Marine Operations Manager Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

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Position Summary:

The Senior Project Manager supports Port Houston's Marine Regulatory Development, Channel Infrastructure Operations, and Channel Real Property programs by leading medium to complex state and federal marine, channel navigation, and dredging projects that advance the safe, sustainable, and efficient development of marine infrastructure within the Houston Ship Channel.
This role manages cross functional coordination, regulatory workflows, NEPA related contract and environmental service management, technical analyses, environmental studies, and regulatory submittals, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local requirements. Senior PM manages project schedules, budgets, risks, compliance activities, and stakeholder engagement to support successful project delivery consistent with Port Houston's strategic priorities and public sector accountability standards. The role also delivers clear, concise, and professional presentations to internal leadership, external agencies, industry partners, and community groups, supporting informed decision making and transparent communication across diverse stakeholder audiences.

Key Responsibilities/Duties:

• Lead planning, coordination, execution, and monitoring of Marine Regulatory Development, Channel Infrastructure Operations, and Channel Real Property projects with medium to high complexity.
• Monitor, interpret, track, and analyze proposed environmental, energy, and related legislation, regulations, and policies at the federal, state, and local levels that could potentially adversely impact Port Houston or could significantly increase environmental compliance requirements and costs.
• Develop project scopes, requirements, schedules, budgets, milestones, and procurement needs in alignment with Port Houston and federal/state standards.
• Manage marine, channel navigation, and dredging NEPA related infrastructure projects, permitting activities, and multi-agency coordination.
• Manage marine, channel navigation, and dredging NEPA consultant contracts, including scopes of work, cost estimates, task orders, deliverable reviews, and performance oversight.
• Coordinate preparation, technical review, and quality control of NEPA documents and supporting technical submittals (EA, EIS, CATEX, Section 404/10, Section 408, etc.) and other federal/state submittals.
• Lead stakeholder coordination across USACE, USCG, EPA, NOAA, TXDOT, TCEQ, TPWD, GLO, and other regulatory and maritime partners.
• Facilitate cross functional collaboration across Channel and Port Infrastructure Divisions including but not limited to Engineering, Maritime Operations, Safety, Environmental Affairs, Legal, Procurement, and other internal and external partners.
• Maintain regulatory compliance tracking systems, environmental document repositories, and contract administration records.
• Prepare presentations, briefings, dashboards, and reports for internal leadership, community stakeholders, and state and federal agencies.
• Support procurement for environmental, engineering, and technical service contracts, including RFP/RFQ development, evaluations, negotiations, and consultant management.
• Monitor budgets, track expenditures, and support grant or federal funding compliance.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks affecting environmental approvals, permitting timelines, and marine operations impacting channel navigation and dredging.
• Mentor project coordinators and junior PMs and support cross department alignment.
• Act in accordance with Port Houston core values (respect, excellence, accountability, diligence, and you)
• Perform other duties, as required

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or closely related field in a public or accredited private academic institution required. Master's degree preferred.
• 15+ years of related Federal and State regulatory, environmental, and project management experience.
• Previous and comprehensive marine, channel navigation, and dredging NEPA processes, environmental documentation and permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Demonstrated experience working with USACE processes, coastal/environmental permitting, environmental documentation, channel navigation, or federally funded infrastructure programs preferred.
• Experience managing marine, channel navigation, and dredging contracts or task orders for environmental, engineering, or technical consulting services.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to tailor communications to technical, regulatory, and public audiences.
• Understanding port design, dredging, navigation channel operations, or maritime project delivery is a strong plus.
• Ability to analyze data, derive insights, and make informed decisions.
• Experience with pipeline relocation planning, coordination, and management preferred.

License/Certification:

• Texas Professional Engineer (PE) preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or related project leadership credential preferred
• A current valid Texas driver's license or ability to obtain within 30 days required
• Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) must be obtained within 30 days of appointment and be maintained for the duration of employment
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Behaviors:
• Knowledge of Environmental Science and Management.
• Knowledge of the Clean Water Act (Sections 404 and 401), Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (Sections 9, 10, and 14), Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and other related federal rules.
• Knowledge of Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and Oil Pollution Act.
• Understands processes, procedures, and organization for key agencies including U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, General Land Office, and other related federal and state agencies.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental regulations.
• Knowledge of Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-Know Act.
• Ability to lead by example and inspire others.

Key Competencies Required:

• Aligning Performance for Success
• Building Partnerships
• Strategic Decision Making
• Technical Analysis
• Creativity and Innovation
• Leadership Presence
• Leading Through Vision and Values
• Politically Astute

This work site location of this job is:

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to open office environment noise level may occasionally be high. To apply, please go to porthouston.com/careers. Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.
Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job.It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

We appreciate your interest in Port Houston. Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Port Houston also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Application must be completed in full.