General Manager, Fleet Operations

Job Title: General Manager, Fleet Operations (Self-Perform)
Location: Sarasota, FL, with significant travel to company fleet yards, maintenance shops, disaster-response locations, and project sites, including Houston and Minnesota. Travel is expected to exceed 50%.
Reports to: President, Ceres Environmental Services, Inc.
Compensation Range: $175,000 - $210,000.
Other Compensation: Eligible for annual performance bonus
Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, relocation assistance, and travel opportunities

The Ceres Commitment

Ceres Environmental Services is a national leader in crisis management, rapid response, and disaster recovery, committed to rebuilding stronger, safer communities. Since 1976, Ceres has been awarded over $3.2 billion in government-funded contracts by helping people when they need it most.

We specialize in emergency response, environmental services, planning, and consulting, including debris removal, temporary roofing repairs, 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 rebuilding stronger.

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

The General Manager of Ceres Self-Performance Fleet Operations is the senior operational leader responsible for managing Ceres trucking fleet, field operations, strategy, and growth. This role requires a hands-on leader with deep knowledge of trucking, logistics, equipment utilization, field operations, and disaster recovery, capable of driving operational excellence, strengthening accountability, maximizing fleet utilization, and delivering profitable financial performance.

This position:

• Serves as the field facing operational leader for Ceres self-performing fleet, reporting directly to the President of Ceres Environmental Services.
• Manages drivers, operators, foremen, groundmen, supervisors, and other field support personnel assigned to our self-performance operations.
• Will be considered successful in the first 12 months by increasing fleet utilization, reducing downtime, strengthening cost and performance tracking, growing revenue toward $12M , and building a culture of accountability and safety.

What You Will Do

• Develop and execute a strategic plan to maximize fleet utilization, field productivity, equipment readiness, and company profitability.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and high performance.
• Oversee daily operational support, ensuring that self-loading Knuckle Boom trucks, walking floor trailers, loading equipment and other assets achieve high utilization rates, strengthened productivity, and minimal downtime.
• Coordinate daily with Ceres operations, project managers, dispatch, equipment, safety, and field leadership to ensure self-performing resources are deployed where they create the greatest operational value.
• Partner with affiliated leaders to identify and pursue new revenue streams in disaster recovery and environmental services.
• Manage allocation and deployment of trucks across project sites, ensuring compliance with DOT and federal/state regulations.
• Partner with the equipment department for repairs, maintenance, readiness, and reliability.
• Manage budgets, P&L, and monthly reporting on truck revenue, expenses, and fuel performance.
• Hire, mentor, and retain, and hold accountable drivers, foremen, and operators; build a strong leadership pipeline.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, government agencies, municipalities, and affiliated partners.
• Represent Ceres Self-Performance in operational meetings, client discussions, at conferences, industry events, and other public forums.
• Implement safety and risk management programs to protect financial, operational, and reputational assets.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Logistics, Transportation, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 10 years’ experience in trucking, logistics, disaster recovery, or a closely related industry.
• 5 years in a management, operational leadership role overseeing fleets, logistics, or other asset-intensive operations.
• Proven track record of managing $5M in profitable annual revenue with full P&L accountability.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software, including strong working knowledge of Excel and other utilization tracking software, cost reporting, budgeting, and operational performance.
• Experience leading multi-site operations and supervising diverse teams, including drivers, foremen, and operational staff.
• Strong financial acumen, including expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and operational reporting, fuel performance, utilization, downtime, and repair costs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in high-pressure, disaster recovery or emergency response environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills across internal teams and external stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• CDL or in-depth knowledge of trucking operations.
• Experience in disaster recovery contracting or government-funded projects.
• Experience managing owned fleet assets, self-performing crews, equipment operators, and multi-site field operations.
• Previous responsibility for 20 employees
• History of growing revenues and profits
• Advanced degree (MBA or similar).
• Experience scaling operations (in revenue).

What to Expect

This role is fast-paced, hands-on, and mission-driven. The General Manager will spend significant time both in Sarasota headquarters and in the field, traveling frequently (50% ) to project sites across the U.S. The position requires availability for urgent and emergency response, including nights and weekends during disaster recovery events.

You can expect a collaborative, purpose-driven culture, but also high expectations around accountability, compliance, safety, field presence, and operational results. Success means building trust with drivers, foremen, clients, and leadership while ensuring fleet and self-performance operations are efficient, profitable, and sustainable.

Physical Requirements and Environment

• Ability to stand, walk, sit, climb, and balance in varying conditions.
• Willingness to wear PPE (hard hat, protective eyewear, steel-toed boots, etc.).
• Ability to work in challenging environments, including adverse weather, elevated or confined spaces, extreme temperatures, and noisy surroundings.
• Commitment to following strict safety 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 opportunity to build and lead a disciplined self-performance operation that directly supports field execution, fleet readiness, and emergency response missions when communities need help the most.
• 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.

Salary : $175,000 - $210,000