Senior Corporate Counsel - Director Complex Claims

Division: Risk Management

Project Location(s): Saddle Brook, NJ 07663 USA



Minimum Years Experience: 12 Travel Involved: 20-30% Job Type: Regular Job Classification: Experienced Education: Bachelors Degree Job Family: Insurance and Claims Compensation: Salaried Exempt

Position Description:
Lead, manage, and provide insurance coverage advice on high exposure complexconstruction claims, includingbut not limited to professional liability, construction defect, general liability, builders' risk, pollution liability, subcontractor default, payment and performance bonds, employment, wage and hour, and pollution claims from initial notice through claim closure, including subrogation and litigation domestically and globally. Reports to the Chief Risk Officer.


Essential Duties & Key Responsibilities:

• Manage specialty, complex, and high exposure insurable claims including but not limited to professional liability, construction defect, general liability, builders' risk, pollution liability, subcontractor default, payment and performance bonds, employment, wage and hour, and pollution claims.
• Collaborate with insurance brokers, internal and external legal counsel, Claims department, Business Unit leadership, and Financial Managers to review claim strategies and recoveries.
• Demonstrate thorough understanding of insurance policies and their impact on rights to recovery and provide insight to maximize recovery.
• Provide direction to BU project claim team including project controls strategies as required by each specific claim type.
• Identify and communicate to leadership potential risks and implement mitigation strategies to reduce risk impact.
• Foster relationships and build partnerships with insurance company representatives across all lines of insurance.
• Guide, advise, and strategize with outside counsel on coverage issues and simplify issues for business partners.
• Identify and manage advanced issues and address policy and business challenges with responsible carriers.
• Serve as subject matter expert on all lines of insurance and serve as contact to client teams and senior leadership.
• Provide subcontractor default project controls, including replacement subcontractor strategies, recovery of stored materials, lien holder negotiations, union nonpayment guidance, recovery through rights of offset covered under subcontract agreements.
• Understand various other lines of insurance of third parties for risk transfer, including corporate policies and possible additional insured status for our clients.
• Provide claim expertise to maximize recoveries associated with insurable and non-insurable losses and provide guidance and coordination with legal counsel for associated subrogation litigation.
• Evaluate claims and perform thorough and complete investigations, including use of interviews, expert retention, site reviews, and document review, and provide guidance on complex claims.
• Contribute to legal strategies and document production requests for litigation and mediation.
• Provide insurance coverage guidance to colleagues and business partners related to legal strategy for insurance claims.
• Research caselaw to assist with insurance claims recovery and strategy.
• Draft insurance coverage correspondence on behalf of the Company.
• Evaluate and advise on policy language, coverage interpretations, and coverage strategy, including during policy renewals.
• Closely monitor developing insurance coverage law and advise colleagues and business partners of changes and provide relevant guidance.
• Lead claim review process with insurers. Ensure compliance of claim handling protocols and establish anticipated losses and carrier reserves.
• Develop and facilitate national training for strategies and procedures leading to the resolution of claim related matters.
• Deliver timely feedback to BU project claim team to expedite claim submissions, recoveries, and closure.
• Negotiate monetary settlements and coverage disputes with insures to maximize coverage for client.
• Assist in due diligence review for potential mergers and acquisitions.
• Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned.

• Qualifications:

  • J.D. or bachelor's degree and a minimum of 12 years of experience in construction insurance, risk management, legal or claims with concentration on construction industry; or equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience
  • Experience reading, interpreting, and applying insurance policies
  • Knowledgeable of relevant insurance law, claims laws, and applicable legal principles
  • Construction industry, insurance coverage law, or related risk management experience, highly preferred
  • Experience working with subcontractor default, general liability, builders' risk, professional liability, and pollution claims
  • Experience in infrastructure, heavy civil, tunnel, or mission-critical projects strongly preferred
  • Strong understanding of contracts and insurance documents.
  • Knowledge of construction terminology, costs, scheduling, engineering principles and techniques, and various building systems.
  • Knowledge of construction related estimating, procurement, accounting, and cost control procedures
  • Knowledgeable of relevant insurance and claims laws and legal principles
  • Construction industry or related risk management experience, highly preferred
  • Experience working with subcontractor default, general liability, builders' risk, professional liability, and pollution claims
  • Strong understanding of contracts and insurance documents
  • Strong process and critical thinking skills with sound judgement decision-making
  • Analytical and adept at processing and breaking down data into actionable information
  • Strong organizational management skills, capable of directing, managing, and developing remote teams
  • Self-starter with strong project management skills and capable of managing concurrent complex projects and tasks successfully to completion
  • Strong interpersonal and teambuilding skills with ability to work across organizational levels, both internal and external
  • Professional written and verbal communication with effective presentation skills and ability to translate complex concepts for various levels of comprehension
  • Proficient in computer skills and Microsoft Office suite of applications
  • Regular travel: travel modes include air, train, vehicle, and international travel as needed

  Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands, talk, and hear. The employee frequently views a computer monitor and frequently uses a computer keyboard. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is regularly required to be mobile, and the employee regularly travels both short and long distances via a variety of conveyances. The employee occasionally performs work on-site at construction work sites, office locations, and/or off-site venues. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

  Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office or remote setting. The noise in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally work at construction work sites where the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, fumes, or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock. The noise in the construction work environment is usually moderate to loud. The employee is required to work in compliance with company safety policies, procedures, and applicable laws.

  The salary range for this position in NYC and NJ is estimated to be $160,000 - $230,000 annualized. The salary range for this position in CT is estimated to be $150,000 to $220,000 annualized. Actual compensation packages within that range are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and specific location.

  Turner Construction provides flexible benefits, including medical, dental and vision coverage, financial benefits such as a 401(k) plan, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, wellness benefits, a voluntary legal plan, identity theft, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage. In addition to our extensive benefit offerings, we provide paid vacation, wellness/sick time, holidays, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referral bonuses, and end of year appreciation pay.

  Turner Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Turner is an Equal Opportunity Employer - minorities/females/veterans/individuals with disabilities/sexual orientation/gender identity. VEVRAA Federal Contractor