Risk Manager - Corporate Services

Gresham Smith; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision)

401(k) with company match

Disability & Life Insurance

Family planning & Parental leave

Transit program

Telemedicine & EAP

Job summary

Gresham Smith seeks a seasoned Risk Manager to support policy development, renewals, and risk-driven decision-making. You will oversee contracts, incidents, and claims from intake to resolution, advising teams on contractual risks and negotiating favorable terms with clients and design professionals.

Ideal candidates bring 5–10 years in AEC risk, strong negotiation skills, and proficiency with Deltek, Newforma, and MS Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field (licensure preferred).
• 5–10 years in the AEC industry with risk, contract review, or insurance experience.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating professional services agreements.
• Knowledge of professional liability insurance, insurance requirements, claims, and litigation processes.
• Ability to evaluate and negotiate complex contract terms with design professionals, clients, and lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Support the Director of Risk Management with policy development, annual reports, renewals, and research.
• Manage contract, project, insurance, incident, and claims matters from intake through resolution.
• Resolve routine risk issues and escalate material risks as needed.
• Review professional services agreements to identify unacceptable terms and negotiate favorable language.
• Advise staff on contractual risks and risk-mitigation language.

Skills

Risk assessment

Contract negotiation

Analytical thinking

Communication

Negotiation with clients

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management or related field

Professional licensure preferred

Tools

Deltek

Newforma

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Microsoft Office

AI-enabled productivity tools

Job description

About Us

At Gresham Smith, we call it Genuine Ingenuity. Our culture is the cornerstone of who we are, and our people are at the heart of everything we do. United by our Core Purpose-to plan, design, and consult to create healthy and thriving communities-we deliver innovative solutions for life's essential infrastructure and institutions.

What sets us apart is our dedication to care for our people, our clients, and the places we call home. We are more than a team of professionals. We're a community built on commitment, integrity, respect, and teamwork.

Why Gresham Smith?

When you join Gresham Smith, you're joining a place where you can connect and thrive. Our employees consistently recognize us as a Best Place to Work because we go above and beyond to ensure that you feel valued, supported, and empowered.

About You

• A bachelor's degree in Risk Management, Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, with professional licensure preferred
• Five to ten years of relevant AEC industry experience, including substantial experience reviewing and negotiating professional services agreements
• Additional experience in one or more of the following areas: design or project management, professional liability insurance, claims, litigation support, or policy development
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, explain, and negotiate complex professional services agreements
• Working knowledge of professional liability insurance, project-specific insurance requirements, claims reporting, and litigation processes
• Knowledge of construction processes for large vertical and horizontal projects, including experience negotiating and resolving design and construction issues
• Strong judgment and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing matters, independently resolve routine issues, recognize when escalation is necessary, analyze risk and claims information, and prepare concise reports and recommendations
• Strong interpersonal, written communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to address complex and sensitive issues professionally with design professionals, firm management, attorneys, insurers, and clients
• Experience using Deltek, Newforma, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Office applications, and AI-enabled productivity and research tools

About the Role

• Support the Director of Risk Management with decision-making, policy development, annual reporting, insurance renewals, industry research, and special projects
• Manage assigned contract, project, insurance, incident, and claims matters from intake through resolution
• Independently resolve routine risk matters and elevate issues involving material legal, financial, insurance, operational, or reputational risk
• Review and assess professional services agreements to identify, prioritize, and categorize unacceptable terms and conditions
• Advise design and management staff on contractual risks, recommend alternative language, and negotiate reasonable terms with clients, design professionals, legal counsel, and other contracting parties
• Maintain consistent contract review practices and tools, including checklists, approved fallback language, escalation criteria, and records of negotiated exceptions
• Support project pursuit and go or no-go decisions by identifying and communicating contractual, professional liability, insurance, claims history, delivery method, and other relevant risk considerations
• Assist design and management staff in documenting project issues and preparing appropriate written correspondence
• Maintain incident reporting and claims management procedures and prepare reports addressing responsibilities, deadlines, status, and material developments
• Track project incidents, claims, disputes, and litigation, and coordinate relevant communications among project teams, insurers, legal counsel, and senior management
• Support subconsultant risk management by reviewing agreement terms, flow-down obligations, indemnity provisions, and insurance requirements
• Support annual insurance renewals by collecting and validating exposure data, analyzing loss information, and preparing submissions for brokers and insurers
• Monitor risk management metrics, analyze incident and claims information, and prepare periodic reports and recommendations for senior management
• Maintain risk management policies, procedures, guidance, training materials, tools, and Risk Management Portal content addressing professional liability and other AEC risks
• Use approved AI-enabled productivity and research tools responsibly in support of risk management activities, including validating outputs, protecting confidential information, exercising independent judgment, and complying with applicable firm policies
• Deliver risk management training, participate in relevant industry organizations, maintain industry contacts and resources, and perform other duties related to the firm's risk management function

Your work will directly contribute to shaping environments where people live, work, and thrive, all while growing your career within a supportive, people-first culture.

Join Us

If you're excited to bring your talents to a collaborative, people-first environment where you can make an impact while growing your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Here’s what you can expect:

Professional Growth

In-house Learning, Tuition Reimbursement, Licensure Support, Professional Organization Engagement.

Culture that Cares

93% of employees say they feel cared for, and 96% are confident in our future success.

Competitive Benefits

• Flexible Schedules & Generous PTO
• Healthcare (Medical, Dental, Vision, Wellness Programs)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Short- & Long-term Disability, Paid Life & AD&D
• Supplemental, Critical Care, Pet, Legal & ID Theft Insurance
• Family Planning and Parental Leave
• Mass/Public Transit Program
• Telemedicine and Employee Assistance Program

Gresham Smith is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate.

Everyone is invited to apply!

GRESHAM SMITH does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, headhunters, search firms, or agencies. No referral or recruiter fees will be paid without a fully executed GRESHAM PLACEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT (PSA) in advance. Submissions made without a PSA may be recruited and hired by GRESHAM SMITH with no financial obligation to the submitting party. Any such unsolicited resumes or candidate information sent to hiring managers or any employee becomes the property of GRESHAM SMITH.