Director of Claims and Legal Risk

AMPAM Parks Mechanical•Carson, CA

11d

About The Position

The Director of Claims & Legal Operations is responsible for leading AMPAM’s end-to-end claims management function across both employee-related matters and construction-related disputes. This role serves as the primary liaison between AMPAM and external legal counsel, ensuring all claims are proactively managed, strategically positioned, and efficiently resolved. This is a highly cross-functional leadership role that partners with Finance, Operations, HR, and Safety to reduce risk exposure, improve outcomes, and drive accountability across the organization. The ideal candidate is a strong operator with deep claims and construction experience who can manage complexity, influence stakeholders, and bring structure to a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in claims management, risk management, or legal operations
Strong experience in the construction industry required
Demonstrated experience managing both: Employee-related claims (workers’ comp, employment) Construction-related claims and disputes
Experience managing external legal counsel and insurance partners
Strong understanding of construction contracts and claims processes
Financial acumen with the ability to assess and communicate risk exposure
Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without future employment sponsorship

Nice To Haves

Experience with a general contractor, specialty contractor, or construction-focused organization
Background in insurance, claims consulting, or construction litigation support (non-attorney)
Experience working in a multi-entity or rapidly growing organization

Responsibilities

Oversee all employee-related claims, including: Workers’ compensation Wage & hour claims Employment-related disputes
Partner with HR, Safety, insurance carriers, and TPAs to ensure timely reporting, documentation, and resolution
Identify trends and partner cross-functionally to mitigate recurring risks
Lead management of all construction-related claims, including: Contract disputes Change order disputes Delay claims Back charges and defect-related issues
Partner with Operations and Project Teams to ensure proper documentation and claim positioning
Support pre-claim strategies to minimize escalation and financial exposure
Serve as the primary point of contact for all external legal counsel
Coordinate and manage legal strategy in alignment with company priorities
Monitor attorney performance, responsiveness, and cost efficiency
Ensure consistency and visibility across all active legal matters
Maintain a consolidated view of all claims, including exposure, reserves, and financial impact
Partner with Finance to support forecasting and risk assessment
Identify opportunities to reduce claims costs and improve outcomes over time
Support insurance renewal and risk transfer strategies with data-driven insights
Develop and maintain standardized claims tracking and reporting tools
Ensure all claims have clear ownership, status, and next steps
Improve documentation practices across Operations, HR, and Safety
Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on claims status and trends
Partner with HR, Safety, Operations, and Finance to drive alignment and accountability
Promote a culture of ownership in addressing and resolving issues
Escalate risks appropriately and ensure timely decision-making