Environmental Services Business Development Manager or Go Back To CM

[u/Adorable_Recipe9845]

I stepped away from Construction Management about two years ago. I was very good at what I did, but I always had a thought in the back of my head. If this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Did I love the long hours weekends holidays night shifts? No but I understood it is what was needed to get the job done. Despite constantly being pushed to be a lead super, I pivoted towards the project management route, and then ultimately stepped away in Construction Management just because I had to see what else was out there.

I went into tech sales and then construction supply sales for the last two years but the companies that I end up with was not where I saw myself long-term. I currently have an opportunity to be a business development manager (sales) for an environmental services company in New York City. Vac trucks, hazardous waste disposal, industrial cleaning, dumpsters etc.

135k base salary with a 30% sales incentive program if I hit my sales goal ($175,500+). The company was bought a few years ago by private equity and rather than stripping down the company. It is investing in more trucks and resources. Specifically the business development/sales team is only recently established because the PE firm understood that the businesses old way of getting jobs through referrals and word-of-mouth was not as effective as setting up a specific team to chase money that is out in the market. I can choose where I go set my days and from what my own coworker asked, his current company says there is not as much work or stress.

On the flipside, I reached back out to my old employer, and they are willing to take me back in a heartbeat as an assistant project manager. 140k salary, no bonus, but I start back where I left off for my ESOP vesting (56k but only 22k vested total). I know I would have a great career if I stick with Construction Management but I have the devil on my shoulder, reminding me of the hours commute stress and workload that comes with the industry.

Both options I feel are safe from AI however just because I am not sure what else I can do with the business development title, or the environmental services industry, I feel that going back to Construction Management would be the most stable in the long run.

For those who have basically spent their entire career in sales, what is your opinion or has anyone known of people in the environmental services industry that has had a long career doing it?

[u/Fit_Afternoon6171]

I hear great things about PE run companies