Contracts and Risk Specialist

Risk & Contracts Specialist

The Risk & Contracts Specialist supports complex and fast-paced design-build food and beverage manufacturing plant projects by managing contractual risk and ensuring insurance compliance across all client, vendor, and subcontractor transactions. This role is responsible for reviewing project-related contracts and insurance requirements, advising project teams on risk exposure, and coordinating with brokers and insurers. The Risk & Contracts Specialist will be a member of a small, team-oriented legal department.

The ideal candidate has experience in the A/E/C industry, understands design and construction project-based risk, and is comfortable working at the intersection of contracts, insurance, and business and finance operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Review contractual insurance requirements for compliance (professional liability, commercial general liability, workers' compensation, auto liability, Umbrella/excess).
• Partner with General Counsel to manage overall insurance program and maintain accurate records and renewal tracking for all insurance policies.
• Assist General Counsel with claims reporting, documentation, and coordination with insurers when required.
• Collect, review, and track Certificates of Insurance (COIs) for clients, subcontractors, subconsultants, and vendors to ensure they meet contractual requirements and resolve any non-compliance issues.
• Serve as point person for Master Builder's Risk policy and work with broker to obtain additional Builder's Risk insurance coverage on a project-by-project basis.
• Serve as point person for participation in Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs) or other owner-driven insurance programs.
• Complete annual insurance renewal applications and review carriers' proposals with brokers.
• Support annual audit requests from commercial general liability, auto and workers compensation carriers.

• Review engineering, procurement and construction contracts to identify language representing commercial and insurance-related risk and recommend revisions.
• Ensure contracts align with internal policies and procedures and company objectives.
• Partner with legal counsel and insurance brokers to resolve risk and coverage gaps in project contracts.
• Negotiate contracts with owners, subcontractors and vendors.

• Serve as a resource for Project Managers regarding insurance and contractual obligations.
• Contribute to development of training and reference materials regarding contracts, insurance and related risk management topics.
• Support Project Managers, General Counsel and Risk Committee with contractual risk assessments during proposal, pre-award, and project execution phases.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or related field.
• 10-15 years of experience in contract review, risk management, and/or insurance compliance in the A/E/C industry or other technical consulting environments.
• Experience collaborating with project operations, insurance brokers, insurers, and legal teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Design-Build and/or EPC/EPCM project delivery methods.
• Experience with industry-standard contracts (e.g., AIA, DBIA, ConsensusDocs, EJCDC, FIDIC).
• Working knowledge of professional liability insurance coverage for engineers and architects.
• Familiarity with delivering construction-related professional services internationally.
• Experience with Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI) and related pre-qualification programs and claims handling.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Proven excellence at interpreting contract language and contractual risk.
• Strong understanding of different insurance coverages and able to navigate insurance policies easily.
• Collaborative, solutions-focused mindset.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to support multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• High attention to detail and document accuracy.
• Strong organizational and tracking skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and contract or insurance management systems.
• Willingness and ability to embrace emerging technologies and tools (e.g., AI).

About Us

We plan, design, engineer, and build food plants for major brands across the country and the world. For the past three decades, we've focused exclusively on the food and beverage industry, helping your favorite brands put your favorite foods in the grocery store. Simply put, food isn't one thing we do, it's all we do.

Company offers competitive compensation packages commensurate with experience. We provide comprehensive employee benefits including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid time off including an open vacation policy, as well as bonus, profit-sharing, and retirement plans.

Company is proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.