During his tenure in Nicaragua, Gutiérrez coordinated the U.S. relief effort following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in October 1998.

In 2007, Gutiérrez became CEO of Gutierrez Global LLC, a consulting firm specializing on strategic advice for corporations interested in investing in Latin America and Europe.

In December 2010, Gutiérrez was named Executive Director of the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, which is dedicated to a strong and professional Foreign Service.

Secretary of State John Kerry appointed Gutiérrez to the Foreign Service Grievance Board in 2016.

He was a social studies teacher for the Dade County School System and the Urban League in Miami, Florida before entering the diplomatic services.