Job Title: Director, Human Resources
Location: Sarasota, FL (in office, 5 days a week)
Reports to: CEO
Compensation Range: $190,000 - $240,000 annually (depending on location, experience, skills, and qualifications)
Other Compensation: Eligible for discretionary executive bonus.
Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and travel opportunities.
The Ceres Commitment
Ceres Environmental Services is a leader in crisis management, rapid response, and disaster recovery, committed to rebuilding stronger, safer communities. Founded in 1976, Ceres has secured more than $3.4 billion in government-funded contracts, reflecting decades of trust in bringing hope during times of need.
We specialize in emergency response, environmental services, planning, and consulting, including debris removal, blue roofs, logistics, debris management, demolition, recycling, forest management, and coastal and marine restoration. As a licensed general contractor, we offer unparalleled expertise to restore stability where it’s needed most.
Driven by Purpose, Powered by People
At Ceres, 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, 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
We’re hiring a Director, Human Resources who is the senior-most HR position at Ceres and a key member of the senior leadership team. Working directly with and aligned to the CEO, this strategic leader serves as the subject matter expert who sets the vision and direction for the Human Resources function across the entire Ceres family of companies. This role contributes to Ceres’ productivity and competitive advantage through proficient, forward-looking administration of all HR operations.
This is a people-leadership role that oversees HR across multiple states, countries and entities. Success in the first 12 months means establishing trusted partnerships with the CEO and executive team, standardizing and strengthening HR policies and compliance across all entities, and delivering an integrated approach to talent, compensation, and total rewards that supports Ceres’ mission of helping communities recover and rebuild.
What You Will Do
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Serve as the senior-most human resources leader and strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team, shaping people strategy that advances the Ceres family of companies’ mission and growth.
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Provide HR leadership across all Ceres entities and locations—including offices in California, Florida, Minnesota, and Texas, as well as international operations ensuring a consistent, unified approach.
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Lead, mentor, and develop a geographically distributed HR team across multiple states.
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Develop, update, and enforce company policies, procedures, handbooks, employment agreements, and independent contractor contracts, ensuring consistent application across all entities.
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Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, with particular attention to Department of Labor regulations for federal contractors, workers’ compensation, and federal civil rights requirements.
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Direct compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategy, including the analysis, maintenance, and oversight of all employee benefit programs.
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Partner with the leadership team on talent management, workforce planning, organizational development, and succession planning.
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Advise and counsel management on employee relations, labor relations, and complex HR matters, exercising sound judgment, discretion, and integrity.
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Develop HR financial strategies by forecasting requirements, anticipating trends and variances, and aligning resources with organizational goals.
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Champion Ceres’ values and culture, maintain accurate and efficient human resource records and systems, and apply technology to business-critical HR initiatives.
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
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15+ years of progressive global HR leadership experience with proven expertise across compensation, benefits, employee relations, labor relations, and organizational development.
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Demonstrated track record as a trusted advisor to senior executives on talent management, compensation, and total rewards.
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Working knowledge of federal contractor requirements, DOL regulations, workers’ compensation, and federal civil rights laws.
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Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills, both oral and written.
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Ability to travel up to 25% and to self-deploy to project locations or Ceres sites as business demands.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (e.g., MBA or master’s in HR) and/or senior HR certification (SPHR or SHRM-SCP).
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Experience in the disaster response, construction, mining, demolition, or defense industries.
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Experience as an executive business partner supporting C-suite leadership across a multi-entity organization.
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Proficiency leveraging HR technology and systems to drive strategic, business-critical initiatives.
What to Expect
This is a high-impact, high-visibility executive role supporting a fast-paced, mission-driven organization that responds to disasters when communities need help most. You can expect to partner daily with the CEO and senior leaders, balancing strategic priorities with hands-on problem solving across a diverse, multi-entity, multi-state and global workforce. The role requires sound judgment, flexibility, and the instinct to self-deploy to project sites or Ceres locations as operational demands arise, with travel of up to 25%. During active disaster-response events the pace can accelerate quickly, calling for urgency, resilience, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset.
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.
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Ability to travel up to 25%, including to project locations and Ceres sites, sometimes on short notice.
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Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, with specific vision abilities including close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
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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.
