Contracts and Claims Specialist

Luster National•New York, NY

24d•$90,000 - $155,000

About The Position

Luster is building a talent pool of Contracts and Claims Specialists at various skill levels for future hiring needs supporting large, complex heavy-civil infrastructure programs. Projects may include highways, roads, bridges, bus and rail transit, international airports, and water/wastewater infrastructure delivered through traditional and alternative delivery methods. This is a construction claims and disputes role focused on contract claims, not insurance adjusting. The specialist evaluates claims and requests for equitable adjustment for entitlement and quantum, tests claimed costs and time against contract requirements and contemporaneous records, and develops positions for negotiation, dispute review boards, and further proceedings. Contract administration is included, with a primary focus on resolving disagreements between project parties. This posting is for future positions rather than a currently available opportunity. Applications and interviews are conducted in advance of anticipated hiring needs, and selected candidates may be activated in Luster’s talent pool and notified first when a project need arises. The scope and complexity of work increase with experience level. Luster states an expected salary range of $90,000–$155,000 per year ($43–$75 per hour). The eventual offer may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, certifications, licenses, and geographic location. Luster is committed to an inclusive work environment and provides consideration without regard to protected status. Positions may be subject to a background check and drug test after a conditional offer, as permitted by applicable regulations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, quantity surveying, finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of contract administration and construction claims experience on large (greater than $500 million), complex heavy-civil infrastructure projects.
Experience analyzing or supporting claims, requests for equitable adjustment, or disputed change proposals for entitlement, cost, and schedule impact.
Working knowledge of standard construction contract terms and public agency contracting requirements, including notice, changes, differing site conditions, delay, and disputes provisions.
Ability to interpret construction contract documents, plans, specifications, and cost and schedule records, and develop an entitlement narrative from the contemporaneous record.
Experience with industry-standard contract administration, document management, and CPM scheduling software, such as Unifier, Aconex, e-Builder, or Primavera P6.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365, including tools such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and PowerPoint.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Excellent multitasking and organizational skills.
Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships.
Curiosity, problem-solving ability, and commitment to continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, quantity surveying, or finance.
Active professional certifications such as CPCM (NCMA), CCM (CMAA), and/or CCP or CFCC (AACE).
Experience serving as the owner’s lead analyst on a claim exceeding $10 million in disputed value.
Experience supporting contract administration and claims on a construction package exceeding $100 million in value.
Experience carrying a claim beyond the project level through a dispute review board, mediation, arbitration, or litigation, including document production and support to counsel.
Experience preparing or reviewing time impact analyses, as-planned versus as-built comparisons, or windows analyses supporting delay claims, including treatment of concurrent delay.
Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

Responsibilities

Analyze claims, notices of potential claim, and lost productivity, evaluating entitlement under applicable contract provisions.
Evaluate requests for equitable adjustment and disputed change proposals for entitlement, merit, and cost reasonableness, and recommend a position supported by the record.
Review claimed labor, equipment, materials, extended field and home office overhead, and markup against contract provisions, force account records, and cost backup.
Identify unsupported, duplicated, or misclassified claimed amounts.
Coordinate with scheduling staff to evaluate time impact analyses and time extension requests against the accepted baseline and contemporaneous progress schedules.
Assemble contemporaneous claim records, including daily reports, correspondence, requests for information, submittals, inspection records, and meeting minutes.
Verify that notices satisfy contract timing and content requirements, track responses, and help preserve contractual defenses.
Develop independent cost estimates and quantity checks for roadway, structures, and utility work to assess contractor pricing on disputed changes and claims.
Prepare claim position papers, findings of fact, and recommendations for program decision-makers, dispute review boards, and mediation or arbitration panels.
Support negotiation and settlement of disputed changes and claims by developing entitlement and quantum summaries, cost comparisons, and documented settlement bases.
Evaluate claims arising in active operating environments, including restricted service windows, access limits, and facility shutdowns.
Coordinate with counsel, claims consultants, project controls, and finance staff on claim strategy, document production, and responses to formal demands.
Track open claims and disputed exposure by contract for program leadership.