POSITION SUMMARY
The Risk Manager, SW is an ESS Companies (ESSC)-level position dedicated to supporting Southwest Construction Operations based full time in Scottsdale, Arizona. Reporting to the ESSC Risk team, this individual serves as Southwest Construction Operations’ primary day-to-day resource for claims management, risk management, and insurance administration.
The position connects Southwest Construction Operations’ business needs with ESS Companies’ enterprise risk practices, ensuring claims are actively managed, insurance requirements are addressed, and risk-related matters receive timely attention. The Risk Manager works closely with Southwest Construction Operations’ leadership and operating teams while remaining accountable to the ESS Companies Risk team.
This role requires sound judgment, strong organizational skills, and the ability to translate insurance and claims matters into practical business guidance. Knowledge of heavy civil construction is beneficial; the position’s focus is claims, risk, and insurance—not field safety oversight .
Key Responsibilities
Claims Management
Receive incident and damage reports from field crews, supervisors, project managers, and safety personnel.
Open claim files promptly, coded to the correct operating company, project, and cost center.
File first reports of injury and casualty notices with Liberty Mutual within required state and program timeframes.
Identify any claim whose exposure, complexity, or litigation risk exceeds Risk Manager authority and refer it to the Claims Manager the same day.
Manage assigned workers’ compensation, automobile, general liability, property, equipment, and other applicable claims from initial reporting through resolution.
Coordinate timely claim reporting, documentation, and follow-up with Southwest Operations personnel, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, brokers, and legal counsel.
Maintain active oversight of claim status, financial exposure, reserves, litigation developments, and resolution strategies. Escalate significant developments and settlement recommendations to the ESSC Risk Team in accordance with established authority.
Partner with Human Resources, Safety, and operational leadership on employee injury claims, supporting communication, documentation, and return-to-work coordination.
Identify potential recovery opportunities, including subrogation and contractual risk transfer, and coordinate follow-through with the appropriate stakeholders.
Insurance Administration
Serve as Southwest Operations’ resource for general insurance questions, coverage inquiries, and routine program administration, coordinating with ESSC Risk leadership and designated broker and carrier contacts.
Support ESSC Risk Team Leadership administration of Owner-Controlled and Contractor-Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIPs and CCIPs), including enrollment, reporting, documentation, and claims coordination, as applicable.
Support ESSC Finance Team to maintain accurate insurance exposure information, including relevant equipment, vehicle, property, payroll, revenue, and project data, to support renewals, audits, and coverage updates.
Assist with builders’ risk and other project-specific insurance needs in coordination with ESSC Risk leadership.
Risk Management
In conjunction with ESSC Risk Leadership-Identify gaps, exceptions, or potential uninsured exposures and coordinate appropriate review before commitments are made.
Evaluate recurring claims, loss trends, and business exposures to identify practical opportunities to reduce preventable losses and improve risk controls.
Provide guidance on claim-reporting requirements, documentation practices, insurance processes, and escalation expectations.
Reporting
Maintain accurate, current claims and insurance records using ESSC designated systems and reporting practices.
Prepare claim summaries, trend analyses, and updates for the ESSC Risk Team and appropriate Southwest Operations stakeholders.
Support Total…