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 Cost of Risk reporting through accurate tracking and reconciliation of claim payments, deductibles, retained losses, and other risk-related expenses.
- Coordinate with Finance and Accounting to resolve discrepancies, validate supporting information, and improve reporting consistency.
Business Partnership and Process Improvement - Build effective working relationships with Southwest Operations Leadership, Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Safety, and the broader ESS Companies Risk team.
- Implement ESSC claims and insurance procedures within Southwest Operations while identifying opportunities to make those processes more efficient and responsive.
- Provide practical guidance to employees involved in claims reporting, insurance documentation, and related administrative processes.
- Keep ESSC Risk Leadership informed of material claims, emerging exposures, coverage concerns, and matters requiring enterprise-level decisions.
Qualifications Required - Demonstrated experience in commercial claims management, risk management, insurance administration in construction or a closely related discipline.
- Working knowledge of commercial insurance coverages and claims processes, particularly workers' compensation, automobile, general liability, and property or equipment losses.
- Ability to review insurance documentation, identify potential coverage or compliance issues, and coordinate resolution with brokers, carriers, and internal stakeholders.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple claims and competing priorities.
- Sound judgment, discretion with sensitive information, and a service-oriented approach to supporting employee-owners and business leaders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience maintaining accurate records in claims, insurance, or risk management systems.
Preferred - Experience supporting heavy civil construction, earthwork, infrastructure, or other construction-related operations.
- Familiarity with construction contracts, subcontractor insurance compliance, OCIPs, CCIPs, and loss-sensitive insurance programs.
- Experience working with either self-insured or high-deductible insurance programs, and brokerage support teams.
- A bachelor's degree in risk management, insurance, business, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
- Relevant professional designations, such as ARM, AIC, CPCU, or CRIS.
