The Senior Director (Chief Harbor Engineer) is responsible for overseeing the design, construction, and maintenance of the Port of Long Beach’s (Port) critical infrastructure, including piers, docks, roads, and terminal facilities, ensuring they meet operational, safety, and regulatory standards. As a key leader within the Harbor Department, the Chief Harbor Engineer manages and executes engineering projects while providing technical expertise and recommendations to senior Port officials. This role includes oversight of a significant $3.2 billion capital improvement program, which funds infrastructure development, modernization, and sustainability initiatives to maintain the Port's efficiency and competitiveness. The Chief Harbor Engineer ensures projects are completed on time, within budget, and in alignment with the Port’s long- term strategic goals.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
THE ROLE
The Chief Harbor Engineer is responsible for overseeing engineering functions related to the Port's infrastructure, operations, development and maintenance. It serves as an advisory role to the Harbor Commission and other city departments, offering recommendations on major infrastructure projects and their alignment with the Port's strategic goals.
How you get to contribute:
Provides leadership and directs overall operations of the Engineering Services Bureau to include oversight of the design, construction, maintenance, and improvement of the Port's infrastructure including piers, docks, wharfs, terminals, rail, roads, and bridges.
Oversees large-scale projects that involve port development and maintenance, ensuring the Port can accommodate the latest ships and handle cargo efficiently.
Establishes goals and objectives, measures performance, and ensures an effective, customer-oriented service level is attained.
Assists in recruiting, hiring and training staff to meet ongoing challenges and to strengthen the Bureau.
Assists the Managing Director in providing strategic direction for the Engineering Services Bureau in order to align its services and mission with the overall mission of the organization.
Leads efforts to identify and incorporate new technologies and sustainable practices into the Port's development, such as renewable energy projects or green infrastructure initiatives.
Consults and collaborates with division directors to determine their short and long-term needs and assists in designing processes that will be responsive to those needs; provides direction, information, and support all six divisions as needed.
Exercises broad independent engineering judgment and acts to resolve technical and administrative conflicts that may arise between the Bureau Divisions.
Reviews Board correspondence for the Engineering Bureau and makes presentations to the Board of Harbor Commissioners.
Builds and maintains positive relationships and serves as the focal point for outside correspondence with agencies, tenants and permitting authorities.
Plans and allocates Engineering Services Bureau resources in consultation with the Managing Director of Engineering to ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently.
Supplies technical expert assistance on engineering related issues for the Port.
Ensures the Port's infrastructure complies with environmental, safety and regulatory standards to include working with federal, state and local agencies to meet legal requirements.
Represents the Port at public meetings, industry associations, community events, and with other agencies.
Performs other duties as required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT Duties are mostly performed in a non-smoking office environment with minimal noise and frequent exposure to computer monitors and office equipment. Occasionally, work is performed in outdoor locations to include construction sites, marine terminals, and on any element of the port's infrastructure assets (i.e., waterways, terminals, railways, roadways and bridges). Must be able to travel to different locations to meet with customers and/or attend industry/community events, meetings, panels, and conferences during and after business hours, with the occasional overnight stay or international travel required.
REQUIREMENTS TO FILE:
What we are looking for... Required - A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Coastal Engineering or a related field is required. - Registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California is required. - Minimum ten years of increasingly responsible experience in engineering management with a strong emphasis on project planning, design, bidding, construction, survey, and maintenance for significant infrastructure assets, - Minimum five years of supervisory experience at a manager level or above. Desirables - Masters or advanced degree is a plus. - Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Maritime Port Executive (CMPE), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) or other applicable professional designations desirable. - Coastal engineering, marine engineering, and/or environmental engineering certifications desirable.
The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background handling progressively challenging engineering projects, supervising designs, reviewing construction and survey work, reviewing schedules and estimates, maintaining infrastructure assets, and resolving issues between teams of professional and technical managers. You must have knowledge of design, project management, construction management, project controls, surveying, and maintenance. To thrive, you will need to be flexible, strategic, innovative, and forward-thinking with excellent client/customer relation skills and exceptional public speaking/presentation skills. It is essential you have demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams and the ability to collaborate across departments to advance key initiatives and achieve the organization’s long-term strategic goals. This role requires the ability to acclimate quickly in a fast-paced environment of innovation and collaboration, and the willingness to employ creative solutions.
If you require an accommodation because of a disability in order to participate in any phase of the application/selection process, please contact (562) 283-7500, or email careers@polb.com.
The Port of Long Beach is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
The Port of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the Port of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
How do we start the conversation?
The final filing date for this recruitment is Friday, August 1, 2025, at 4:30 PM PST. The Port reserves the right to extend the closing without notice in order to accept additional applications.
To be considered for this extraordinary opportunity, you must submit as PDF attachments:
Proof of Registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of California;
A cover letter; and
A resumereflecting employment dates, name of organizations, and scope of responsibilities.
Incomplete submissions, or those that do not clearly meet minimum requirements will not be considered. Documents will be evaluated to determine the most qualified applicants. Submissions will only be accepted online at www.governmentjobs.com.
Individuals determined to be most qualified for the position will be invited to participate in a panel interview to further evaluate candidate qualifications. First and second round panel interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place the week(s) of August 4th and August 11th, 2025 (in-person). Candidates should ensure availability on all dates. The successful candidate will be appointed shortly thereafter.
THE BENEFITS
The Port of Long Beach has established an annual salary range of $209,140.067 - $292,792.755. Starting salary is determined by a combination of qualifications, professional experience, and internal equity considerations. An attractive package of executive level benefits is also included with the opportunity of working in one of the most diverse and dynamic areas of the United States.
The Port’s generous benefits package includes:
Auto Allowance– $550.00 per month.
Executive Leave– 40 hours per year.
Retirement– For new employees, the CalPERS retirement formula is 2.0% at 62, coordinated with Social Security. Currently, member contribution is 8.00% for CalPERS, and 6.2% for social security, paid by the employee. For employees with prior CalPERS status, Central Payroll will review and determine the formula. For prior employees with a break in service greater than six (6) months, this could be 2.0% at 62, coordinated with Social Security.
Vacation– Vacation is accrued at 3.7 hours per pay period to begin, which is equivalent to two weeks on an annual basis. Vacation can be used after six months of service. Vacation accrual increases at specific milestones of years of service.
Sick Leave– Accrued at 8 hours per month. Accruals may be converted upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums or retirement service credits.
Holidays– 11 scheduled holidays per calendar year and four (4) personal holidays.
Paid Parental Leave– After six (6) months of City employment, the City pays up to 30 consecutive days (160 hours) for eligible employees to take paid time to bond with child upon birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of 17.
Bereavement Leave– 5 days for death or critical illness of immediate family member.
Vacation Accrual for Prior Service– Vacation accrual rate may be adjusted to provide credit for previous full-time employment at a public service agency. Credit for public service shall only be given for completed years of service as a full-time permanent employee. Public Service credit does not apply to any other benefits.
Pay for Performance– Pay for Performance is awarded based on employee performance as demonstrated through achievement of individual goals, demonstration of required competencies, and available budget funds.
Deferred Compensation– City match of base salary for all qualified members.
Group Health Insurance– Medical and dental options (HMO and PPO). Free vision coverage.
Life Insurance– City-paid life insurance policy of $20,000 plus executive insurance benefit equal to three times annual salary up to a maximum of $500,000.
Disability Insurance– City-paid short- and long-term disability insurance.
Education Reimbursement– Tuition reimbursement available for employees to obtain additional education or training.
Annual Physical– Eligible to receive an annual physical examination at City expense through the City provided program.
Public Student Loan Forgiveness– As the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach, a governmental agency, the Port of Long Beach is a qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
529 College Savings Plan– The ScholarShare529 plan is an account that allows employees to invest specifically for future education expenses through the Long Beach City Employees Federal Credit Union. Funds can be used from your 529 savings plan to send your grandkids, kids, or even yourself, to any accredited public or private U.S. college or university – or two-year technical or vocational institution.
The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. With its deep-water, rail access, and ongoing investment in state-of-the-art facilities, the Port continues to be the preferred gateway for Asia-Pacific trade and an exemplary model for its environmental innovations and initiatives. The Port operates entirely on revenue generated from its operations and grants and is not funded by taxes or the City’s General Fund. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at more than $300 billion annually and supports 2.7 million jobs across the United States, including over 700,000 in Southern California. In 2025, the Port is celebrating “20 Years of Leading Green,” marking two decades of its landmark Green Port Policy that has dramatically reduced environmental impacts from operations. In 2024, industry leaders named Long Beach “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the sixth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $3.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
