Director, Risk Management

With offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, Pepper Construction is a national general contracting and construction management firm that primarily serves the private sector. Pepper Construction provides clients the experience and resources of a national company, combined with the hands‑on approach of a local company.

• Leads the implementation, governance and continuous improvement of a Contractor Controlled Insurance Program (CCIP) and Subcontractor Default Insurance program
• In collaboration with brokers, underwriters, and insurers, designs, places and manages insurance programs that effectively allocate, mitigate, and finance risk
• Regularly reviews insurance coverages, limits, deductibles, and structures to ensure alignment with business growth, coverage optimization, project risk profiles, and market conditions
• Develops insurance cost allocation and billing models to support accurate divisional and project pricing
• Meets with company clients, subcontractors, consultants to negotiate contractual insurance and bonding terms to mitigate retained risks.
• Reviews contractual insurance and risk allocation provisions; identifies and advises on one‑sided, unusual, or high‑risk terms
• Partners with the Corporate Legal Team to develop and negotiate contract terms, exceptions and amendments related to risk, insurance, and bonding
• Obtains and evaluates specialty insurance coverage required by owner contracts or unique project risks
• Partners with the third‑party claims administrators (“TPAs”), claims adjusters/consultants, claims counsel, and General Counsel to oversee claims strategy, valuation, and reserve adequacy
• Ensures claims data accuracy and provides clear, actionable reporting to executive leadership
• Uses claims trends to drive loss prevention and operational improvements

• Works closely with Operations, Safety, Fleet Management, Human Resources, Facilities Management, and project teams to implement systems, procedures and controls that reduce the frequency and severity of losses
• Provides training and guidance to Operation’s project teams on insurance programs, CCIP requirements, risk controls, and risk management best practices
• Serves as a trusted advisor to operations leadership on risk‑related decision making
• Oversees fleet risk strategy, including driver standards, insurance coverage, loss trends, auto liability exposure, and claims performance in partnership with Safety and Operations
• Leads accident review, preventability determinations, repair estimate evaluation, severity tiering, and related cost‑control processes
• Manages driver risk tracking, including point assignment logic, scoring methodology, Samba MVR notifications, annual MVR reviews, and the system of record
• Leads the Fleet Safety Committee and provides governance, reporting, and escalation support for fleet risk decisions
• Analyzes frequency, severity, repeat drivers, and geographic trends to inform corrective actions, risk mitigation strategies, and reporting to executive leadership and insurance partners
• Ensures alignment with TPAs, carriers, and the overall claims management strategy for auto losses

• Develops and maintains strong relationships with insurance brokers, carriers, TPAs, claims administrators, actuaries, loss control specialists, and consultants
• Maintains all insurance policies, certificates, and records; provides regular reporting on program performance, claims activity and emerging risks
• Serves as an active member of the Corporate Enterprise Risk Committee reporting to executive management
• Represents and communicates the Company’s insurance and risk programs to internal stakeholders and external partners

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Business Administration, Business Management, Risk Management, Insurance, Risk Control, or a related field. Master’s Degree preferred
• Professional Designations:
  Certified Risk Management Professional (CRMP), Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), Associate in Risk Management (ARM), or Certified Risk Manager (CRM)
• Minimum…