Manager - Engineering Harbor

THE PORT OF LONG BEACH IS SEEKING A MANAGER OF ENGINEERING

(This is an at-will position)

 Salary Range: $158,700.085 - $222,180.536

ABOUT US

The Port of Long Beach, one of the world's busiest seaports, is an international gateway for the reliable, efficient, and sustainable movement of goods and is a leader in environmental stewardship. Credited with moving approximately $300 billion in trade, the Port serves as a critical hub for international commerce and is a major transportation center. East Asian trade accounts for the bulk of Long Beach shipments. Port-related international trade has a wide-ranging economic impact, supporting millions of jobs that benefit the region and the country.

THE TEAMS

The Construction Management Division is one of six specialized divisions within the Engineering Services Bureau and plays a critical role in bringing the Port’s vision to life. This team leads the delivery of construction projects on behalf of the Port, from large-scale capital improvements to fast-paced on-call task orders. Construction Management professionals collaborate closely with contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to keep projects on schedule and within budget, while upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. By transforming plans and designs into real-world infrastructure, the division helps keep the Port operating efficiently, sustainably, and competitively on a global scale.

THE ROLE

Under the strategic leadership of the Assistant Director of Construction Management, the Manager of Engineering plays a critical role in overseeing the successful planning, delivery, and administration of the Port's Capital Improvement Program and other strategic engineering initiatives. This position provides leadership to construction, and delivery of complex infrastructure projects, while ensuring quality, regulatory compliance, fiscal accountability, and alignment with the Port's long-term strategic objectives. The Manager of Engineering Services leads and develops a high-performing team of engineering professionals, oversees consultant and construction contract administration, manages project resources and budgets, and provides executive-level support through Board reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement. By fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement, the Manager of Engineering ensures the successful execution of engineering programs that enhance the Port's infrastructure, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

CANDIDATE CONNECT (INFORMATION SESSION)

To learn more about this exciting career opportunity and the Port of Long Beach, please join our virtual information session on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, @ 5:00 pm PDT via MS Teams. This is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about the position, speak directly with hiring leaders, ask questions, and learn why the Port of Long Beach is your employer of choice! Candidates are not required to be on camera. To join audio only, call +1 323-451-1087, Phone Conference ID: 480 687 042#Click here to join the meeting. 

HOW YOU GET TO CONTRIBUTE:

• Direct staff in performing their daily responsibilities; interview and recommend employees for hire; train, coach, and mentor staff; evaluate employee performance; prepare annual performance reviews and provide coaching for performance improvement; take disciplinary action to address performance or other deficiencies.
• Assist the Director and Assistant Director with managing the division; establish staff work schedules; plan and allocate office space for staff; assist with preparing the division's annual personnel and non-personnel budgets; oversee resource planning and management; establish, adopt, enforce, and implement the organization's policies and procedures.
• Advise the Assistant Director on developing division strategic initiatives for implementing the Port’s Capital Improvement Projects and other initiatives.
• Represent the Director and/or Assistant Director as requested at senior staff meetings, Board of Harbor Commissioner Meetings, or for queries from senior Port staff; signing correspondence, invoices, and other documents as needed.
• Supervise sections to oversee multiple Capital Improvement Programs, projects, and initiatives and ensure effective development and/or delivery.   
• Oversee the construction of Capital Improvement Projects and contract administration including review submittals, project progress reports.
• Oversee and train staff in the administration of consultant contracts: In coordination with Central Procurement Services, prepares solicitation documents such as Requests For Proposal and Requests for Statements of Qualifications to hire consultants to complete assigned projects; reviews statements of qualification; prepares short-list of most qualified firms; conducts interviews of the short-listed consultants as part of a panel and chooses consultants; negotiates fees; administers consultant contracts; initiates and reviews consultant contract amendments; reviews and validates consultant invoices; controls scope, schedule, cost, and terms.
• Perform day-to-day administrative approval functions for items such as staff work schedules, leave requests, electronic timecards, purchase orders, invoices, and cash reimbursements and train staff to perform the same.
• Develop and review Board memoranda, executive reports, and talking points, approving them before submission to the Director; attend Board of Harbor Commissioner meetings and make presentations as required; train staff to prepare Board and executive reports and make presentations to the Board of Harbor Commissioners as required.
• Prepare and review correspondence to third parties, including consultants, other agencies, and stakeholders.
• Oversees the quality assurance during construction; make recommendations for improvement; ensure the incorporation of corrections.
• Direct the completion of project status reports; verify all pertinent information is provided; forward these reports summarizing project status, activity, and issues to the Division Director and Assistant Director.
• Review and maintain the Comprehensive Project List, which summarizes all active, planned, and potential projects managed by the Engineering Services Bureau; verify the accuracy of information; monitor assigned projects for strategic alignment; monitor the workload of assigned sections and recommend project initiations or project holds accordingly.
• Develop workload management plans, manage the workload of subordinates and assigned sections, and bring support as needed to execute assigned projects and programs; recommend staffing adjustments to manage assigned projects; maintain good communication on staffing needs with management.
• Manage and coordinate grant assessment and implementation for the Engineering Bureau: monitors available grants and evaluates applicability to engineering projects; prepares and/or oversees application process; coordinates with Division management, Bureau management, and the Grant Review Committee; assures implementation of grant requirements in the contract documents and in the project delivery processes; assures compliance with grant requirements to qualify for reimbursement; oversees associated audits.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field is required.
• Registration as a Professional Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineer in California is required.   
• Five or more years of increasingly responsible engineering experience working with Port/Harbor, transportation, or related projects of similar scale and complexity, which must be done as a registered Professional Engineer in a supervisory capacity with direct reports. This qualifying experience must have been attained after successful graduation with a degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field OR after passing the Professional Engineers examination.
• A minimum of three years of experience is required, specifically in the direct supervision of at least two engineers. It's crucial to note that experience overseeing the work of consultants while employed by a public entity does not fulfill this supervisory requirement.
• Must have experience in project management, construction management, and/or technical design. 
• Must have previous experience managing projects and budgets.
• Willingness to work an irregular schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays. 
• Ability to travel to work-related events, including off-site meetings and conferences.

TECHNICAL SKILLS NEEDED:

• Thorough knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of engineering design and construction is required.
• Wide knowledge of design and construction practices related to Port infrastructure and municipal public work projects is required.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, techniques, and common materials and equipment used in the design, construction, and maintenance of various engineering projects is required.
• Knowledge of components of construction plans and specifications is required.
• Knowledge of project management methods and practices for planning, budgeting, scheduling, monitoring project performance, and evaluating results is required. 
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License to perform work-related duties.

DESIRABLE:

• A Master’s degree in a discipline related to Program Management or Engineering Design; advanced coursework in a discipline related to Program Management or Engineering Design; or professional certifications in Program Management.
• Possession of the following professional certifications: Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Program or Project Management Professional (PgMP or PMP), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), or Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP).
• Knowledge of maritime, construction, government, and engineering terminology.
• Experience contracting with and managing consultants.
• Experience with program management software, such as Primavera Unifier.
• Prior port, public transportation agency, or municipality experience.

You will need strong negotiation skills, political savvy, excellent client/customer relations skills, and exceptional public speaking/presentation skills to thrive. You must also establish and maintain effective working relationships with various employees, vendor representatives, officials, and Port management.

If you require accommodation because of a disability to participate in any phase of the application/selection process, please call (562) 283-7500 or email Careers@polb.com.

The final filing date for this recruitment is Friday, August 7, 2026 @ 11:59 pm PDT.  

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume with your application in PDF format.

Individuals who are most qualified for the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a work-related assessment to evaluate candidate qualifications further. References will be completed for finalist candidates; an employment offer is contingent on conducting a comprehensive background check.

The Port reserves the right to extend the closing date without notice in order to accept additional applications. Those individuals determined to be most qualified for the position will be invited to participate in the selection process.  

THE BENEFITS:

The Port of Long Beach has established an annual salary range of $158,700.085 - $222,180.536

(placement depends on qualifications). An attractive package of executive-level benefits is included with the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse and dynamic areas of the United States:

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 or https://www.longbeach.gov/hr/about-us/talent-acquisition/the-fair-chance-act/.

The Port of Long Beach is a Fair 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. www.polb.com