Salary : $116,956.00 - $206,553.00 Annually
Location : 101 Monroe St Rockville MD 20850 USA
Job Type: Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Department of General Services
Division: DGS 36 Building Design and Construction
Opening Date: 09/11/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Exempt

About the Position

Please note: The salary range above represents this position's earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $116,956 to $203,245, based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

The Department of General Services is seeking a Division Chief to lead the Division of Building Design & Construction (DBDC). Reporting directly to the Deputy Director, this senior executive will be responsible for directing the County's strategy for development, construction, capital project delivery, and long-term asset execution.

The Division Chief will oversee the full lifecycle of capital development projects-including site identification, feasibility analysis, entitlement, design, financing, construction, turnover, and stabilization. This role provides strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of projects to ensure safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery aligned with County policies and long-term strategic objectives. The position requires strong decision-making skills, effective risk management, and a commitment to excellence in safety, quality, and performance.

This leader will guide teams of professional architects, engineers, and construction management staff, while managing relationships with third-party architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, client departments, community members, and other key stakeholders.
What You'll Be Doing
Capital Project Leadership

• Lead the planning, design, and construction of a large portfolio of Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects ranging from several million dollars to over $100 million each.
• Oversee approximately $1 billion in active projects annually, ensuring quality delivery of an average of 30 completed projects per year.
• Provide executive oversight of all construction activities across the County's capital improvement portfolio.
• Establish project delivery standards, processes, controls, and best practices.
• Oversee the performance of general contractors, construction managers, architects, engineers, and specialty consultants.
• Ensure projects meet approved budgets, schedules, quality standards, and design objectives.
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify and mitigate cost, schedule, quality, and execution risks.
• Lead resolution of major construction issues, disputes, change orders, and claims.
• Ensure appropriate safety, insurance, compliance, and risk-management practices are maintained.
• Coordinate extensively with permitting and regulatory authorities such as M-NCPPC, Department of Permitting Services, WSSC Water, PEPCO, Washington Gas, local municipalities, and state and federal agencies.

Financial & Operational Management

• Establish and manage annual development and construction budgets.
• Monitor project-level financials, commitments, contingencies, and forecasts.
• Review and approve major contracts, change orders, purchase orders, and project expenditures within delegated authority.
• Work closely with Finance, Procurement and Legal to ensure financial discipline and accurate reporting.
• Lead annual coordination between departments and Management and Budget in updating the Capital Improvement Program
• Develop executive-level reporting on portfolio performance, project risks, capital requirements, and expected returns.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Serve as a senior representative of the Department with contractors, consultants, municipalities, and community stakeholders.
• Routinely meet with client department leadership to ensure clear and consistent communication on key projects and schedules
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key external partners.
• Participate in committees, task forces, work groups, and other discussions as assigned regarding development and construction activities.
• Negotiate major agreements and terms with strategic partners and project stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities include:

• Researching, developing, and implementing new policies, procedures, protocols, standards, and process manuals for design and construction.
• Conducting forensic analyses of design and construction processes; creating facility design guidelines; developing improved budgeting and project management methods; and producing tools that support project managers and consultants. The role also serves as a technical leader in green building and sustainability, provides reviews and testimony on policies affecting CIP, and participates in public presentations to explain County policies and CIP projects.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree.

Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in architecture, engineering, project management, design and construction, three years of which were in a supervisory or executive capacity.

License: Possession of valid class "C" or equivalent driver's license from the applicant's state of residence.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

• Bachelor's degree in construction management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, Business, or a related field. (MBA, MS degree, LEED and PMP certification preferred)
• 10-15+years of progressive experience in real estate development, construction, capital projects, or a related industry.
• 7+ years of senior leadership experience with responsibility for large-scale development or construction portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects from concept through completion.
• Proven track record managing significant construction budgets and multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong understanding of development, entitlement, design, contracting, procurement, construction, and project finance.
• Experience managing general contractors, design professionals, consultants, and internal project teams.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse groups through complex projects and rapidly changing business environments.
• Familiarity with project management software (BIM360)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.

All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.

This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.

If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.

Leave Benefits

Our generous leave package starts with non-MLS permanent and term employees earning 15 days of sick leave and 15 days of annual leave in their first year, as well as up to three additional personal days each calendar year. Positions in MLS earn 35 days of paid time off each year. In addition, we offer all employees 10 paid holidays. Our leave policies adhere to the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, and we provide six weeks of paid parental leave for new parents.

Retirement Benefits

All permanent and term positions are eligible for robust retirement plans. Public safety positions are eligible for a defined benefit pension plan in which they are vested after only five years. Employees in non-public safety positions can participate in retirement plans that contribute up to 12 percent of their annual salary. All employees can also participate in a supplemental retirement plan, the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, to contribute even more to their retirement goals.

Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Forgiveness

Montgomery County employees are eligible to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Participants who meet all requirements may qualify for forgiveness on the remaining balance on their Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in a qualifying public service position. To learn more about PSLF, please visit the Student Loan Repayment Benefits page. Our tuition assistance program allows you to receive up to $2,130 annually in tuition assistance to help you achieve a degree that supports your career path.

Free Mass Transit Benefit

County employees are entitled to use the RideOn Bus service for free with a valid County-employee ID. This benefit can be used any time of the day or evening, including weekends. We also offer a pre-tax flexible spending account to reduce the cost of other mass-transit options such as MARC trains and Metro.

Reduced Child and Health Care Costs

Working for Montgomery County also entitles permanent and term employees to participate in healthcare and childcare Flexible Spending Accounts. These plans allow eligible employees to save on a pretax basis for healthcare and dependent care costs incurred during the plan year.

Employee Wellbeing

We deeply care about your holistic wellness. Our award-winning wellness program, LiveWell, will support you in improving and maintaining your physical, mental, financial, social, and intellectual well-being.

Learn more about our wonderful benefits available to you once you join our team. Montgomery County Benefits
01

What is your highest level of completed education?

• N/A
• High School/GED
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Juris Doctor
• Doctorate

02

Do you have a bachelor's degree in construction management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, Business, or a related field?

• Yes
• no

03

If you have a bachelor's degree, an MBA, or MS, what is the degree in? If no degree, type N/A.
04

If you have a certification such as LEED, PMP, or similar, what is it? If no relevant certifications, type N/A.
05

How many years of progressively professional experience do you have in architecture, engineering, project management, design and construction?

• No Experience
• 1-4 Year's Experience
• 5 Year's Experience
• 6 Year's Experience
• 7 Year's Experience
• 8 Year's Experience
• 9 Year's Experience
• 10 Year's Experience
• 11+ Year's Experience

06

Of the relevant years of experience you have, were three or more of those years in a supervisory or executive capacity?

• Yes
• No

07

Do you possess and currently maintain a VALID driver's license from your state of residence?

• Yes
• No

08

Do you have 10-15+ years of progressive experience in real estate development, construction, capital projects, or a related industry?

• Yes
• No

09