge of sustainability strategies, energy, and technology solutions addressing climate.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience in staff development, planning, organizing, coordinating, directing, budgeting, and fiscal management.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment within policy guidelines.
• Effective communication skills for interaction with leadership teams and the public.
• Proficiency with computer software for email, budget management, and database retrieval.

Preferences

• Master’s degree in Environmental Toxicology, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field.

Work Environment, Physical and Mental Demands

The position is performed in an office setting using standard equipment (computers, phones, scanners, filing cabinets). It requires sedentary work with extended periods of sitting, repetitive motion, and manual dexterity. The role demands high concentration, attention to detail, creativity, innovation, the ability to manage work‑related stress, and strong memory and information retention.

Schedule

Regular full‑time, Monday‑Friday, 40 hours per week. May be required to work long hours, including possible overnight stays, during industrial‑facility upsets, environmental disasters (e.g., floods, hurricanes), or other public health emergencies. Specific hours will be discussed during the interview.

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: County Administrator.
• Supervises: 65 to 80 full‑time equivalents (FTEs).