Director of Risk Management

Founded in 1972, Saunders Construction provides integrated construction management, general contracting (CM/GC) and commercial real estate development services to a variety of market types in the Rocky Mountain region. Our values are why we exist and the cornerstone of all our decisions. Our reputation and relationships are based on Care, Collaboration, Commitment and Community. Ranked as one of the largest contractors in Colorado, Saunders has over $8 billion in successful projects encompassing a diverse portfolio of work across 18 market types.

In addition, Saunders is dedicated to corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR at Saunders recognizes that investing in our people, focusing on safety, improving business processes, and reducing environmental impact adds value in our industry.

Purpose of the Role

The Director of Risk Management (RM) is responsible for strategic oversight, support, coordination of all construction-related risk management functions at the corporate level.  The core function of this position is to mitigate and resolve business or project risks and the ability to partner with operations, business unit and C-suite leadership to effectively respond with contractual, legal and financial risk solutions. This position will stay current with evolving construction industry risks, including insurance coverages, and will update contractual requirements, upstream and downstream, and review processes required by operations and executive leadership personnel.  The Director of Risk management will support project teams and operational leadership with issues resolution, including claims, contract matters, liens, and legal issues.  The Director of Risk Management will develop knowledge sharing and training programs for applicable employees. This position will lead project specific insurance programs, including building risk, OCIPs, CCIPs, and subcontractor default insurance (SDI).  This role will partner with the CFO and external brokers and carriers in placing corporate insurance programs.  The Director of Risk Management will be responsible for working with our broker and member-owned insurance partners to implement and become the chief advocate of a Contractor Controlled Insurance Program as well as likely participation in single or rolling project programs including owner-placed policies.  Finally, this role will partner with Compliance, Finance and Executive personnel to holistically manage risks associated with subcontractor prequalification, agreements, and review processes.

Functions / Duties

• Contracts (prime and sub agreements)
  • Serve as “help desk” resource to project teams assuring consistency to risk management programs and policies and necessary use of outside legal counsel
  • Update contract templates and oversee updates to prime and subcontractor agreements in partnership with outside legal counsel
  • Develops Owner Contract Review Checklist & SCI key term sheet
    • Include preferred terms for design responsibility, cost, labor, time, notices, force majeure, completion terms, disputes
    • Flow down terms to subcontract agreements
  • Audit each contract checklist on projects over $3 million for compliance prior to execution
  • Works directly with business unit and project leadership to review and negotiate owner agreements

• Insurance & Bonds
  • Support subcontract risk management programs with CFO, compliance manager, preconstruction and project teams including prequalification processes, master & service agreements, oversight of contract negotiations, and enrollment into SDI or bonding
  • Champion utilization of CCIP programs including DIC & enrollment assessments (e.g. risks)
  • Obtain specialty coverage quotes as required
  • Liaison with insurance brokers and member-owned insurance co representatives
  • Market the company’s insurance programs (including CCIPs) to internal and external customers.
  • Optimize project insurance programs and recoveries (e.g. other insurance, DIC)

• Claims
  • Clearinghouse to track and monitor all contract claims, insurable and non-insurable while assuring timely resolution and:
    • Partner with executive and construction manager (CM) to mitigate and resolve
    • Adviser for 3^rd party legal or consultant use
    • Liaison to insurance brokers on corporate and project specific claims
    • Not including workers compensation claims
  • Advisor to CM and executives on pending or potential subcontractor claims
    • Response strategy including documentation oversight
    • Vetting and utilization of 3^rd party consultants and legal counsel
    • Work with GM/CM to ensure all outstanding claims are properly valued and reserved to provide accurate data to the Chief Financial Officer, and other senior leaders. In concert with CEO and CFO, ensure that the Company’s reserves are adequately stated each year.
  • Risk Management
    • Organize and as necessary, perform, loss trending and analysis
    • Monitor SCI concentration report in conjunction with prequalification processes for periodic risk assessment (e.g. DNU)
    • Identification of industry trends, research into products or services, best practices
    • Partner with learning and development on training for project teams on insurance, contracts, claim avoidance, etc.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities / Qualifications / Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Construction Science, Architecture, Engineering and /or certifications specific to insurance or risk management
• 10yrs construction management experience
  • Near proficiency in owner and subcontract agreement terms and negotiations
  • Experience with projects over $50M
• Contract review & negotiation experience. Design / build experience preferred
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Strong presentation and educator skillsets
• Working knowledge of financial statement reporting principles, practices, and techniques, including financial statement ratio analysis
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks as well as ability to accept direction on given assignments.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion, and mediate conflicts
• General supervision and management principles, practices, and techniques

Physical Demands

The following are some of the physical demands commonly associated with this position:

• Spends approximately 70% of the time sitting, and 30% of the time either standing or walking while on the job.
• Occasionally* lifts up to 50 lbs, when moving project binders, office supplies or files, and may stoop, kneel, crouch, and balance while performing these same functions.
• Occasionally required to climb, crawl, stoop and negotiate ladders, stairs, or other routes at and within project sites in order to fulfill duties.
• Constantly uses verbal and auditory capacity enabling interpersonal communication as well as communication through automated devices such as E-Mail, telephone, and text.
• Constantly employs eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of office machinery such as computer keyboard.
• Constantly utilizes full scope of visual capacity to travel to project sites and observe/verify project progress in addition to operating automated office equipment.

Saunders Construction's Benefits

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Section 125 Plan
• 401k Plan / Safe Harbor plan
• Paid Time Off
• Bonus Program
• Employer Paid Term Life Insurance
• Employer Paid Short Term Disability
• Employer Paid Long Term Disability

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This posting is intended for individual applicants.