Description

Director of Operations, Ceres Forestry Services

• Location: Salt Lake City, UT, Fort Collins, CO, Boise, ID, Missoula, MT, or Washington D.C.
  (Requires residence in or relocation to a listed location; onsite work when not traveling)
• Reports to:  President, Ceres Forestry Services
• Compensation Range: $160,000.00 - $220,000.00 per year, eligible for discretionary bonus
• Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, 401 (k) with company match, paid time off, and travel opportunities.

What We Are Looking For

The Director of Operations for Ceres Forestry Services is a senior, hands-on operational leader responsible for the execution, performance, safety, and day-to-day functioning of the forestry division. The President of Ceres Forestry Services, in collaboration with the CEO, sets strategy and investment direction; this role ensures that strategy is translated into consistent, executable field operations.

This leader is accountable for operational outcomes, safety, compliance, people performance, and reporting. The role requires deep engagement with field leaders, strong cross-functional coordination, and active partnership with the Director of Business Planning and the Director of Business Development to ensure growth commitments are operationally sound and executable.

What You Will Do

Operational Leadership & Execution

• Lead and oversee day-to-day forestry operations to ensure safe, compliant, efficient, and predictable execution.
• Translate the strategy and priorities into clear operational plans, production targets, and execution rhythms.
• Ensure alignment across field operations, equipment, shop, safety, HR, and support functions.
• Identify operational gaps, inefficiencies, and risks; drive corrective actions decisively.
• Actively support site-level leadership and engage with field personnel to support their mission-critical work.

Performance Management & Reporting

• Own operational performance outcomes and provide regular, structured reporting to the President.
• Track and report on production, utilization, staffing levels, safety metrics, and key operational KPIs.
• Establish consistent operating cadence, dashboards, and accountability mechanisms.
• Proactively surface execution risks, constraints, and recommendations.

People Leadership & Organizational Scaling

• Directly lead and develop senior managers and operational leaders.
• Build, structure, and scale teams to support current operations and future growth.
• Own hiring plans and labor budgets aligned with operational demand.
• Set clear performance expectations and hold leaders accountable for results.
• Coach leaders to strengthen execution discipline, communication, and field leadership capability.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Lead safety performance across all forestry operations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, environmental, and company safety requirements.
• Drive a culture of accountability, preparedness, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure teams are properly trained, resourced, and equipped. 

Proposals, Pricing & Business Development Support

• Partner closely with Business Planning and Business Development to support pricing decisions, staffing assumptions, and execution planning.
• Provide operational input during proposal development and review to ensure scope, schedules, and cost assumptions are realistic.
• Partner with the President on go / no-go decisions, providing clear operational risk and feasibility assessments.
• Ensure all operational commitments made during pursuits are executable in the field.
• Participate in new business opportunities, including client meetings, site walks, and pursuit planning, as needed.

Cross-Functional & Executive Alignment

• Work closely with the President to ensure operational readiness aligns with strategic priorities.
• Collaborate with HR, Equipment, Safety, and other internal teams to support execution and growth.
• Act as the operational bridge between strategy, pursuits, and field delivery.

Travel

• Domestic travel required to:
  • Oversee and support field operations
  • Participate in business development and proposal efforts 
  • Align regularly with the President.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• +15 years of progressive leadership experience in forest management, wildfire mitigation, environmental services, logging, or similar field- intensive industries.
• Proven success leading complex, multi-site or multi-state operations.
• Strong people-focused leader with experience scaling teams and holding leaders accountable.
• Deep understanding of safety, compliance, and operational risk management.
• Clear, confident communicator able to operate effectively from the field to the executive level.
• Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resources, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting proposals, pricing reviews, and business development efforts.
• Familiarity with federal, state, or utility-driven forestry and environmental work.
• MBA/Masters

What to Expect

This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in the field, partners effectively with business planning and business development, and ensures growth commitments can be delivered safely and successfully. You are execution-driven, people-focused, and motivated by building a disciplined, high-performing forestry organization aligned to a clear strategic vision.

Why Join Ceres Forestry Services? 

At Ceres Forestry, you won’t just have a job, you’ll have a mission. Your expertise will directly impact how we win projects, deliver results, and protect communities through responsible forest management. 

We offer: 

• A collaborative, mission-driven culture.
• Opportunities to influence both operations and business development.
• The chance to make a lasting difference in forestry management and community resilience. 

Ceres Forestry Services 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 or expression, national origin, religion, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law 

Work Authorization 

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Ceres Forestry Services does not sponsor employmentbased visas for this position unless stated otherwise. 

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