Construction Legal & Risk Manager

Construction Legal & Risk ManagerLF Driscoll, part of the STO Building Group, is looking to hire a Construction Legal & Risk Manager in Atlanta, Georgia.Position SummaryThe Construction Legal & Risk Manager is responsible for providing independent oversight of project execution, compliance, and operational risk within a designated business unit. This position works closely with the Business Unit President, Operations leadership, Project Executives, and Legal to evaluate whether projects are being managed in accordance with company standards, contractual obligations, applicable laws, and established operating practices.The successful candidate will bring a unique combination of construction operations experience, legal/compliance knowledge, and investigative and analytical capabilities. This individual must understand both the legal requirements surrounding construction projects and the practical realities of delivering them.He/she will conduct regular project reviews, identify areas of financial, contractual, operational, and compliance risk, investigate concerns, and work with project leadership to implement corrective actions. The position is intended to be an objective partner to Operations—identifying issues early, improving consistency, and helping protect the business unit from avoidable risk.Key ResponsibilitiesProject Compliance & ReviewEstablish and execute a consistent project review process across the business unit.Conduct periodic reviews of active and completed construction projects.Review projects for compliance with company policies, contractual requirements, applicable laws, and business unit operating standards.Evaluate project documentation, including:Contracts and amendmentsSubcontracts and purchase ordersChange ordersPay applicationsProject correspondenceMeeting minutesCost reports and forecastsSchedule documentationClaims and noticesCloseout documentationIdentify gaps, inconsistencies, and potential areas of exposure.Document review findings and develop practical recommendations for remediation.Track corrective actions and verify completion.Legal & Contractual RiskReview project practices to identify potential contractual and legal exposure.Partner with Legal on contract interpretation, claims, disputes, notices, and potential compliance issues.Identify situations requiring escalation to Legal or senior business unit leadership.Evaluate whether project teams are meeting contractual obligations and maintaining appropriate documentation.Support investigations into potential contractual violations, fraud, unethical conduct, or other material concerns.Operational ReviewAssess whether projects are being executed in accordance with established business unit processes and best practices.Evaluate project controls, accountability, documentation, communication, and decision-making.Identify operational practices that create unnecessary financial, contractual, or reputational risk.Analyze recurring findings across projects and recommend improvements to business unit processes.Partner with Project Executives and Operations leaders to implement sustainable solutions.Project Risk AssessmentDevelop a risk-based approach to determining which projects require increased review and oversight.The role will focus on risk-based project assurance, prioritizing projects based on financial, schedule, contractual, operational, compliance, or other risk indicators.Monitor project indicators to identify emerging risk, including:Significant budget varianceMargin erosionSchedule deteriorationHigh levels of change ordersClaims or disputesSubcontractor performance concernsDocumentation deficienciesContract compliance issuesSignificant safety or regulatory concernsProvide early identification and escalation of material risks to business unit leadership.InvestigationsConduct or support investigations involving project compliance, contractual concerns, policy violations, or other business risks.Conduct interviews and review relevant project documentation.Maintain objectivity and confidentiality throughout investigations.Prepare factual findings and recommendations for Business Unit and Legal leadership.Business Unit PartnershipServe as a trusted advisor to the Business Unit President and Operations leadership.Build strong relationships with Project Executives, Project Managers, Superintendents, and other operational leaders.Communicate findings in a constructive manner focused on solutions and risk reduction.Provide training and coaching to project teams when recurring issues are identified.Help establish a culture of accountability without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.Reporting & Continuous ImprovementProvide regular reporting to business unit leadership regarding:Project review resultsSignificant risksRecurring compliance issuesCorrective actionsEmerging trendsIdentify opportunities to improve project processes and controls.Recommend policy and procedural changes based on review findings.Develop business-unit-specific compliance tools, checklists, and standards.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business, Law, Engineering, Finance, Risk Management, or related field.10+ years of experience in construction operations, legal/compliance, risk management, project review, or a combination thereof.Significant understanding of commercial construction project delivery.Strong knowledge of construction contracts, project controls, subcontractor management, change management, and project documentation.Demonstrated ability to identify and evaluate legal, contractual, financial, and operational risk.Strong analytical and investigative skills.Excellent written and verbal communication skills.Ability to challenge project leadership professionally and effectively.High degree of integrity, independence, discretion, and sound judgment.Ability to travel to projects within the business unit.PreferredJ.D. or significant formal legal education.Active law license is a plus.Prior experience as a construction attorney, compliance professional, risk professional, Project Executive, or senior construction operations leader.Experience with construction claims, disputes, contract administration, or investigations.Experience reviewing construction projects for compliance, risk, and operational effectiveness.Experience working within a general contracting or construction management organization.Key CompetenciesConstruction OperationsLegal & Contractual AcumenRisk ManagementProject Compliance & ReviewInvestigative SkillsFinancial & Project ControlsContract InterpretationBusiness JudgmentExecutive CommunicationInfluence Without AuthorityObjectivity & IndependenceIntegrity & DiscretionProblem SolvingKey Performance IndicatorsTimely identification and escalation of material project risks.Resolution rate of review findings.Reduction in recurring review findings.Reduction in preventable contractual and operational issues.Improvement in project documentation and compliance.Identification of financial or contractual exposure before significant losses occur.Adoption of corrective actions by project teams.Business unit leadership satisfaction with the effectiveness and value of the compliance and review function.Organizational PositionHe/she will be aligned to and dedicated to one business unit, providing focused oversight of that unit's projects and operations.The position should maintain sufficient independence from individual project teams to provide objective assessments while working closely with Operations to resolve identified issues.He/she will have a direct relationship with the Business Unit President/COO and appropriate access to Legal and other corporate functions when matters warrant escalation.Role PhilosophyThis is not a traditional compliance position. The successful candidate must understand how construction projects actually operate and be able to distinguish between normal project challenges and situations that represent meaningful legal, contractual, financial, or operational risk.The objective is to identify risk early, strengthen project execution, protect the business unit, and