Senior Building Consultant, North East

Haag, a Salas O'Brien Company•, NJ

1d•$85,000 - $145,000•Remote

About The Position

Haag, a Salas O’Brien company, is seeking an experienced Senior Building Consultant for the North East. This hybrid role serves as a trusted advisor to clients, insurance carriers, attorneys, contractors, and other stakeholders. The consultant independently manages assignments from initiation through final delivery, applying technical expertise, sound judgment, project leadership, and strong client service. The position involves property damage investigations, field data collection, repair and restoration recommendations, estimating, project and client management, litigation support, business development, and mentoring other consultants. The role is listed as remote, with New York, Philadelphia, and New Jersey identified as ideal locations. Vehicle or air travel is required, primarily locally and regionally, with approximately 25% potentially involving overnight stays; extended travel may be necessary during catastrophe response events. Field work may take place under extreme or challenging conditions, and occasional work exceeding 40 hours per week may be required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required; equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.
At least 7 years of experience conducting residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional property or building inspections and evaluations.
At least 7 years of experience preparing repair and restoration estimates for damage caused by environmental conditions, weather events, construction defects, structural or material deficiencies, and ground movement.
Advanced proficiency in Xactimate is required.
Strong understanding of insurance claims, construction methods, restoration practices, property damage assessment, estimating, and repair methodologies.
Ability to independently manage assignments from project initiation through final delivery and manage multiple projects, budgets, schedules, and competing priorities.
Strong analytical, organizational, mathematical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including professional reports, client presentations, and group meetings; a redacted work sample may be requested.
Ability to interpret written, verbal, diagrammatic, and schedule-based instructions and solve practical problems in situations involving limited standardization.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
Strong computer and technology skills.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship or other legal restrictions.
Travel by vehicle or plane is required; use of a personal vehicle is required, and a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record must be maintained.
Ability to perform field work under extreme or challenging conditions and occasionally work more than 40 hours per week as project and client needs require.
Ability to climb ladders, stairs, scaffolds, and roofs; work in confined spaces; lift, carry, position, and set ladders, scaffolds, and field equipment; and walk considerable distances carrying field equipment over uneven or irregular terrain.
Ability to work in hot, humid, arid, cold, wet, icy, noisy, and other challenging conditions and wear required personal protective equipment.
Vision sufficient to drive safely and conduct detailed field inspections, including adequate peripheral vision and depth perception.

Nice To Haves

An associate or bachelor’s degree in a related field is preferred.
Experience with mid-to-large loss commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential restoration projects as a contractor, consultant, or comparable professional is strongly preferred.
Experience managing complex commercial losses exceeding $1 million in repair value is preferred.
Experience working directly with insurance carriers, adjusters, attorneys, restoration contractors, property owners, and other project stakeholders is preferred.
Prior forensic consulting, expert witness, litigation support, or dispute resolution experience is highly desirable.
Industry credentials such as IICRC, RRO, General Contractor License, Adjuster License, or Xactimate certification are highly desired.
A Commercial General Contractor license is preferred.
Experience with Symbility, RSMeans, SwiftEstimator, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Excel is preferred.

Responsibilities

Measure, document, diagram, and photograph roofs, buildings, structural components, foundations, crawlspaces, slabs, and other affected areas.
Inspect residential and commercial roofing systems and evaluate damage caused by wind, hail, water intrusion, fire, heat, smoke, explosions, structural movement, collapse, and other events.
Determine the extent of damage and recommend repair, replacement, or restoration methods.
Collect and preserve samples or evidence when appropriate and coordinate debris removal when required.
Develop repair scopes, restoration recommendations, drawings, and cost estimates.
Set up, calibrate, operate, and maintain specialized field equipment and instrumentation.
Perform data acquisition, field measurements, site surveys, documentation, and analysis.
Research materials, construction methods, manufacturers, suppliers, and applicable industry practices.
Prepare estimates, drawings, and scopes of work using Xactimate, RSMeans, SwiftEstimator, and similar platforms.
Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients and projects and manage expectations regarding scope, budget, schedule, and deliverables.
Manage multiple assignments while meeting budget, schedule, quality, and reporting expectations.
Prepare clear, concise, technically sound reports, scopes of work, estimates, analyses, and presentations.
Review contractor schedules, invoices, bids, repair proposals, and change orders for completeness, accuracy, and reasonableness.
Conduct scope negotiations, support agreement development and project execution, and monitor restoration or reconstruction activities when requested.
Provide responsive, professional customer service and collaborate with multidisciplinary and cross-functional teams.
Develop expert opinions supported by field investigations, industry standards, and accepted construction practices.
Assist attorneys and clients with technical evaluation of claims and disputes; prepare litigation exhibits, analyses, and supporting documentation.
Participate in depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and trial proceedings when assigned.
Develop and maintain relationships with insurance carriers, adjusters, attorneys, restoration contractors, and other industry partners; pursue repeat business and new client opportunities.
Participate in proposal development, project interviews, marketing initiatives, regional growth strategies, national account development, industry organizations, conferences, and educational presentations.
Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and service offerings.
Mentor, develop, and coach consultants, sharing technical expertise and supporting their professional skills and career growth.
Lead client meetings, present technical findings to diverse audiences, and make independent technical decisions.