Director, Risk Management - HMC Architects

Who We Are

HMC Architects is an employee-owned design firm with an inherent desire to make a difference in our communities. As a purpose-driven brand based on values, our mission to design for good drives everything we do. And our ownership culture creates alignment and increased commitment to that mission, keeping us on track to being successful.

What We Do

Founded with the purpose of anticipating community needs, HMC aims to create designs that have a positive impact, now and into the future. We focus primarily on opportunities to have the most direct contribution to communities–through healthcare, education, and civic spaces.

This position can be located either in the Ontario, Los Angeles or Sacramento, California office locations. The position requires 3 days in the office and the ability to work from home Mondays and Fridays.

Summary

The Director of Risk Management will be responsible for managing the firm’s risk strategy and contract review process for architectural business practices. This will include providing advice and counsel on all new client and consultant agreements including contract approach, review, redlining, and direct negotiation with clients, vendors, and their representatives and attorneys. This position will also be responsible for leading the firm through any business disputes, claims, or other legal matters, including but not limited to, office lease proposals and agreement negotiations and involvement with transactions involving mergers and acquisitions. In addition to managing the firm’s legal process for business matters, this position will also serve as the firm’s liaison to insurance carriers and brokers and will manage the annual renewal of the firm’s insurance policies. This position is a firmwide resource and will be expected to represent the firm externally and advise executive management on a full array of risk management and legal matters.

Position Responsibilities

Contacts and Negotiations

• Manage the firm’s contracts review and administration process and ensure contracts are moving through quickly and efficiently.
• Ensure all contracts follow internal SOPs and corporate policies, enforce policies when needed.
• Review and administrate all client, consultant, and vendor service agreements.
• Coach, advise and work closely with all internal principals, senior staff and the executive committee on key pursuits and project agreement negotiations; negotiate directly with outside parties and their attorneys.
• Provide risk assessment and contract provisions in support of go/no go pursuit decisions.

Claims and Disputes

• Administrate and monitor all pre-claim, claim, disputes, and litigation matters for the firm relating to professional liability. Work with internal risk management core team, outside legal counsel, and others.
• Administrate and monitor all other claims involving employment claims, Commercial General Liability (CGL) or automobile claims.
• Direct interface with outside legal counsel and insurance brokers.
• Direct liaison with insurance carrier claims adjusters to confirm coverage and claims handling strategies. Analyze all claim issues and report matters to appropriate carrier and assign appropriate legal counsel.
• Direct participation in mediations, mandatory settlement conferences or other settlement settings as needed.
• Track all claim issues, document key aspects of each and handle reporting to the HMC Board of Directors and provide advice and counsel for appropriate RFP responses through the Marketing Department, as needed.
• Advise on and track all projects that have received written notices of termination provide advice and counsel for appropriate RFP responses through the Marketing Department, as needed.
• Provide information related to claims status for internal purposes of budgeting and audits.
• Review and approval all legal invoices.

Insurance

• Participate in development of insurance renewal applications, along with Business Services team, for all lines including CGL, automobile, property and casualty, professional liability, workers compensation, cyber etc. Work directly with insurance broker and staff to develop strategies to enhance competitive premium quotes.
• Maintain relationships with professional liability carrier representatives and maintain productive relationship with HMC’s insurance broker.
• Monitor loss runs and provide strategies to manage such loss runs, if possible.

Other Legal and Risk Matters

• Chair Risk Management Committee. Establish quarterly agenda and monitor follow up of discussed items.
• Develop and roll out firmwide training in the area of risk management in a professional services setting.
• Direct administration of all office leases, renewals, and amendments, including tenant improvement oversight.
• Provide input on the selection of software products and business vendors as it relates to compliance, privacy, and other potential risks.
• Help shape operational practices as it relates to the business of architecture.
• Provide advice and counsel in the development of standard operating procedures and corporate policies.
• Work with IT to monitor technologies for business, privacy, and other risks.
• Work with business leaders to ensure architect of record (AOR) requirements as set forth in corporate policies are being met.
• Serve as the firm’s liaison to the AIA large firm roundtable legal committee.
• Stay up to date with professional services, architectural, and general business legal landscape and advise the firm on legislative changes and new risk factors.
• Provide general advice and counsel on other business matters as needed.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in legal affairs or other contracts/legal related degree required. Master’s, JD, or doctorate degree preferred.
• 15 years in a legal, contracts, negotiations, and risk management role in a professional services industry.
• 7 years of professional working experience in the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) industry.
• Must have a proven track record of dealing with contracts, negotiations, and insurance matters.
• Licensed attorney in California is highly desired but not required, experience in lieu of license is acceptable.
• General knowledge of building/construction practices and requirements as it relates to architectural liability.
• Expert negotiator with proven hands-on experience negotiating in a professional business environment with architectural professional experience preferred.
• Experience serving as in-house counsel, or at a law firm working directly with AEC clients is highly desirable.
• Experience with LinkSquares or other contracts management software preferred.
• Expert use in Microsoft Office and other professional software for the drafting and editing of documents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must keep emotions in control and have mature judgement that knows how to balance business and risk.
• Must be highly reliable, dependable, and able to work autonomously.
• Must be organized and complete work quickly.
• Ability to develop creative solutions to complex legal and/or risk problems.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships both in and out of the organization.
• Must be able to get along with others, be part of a team, supervisor staff and embrace collaboration.

The salary range for this position is $157,622 to $242,911

The actual offered salary for this position will vary depending on multiple factors including the candidate’s qualification, education, position knowledge, work experience, skills, ability, work location, and internal incumbent compensation for similar roles. We do not anticipate individuals hired into this position will start at or near the top half of the range listed; the decision will be based on each individual case. The salary range listed above does not include other compensation elements such as discretionary bonus opportunities, employee stock ownership grants, paid time off, medical insurance, and other wage and benefit opportunities.