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Client Development Director

Sarasota, Florida, United States

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm. We plan, design, permit, mitigate, and restore for projects across our communities, infrastructure systems, open spaces, and wildlands. We are 50 years strong in 21 offices across California, the Pacific Northwest, and the Southeastern United States.

Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is seeking a strategic, client-focused Client Development Director to join our senior leadership team. This is a high-impact role responsible for leading client and business development strategy across multiple market sectors and practices, both regionally and firmwide. The ideal candidate is a seasoned business development professional with deep industry knowledge, a strong network, and a passion for driving growth through meaningful client engagement. This is predominantly an external, client-facing role focused on attracting new clients and expanding ESA’s project and contract opportunities. Your success will be driven by your expertise, your network of business, industry, and agency contacts, and your proactive engagement in federal environmental regulatory policy, legislation, and funding. You will translate this insight into actionable intelligence for ESA and our clients. The utilization (billable hours) expectation for this role is 50%. This position will be based in Sarasota, FL.

Who You Are 

  • 15-20+ years of professional experience in a relevant field.
  • 10+ years of experience in client targeting, acquisition, and retention.
  • Graduate degree in environmental science, planning, or a related interdisciplinary field.
  • Proven leadership in business development and strategic growth.
  • Strong organizational, communication, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to pass federal and state background checks for project-based assignments.

What You Will Do for ESA

As a Client Development Director, you will:

  • Provide strategic business development leadership for your region, with influence and collaboration extending across the firm.
  • Partner with regional and firmwide leadership to plan and drive strategic growth initiatives.
  • Lead the development and execution of an annual strategic growth and client development action plan in collaboration with the Regional Director and other business development leaders.
  • Work independently with limited direction from executive leadership, Practice Leaders, and Regional Directors.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth

  • Lead strategic pursuits, go/no-go decisions, and key capture planning.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to align business development strategies with ESA’s 5-Year Strategic Plan.
  • Drive initiatives to improve project acquisition processes and profitability.

Client Engagement & Market Expansion

  • Cultivate and expand relationships with key clients, industry partners, and agencies.
  • Identify and pursue new markets, geographies, and service areas.
  • Represent ESA at industry events, conferences, and professional associations.

Team Collaboration & Mentorship

  • Mentor and coach staff on business development best practices.
  • Support strategic hiring and retention efforts.
  • Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

  • Champion equitable and inclusive practices in client development and team collaboration.
  • Engage in community and ESA-sponsored diversity initiatives.
  • Foster partnerships with disadvantaged business enterprises.

What’s Special About ESA

Joining ESA means becoming part of a close-knit team of environmental professionals who contribute to outstanding projects, improve environmental stewardship, and advance a more sustainable and resilient future for our communities and wild places.

At ESA, we provide benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance (paid at 70% for you AND your family), annual allocations of company share through our ESOP, a 401(k) plan with company match, and paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays, to name a few.

We also provide specific programs whether you want to further your technical expertise, sharpen your business acumen, or help lead the next generation of employee-owners. We want to support you in reaching your career goals through tuition reimbursement, professional development bonuses, and attendance at conferences.

 

Who We Are 

We are a 100% employee-owned environmental consulting firm who values diversity and inclusion and celebrate the differences that make each of us unique. Our culture is built on mutual respect, recognizing that our variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives leads to better solutions, which fosters our continued success for our employee-owners and clients. 

In accordance with ESA’s duty and responsibility to provide and maintain a safe workplace that is free of known hazards and to minimize the exposure to potential hazards, any employee who works from an ESA office or conducts any other in-person ESA work-related activity is required to submit their proof of vaccination status or have received an approved exemption and accommodation in states which this applies. 

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability—or unable to use—the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact our Human Resources Department via email: humanresources@esassoc.com for assistance.

 Please include the following in your message so we can promptly address your request:

  • Full name
  • The best method to contact you (phone number and/or email address)
  • Title of Job Position Applied
  • Description of your accommodation request

 

ESA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. (EOE M/V/F/D) 

 

 

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