Senior Risk Manager

Ames Construction has been building America for more than 60 years, and our people are the reason we continue to succeed.

We are a full-service, heavy civil and industrial contractor building critical infrastructure, including highways, bridges, mines, dams, rail, and more. Our teams take on challenging projects that keep communities safe, supply chains moving, and the country connected.

At Ames, we are Fueled by Family . That means we look out for one another, take pride in our work, and build strong relationships rooted in trust and respect.

Guided by our core values of People, Team, Our Bond, Persistence, and Vision , we do what we say we will do, push through challenges, and deliver work we're proud of.

When you join Ames, you're joining a company built for long-term success, where skilled people, strong teams, and disciplined execution come together to build careers and a better future.

The Senior Risk Manager will support Ames Construction's insurance, claims, and risk management programs across a diverse portfolio of heavy civil construction projects. This role works collaboratively across the organization to identify and mitigate risk, manage insurance programs, analyze loss trends, and develop strategies that protect Ames' people, projects, and financial resources. The ideal candidate brings strong insurance and risk management expertise, construction industry experience, and a proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence outcomes through cross-functional collaboration.

Essential Functions

• Insurance & Risk Management
  • Evaluate project and enterprise risks, including risk allocation, insurance compliance, and risk initiatives.
  • Review insurance requirements and partner with Legal and Operations on risk transfer strategies.
  • Manage company and project insurance programs, including placement and administration of coverage.
  • Coordinate with brokers, carriers, and consultants on placements, renewals, coverage, and marketing efforts.
• Claims
  • Partner with Claims to monitor trends and support loss prevention efforts.
  • Assist with the management of significant property, casualty, and builder's risk claims.
  • Support litigation and document preservation activities as needed.
• Data Analytics & Reporting
  • Analyze claims, loss, and insurance data to identify trends and emerging risks.
  • Assist with dashboards and reporting to communicate risk metrics to leadership.
• Training & Education
  • Support the development and delivery of risk management training programs.
  • Serve as a resource for operations on insurance and risk-related matters.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in construction risk management, construction insurance, claims management, insurance-related legal practice, or related commercial insurance disciplines.
• Law degree or bachelor's degree or higher in Risk Management, Finance, Business, Insurance, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of commercial construction insurance programs, project risk management practices, contractual risk transfer principles, and indemnity provisions.
• Experience working with contractors, brokers, insurance carriers, and project teams, including reviewing and interpreting insurance policies and endorsements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, written communication, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Heavy civil construction experience.
• ARM, CPCU, CRIS, CIC, CRM, or other relevant professional designation.
• Experience with OCIP/CCIP programs and joint venture projects.
• Knowledge of construction contract delivery methods and risk allocation strategies.
• Experience with self-insured retention (SIR) programs.
• Proficiency with business intelligence, reporting, and risk analytics tools.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled risk management technologies.

Working Conditions

• Location - This position will work out of our Burnsville, MN office.
• Travel - This role will be expected to travel periodically to project locations and area offices.
• Office environment - extensive sitting at desk and computer; some standing, bending at the waist, stooping and reaching required; ability to lift 5-20 pounds occasionally.

Total Rewards

People are the most important asset at Ames Construction.

• Base salary range is $175,000 - $225,000 a year, which varies depending on many factors, including experience, skills, and knowledge.
• This role is eligible for a discretionary bonus.
• Ames' offers generous retirement benefits, including Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) participation and a 401k match.
• Ames' non-craft health benefits package is designed so that our team members flourish, with medical, dental, and vision (all at one low premium), voluntary benefits, and company holidays and paid time off. Please see the Benefits section of our Careers page for more information.

Ames Construction is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.