Director of Risk Management

Company Overview

Gulf Winds International, Inc. is a leading provider of drayage, transloading, and storage, serving importers and exporters globally. The Company prides itself on innovation, people, and purpose, redefining expectations for intermodal trucking. With a robust presence at major ports, including Houston, Dallas, Mobile, Memphis, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and Chicago, Gulf Winds is dedicated to delivering top‑note services through continuous investment in technology and infrastructure.

Ownership:
The company is backed by The Sterling Group, a Houston‑based private equity firm. Since 1982, The Sterling Group has partnered with management teams to grow and build winning businesses in the industrial sector. Over 75% of Sterling’s past partnerships have been with family businesses and corporate carve‑outs. Sterling excels as a partner bringing its operational focus and expertise to support company objectives.

Today, Sterling has over $5.7 billion in assets under management.

• Job Title:
  
  Director of Risk Management
• Department:
  Risk Management
• Location:
  
  Houston or Dallas (Hybrid)
• Position Type:
  Full‑time

The Director of Risk Management provides strategic leadership and oversight for Gulf Winds International’s enterprise risk, claims, insurance, compliance, and loss prevention programs. This role partners with executive leadership, Operations, Safety, Finance, Human Resources, external counsel, insurance brokers, carriers, third‑party administrators, and other business partners to identify, assess, mitigate, and manage risk across the organization. The Director of Risk Management will lead efforts related to transportation and logistics claims, insurance renewals, litigation management, mediation, incident response, risk assessment, contractual risk review, claims cost containment, and risk‑related compliance considerations.

This role is responsible for strengthening risk controls, supporting FMCSA/DOT and OSHA‑aligned compliance efforts, protecting company assets, and driving proactive strategies that reduce financial, operational, reputational, regulatory, and legal exposure across trucking, transportation, warehouse, and logistics operations.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with insurance brokers, carriers, adjusters, attorneys, TPAs, vendors, and operational leaders to ensure effective communication, timely claim progression, and disciplined risk management practices.
• Manage litigated claims and legal matters in partnership with internal stakeholders, outside counsel, insurance carriers, brokers, and third‑party administrators; support case strategy, discovery coordination, settlement evaluation, mediation preparation, and resolution recommendations.
• Oversee the management of complex claims, including auto liability, cargo, physical damage, property damage, bodily injury, workers’ compensation, warehouse, and third‑party claims; ensure claims are investigated, documented, evaluated, and resolved in the best interest of the company.
• Lead annual insurance renewal processes, including exposure data collection, policy review, application support, loss run analysis, broker/carrier communication, premium and deductible review, and recommendations related to coverage structure and risk financing.
• Monitor claim trends, loss experience, insurance costs, open reserves, litigation exposure, and key risk indicators; prepare recurring reports and executive‑level updates with actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Support incident response protocols, including evidence preservation, accident investigation, FMCSA/DOT or OSHA‑related reporting considerations, post‑incident communication, and coordination with counsel or insurance partners when litigation or significant exposure is anticipated.
• Partner with Safety and Operations leadership to evaluate accidents, incidents, driver‑related events, facility exposures, OSHA‑recordable trends, DOT‑reportable events, and process gaps; recommend corrective actions, training, documentation improvements, and controls to prevent recurrence.
• Lead, coach, and develop risk, claims, and/or…