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Salary Range **$170,000.00 - $190,000.00 Salary/year**

Category **Corporate**

Senior Utility Operations & Business Development Manager

**_Job Title:_** _Senior Utility Operations & Business Development Manager_

**_Location:_** _Sarasota, FL_

**_Reports to:_** _David McIntyre_

**_Compensation Range:_** _$170,000 - $190,000 annually (depending on location, experience, skills, and qualifications)_

**_Other Compensation:_** _Eligible for discretionary bonus_

**_Benefits:_** _Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and travel opportunities_

The Ceres Global Commitment

Open Doors Secure Millions Rebuild Communities.

Ceres Global is a network of companies delivering integrated solutions in infrastructure, power, environmental services, and community resilience. Founded in 1976, Ceres has grown from a Midwest operation to a global enterprise with nine offices across the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, India, and New Zealand.

With $2 billion in bonded project capacity and nearly 50 years of experience, Ceres Global serves clients worldwide through specialized units in disaster recovery, electrical infrastructure, power generation, heavy civil construction, environmental restoration, and materials recovery. These units operate as one cohesive force, combining local insight, shared resources, and global expertise to create lasting impact.

Driven by Purpose, Powered by People

At Ceres Global, we believe you’re more than just an employee; you’re part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope and helping communities recover and rebuild.

We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you’ll fit right in. We don’t just respond to challenges; we rise to them.

What We Are Looking For

Ceres Environmental Services is standing up Ceres Utilities, a growth-focused division dedicated to expanding our utility vegetation-management footprint nationally and internationally.

We are seeking a strategic leader to serve as the bridge between utility customers and field operations, leveraging deep relationships and operational expertise to support current projects and drive expansion into new utility partnerships This role is critical to both supporting field operations and advancing our vision for expansion into additional utility markets Success in the first 12 months will be measured by the establishment of new utility relationships, successful support of field operations, and progress toward standing up new utility projects.

What You Will Do

+ Build, maintain, and leverage relationships with utility VM, procurement, wildfire mitigation, and operations leadership.

+ Serve as the senior liaison between Ceres Utilities and utility customers, focusing on both current operations and new market entry.

+ Represent Ceres at industry events, pre-bid meetings, and vendor days to cultivate new opportunities and reinforce existing partnerships.

+ Develop and execute strategies for standing up new utility projects, including onboarding, registration, and pre-qualification.

+ Lead pursuit strategy for RFIs, RFPs, and negotiated work in coordination with estimating, safety, and operations teams.

+ Support pricing strategy, scope positioning, and teaming decisions to ensure bid readiness and compliance with utility requirements.

+ Act as the bridge between utility clients and field teams, ensuring operational alignment and delivery excellence.

+ Provide hands-on support for mobilization, startup, and ongoing field operations, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring commitments are met.

+ Support operational managers, production managers, and staff to optimize processes, drive efficiency, and maintain high standards of safety and quality.

+ Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and implement growth plans, identifying key targets and opportunities for expansion.

+ Monitor industry developments and identify potential opportunities for new utility partnerships.

+ Provide selective operational or business development support to forestry initiatives aligned with utility corridors or land-management programs, as needed.

Required Qualifications

+ 15+ years of experience in utility vegetation management, field operations, or related infrastructure services.

+ Bachelor’s degree or demonstrated equivalent experience in a related discipline.

+ Demonstrated success in utility relationship management, operational leadership, and strategic expansion.

+ Strong understanding of utility contracting, procurement, and operational execution.

+ Proven ability to operate credibly with both executive-level clients and field operations teams.

+ Willingness to travel extensively across multiple states.

+ ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ, CTSP, or equivalent certifications.

Preferred Qualifications

+ Experience working with IOUs, cooperatives, and/or municipal utilities.

+ Experience with industry software (e.g., Power BI, ArcGIS, VM Assign Work PROD, Arborgold).

+ Spanish language proficiency.

+ Experience supporting forestry initiatives aligned with utility corridors.

What to Expect

You will operate in a fast-paced, multi-state environment, splitting your time between supporting field operations and driving strategic expansion into new utility markets. You’ll be expected to travel frequently, engage with utility clients, and collaborate closely with both field teams and executive leadership. The role requires adaptability, initiative, and commitment to operational excellence and strategic growth.

Physical Requirements and Environment

Ceres provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. The physical requirements listed below reflect the essential functions of this role. If you need accommodation to perform these functions, please inform us during the application process.

+ Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.

+ Specific vision abilities to include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus where required to perform the job safely.

+ Willing to wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), including but not limited to hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, etc., in jobs that require PPE

+ Ability to work in adverse weather/field conditions, elevated spaces, confined spaces, extreme temperatures, exposure to mechanical parts, wet and/or humid conditions, high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock and vibration, and loud noise levels.

+ Commitment to following safety standards and protocols.

Why Join Ceres?

At Ceres, you won’t just have a job, you’ll have a mission. Your work will directly impact the speed and strength of community recovery after disasters.

We offer:

+ A collaborative, mission-driven culture.

+ Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

+ The chance to make a lasting difference for communities across the U.S.

Ceres Environmental is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability status, or protected veteran status.

E-Verify: We comply with Federal law by verifying employment eligibility.