Director of Contractor Compliance and Safety

Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity

Mission: To connect, value, and empower people, businesses, and communities. Vision: An inclusive, accessible, prosperous, and resilient Harris County economy.

The Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO) seeks a Director of Contract Compliance and Safety to lead and oversee the Worker & Community Protection program and the Contractor Safety program. This director-level position reports directly to the Executive Director and serves as a senior leader responsible for regulatory compliance oversight, including wage rate compliance monitoring related to Texas Prevailing Wage requirements, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) on Federal Projects, and HUD Section 3 Economic Opportunities on HUD-funded projects. This position is also responsible for contractor safety records and worksite safety monitoring across county-funded projects. The Director of Contract Compliance and Safety will supervise the teams to ensure regulatory compliance, promote safe work environments and fair treatment, promote ethical practices, implement compliance programs, address compliance risks, and stay current with applicable laws and regulations — serving as a key advisor on compliance matters to the executive leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities: Leadership & Team Coordination

• Report directly to the Executive Director on the progress of all program initiatives toward departmental goals.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive contract compliance and safety strategy. Establish procedures, performance measures, and internal controls. Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure contract compliance with applicable regulations and standards.

• Lead the negotiation and renewal of interlocal agreements and MOUs with infrastructure departments and other entities. Develop risk-based monitoring plans based on project size, funding source, contractor performance, and compliance requirements.

• Provide recommendations regarding regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and program effectiveness. Advise executive leadership on contract compliance trends and strategic initiatives.

• Lead, mentor, and develop division staff — fostering a culture of integrity, accountability, inclusivity, and high performance.

• Provide coaching, counseling, and professional development to staff within the teams. Develop and implement training programs to ensure team members are skilled, knowledgeable, and able to maintain quality service standards.

• Cultivate partnerships across program areas to encourage knowledge sharing, resource utilization, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Participate in DEEO leadership team meetings and represent contract compliance functions at the executive level.

Compliance Monitoring & Enforcement

• Direct contract compliance oversight to ensure all safety protocols, policies, and procedures are followed with no deviations from established standards. Monitor contract compliance across county contracts. Oversee all aspects of monitoring, investigating, reporting, and recommending corrective actions.

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards and develop strategies to mitigate risks.

• Maintain detailed records of contract compliance activities and report issues or instances of non-compliance to the appropriate authorities.

• Ensure contractors and subcontractors comply with applicable federal, state and local laws and funding requirements, including Section 3, Davis-Bacon, prevailing wage, contractor safety records and worksite safety requirements.

• Utilize and maintain compliance tool frameworks, SOPs, performance metrics and reporting dashboards to improve accountability and operational transparency.

• Track and report worker complaints, corrective actions and compliance resolutions in coordination with project owners, contractors, and subcontractors.

• Ensure accurate certification, documentation, and reporting to prepare for compliance audits.

• Participate in and provide oversight for decisions and compliance requirements

• Monitor changes in federal, state and local laws affecting County operations.

Reporting & Accountability

• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.

• Create quarterly reports for submission to Commissioners Court.

• Ensure the Executive Leadership is consistently informed and proactive in addressing compliance issues, including monthly tracking of KPIs and adherence to strict deadlines.

• Maintain and conduct quarterly meetings to review performance metrics and compliance standards.

• Respond to audit and compliance requests, ensuring timely documentation and submission.

• Serve as a technical expert in compliance reporting.

• Assist with special compliance initiatives, risk mitigation strategies, and program evaluations.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Build strong relationships with project owners, regulatory agencies, contractors, and external stakeholders.

• Work closely with internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure contract compliance and safety remain priorities across all operations.

• Liaise with high-level stakeholders, including board members, executives, elected officials, philanthropic partners, and other decision-makers.

• Cultivate and manage relationships with vendors, contractors, and community partners to support the County’s contract compliance and safety goals.

• Provide training and educational resources to employees and partners regarding contract compliance and safety.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email [email protected]. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate. Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Business Management, Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, Public Administration, or a related field.

• Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in management or leadership roles, preferably in regulatory compliance, contract administration, or program development within government or other public sector organizations.

• Five (5) or more years of experience successfully supervising and managing staff and teams.

• Proven track record of building and managing projects from conception to completion.

• Experience liaising with high-level stakeholders, including board members, executives, and elected officials.

• Experience interpreting complex contracts and regulations and developing organizational policies and procedures.

Licensure:

• Must possess a valid driver's license (Texas driver's license required upon hire).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Keen observer with strong awareness of the government sector environment and dynamics throughout Houston, Texas, and the broader regional ecosystem.

• Demonstrated commitment to public service and accountability.

• Knowledge or experience with labor laws, Section 3 compliance, prevailing wage compliance, DBRA compliance, federal grant compliance, safety regulations, and contract management.

• Strong leadership, negotiation, and strategic planning skills. A cross-functional thinker with a strong drive toward implementation and action.

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, manage diverse projects, and maintain high standards of accuracy, discretion, and confidentiality.

• Strong operational and risk management skills.

• Proficiency in data analysis, compliance reporting tools, and contract management systems.

• High level of analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to investigate complex issues and make decisions when written guidelines are unavailable.

• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills, including executive presence.

• Ability to listen and communicate effectively with peers, staff, elected officials, and partners while managing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Fully proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel); working knowledge of Monday.com, Asana, QuickBase, PeopleSoft, or Microsoft Project preferred.

• Ability to walk, stand, and work in an active construction environment for extended periods.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented in your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

• Experience with labor laws. Davis-Bacon and prevailing wage contract requirements.

• Proven leadership capacity at both the team and organizational levels, with experience leading through change.

• Previous experience working for Harris County or other government agencies.

• Experience with building compliance frameworks, SOPs, and reporting dashboards.

• Experience with compliance investigations, audits, training, and performance monitoring.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.

Hours:

• Full-Time | Regular

• Days and hours of work are typically Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Hours may vary based on business needs.

• This role is eligible for teleworking work from within the greater Harris County region in compliance with the Harris County Telework Policy. This eligibility may be removed at any time due to work demands or unsatisfactory productivity.

Position Type:

• This position involves coordination with contractors, project managers, and various departments. It also involves interfacing with organizations and individuals outside of Harris County, as well as elected officials of Harris County.

• The typical work routine is eight-hour days Monday through Friday, but also subject to frequent early morning, evening, weekend, emergency, and holiday work.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position operates in a professional office environment.

• Routinely utilizes standard office equipment, including computers, phones, and photocopiers.

• Ability to lift 20 lbs.

• Ability to work in an active construction environment with limited additional physical demands.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports To Position: Executive Director

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.