Director of Risk Management

About the Opportunity

Parametrix is seeking an experienced Director of Risk Management to lead our firm's contract review and contractual risk management efforts. This is a key leadership position that works closely with executive leadership, project managers, and technical professionals to evaluate contractual obligations, manage legal and professional liability risks, and support responsible business decisions across our organization.

We are looking for an experienced attorney with extensive knowledge of the architecture and engineering (A&E) consulting industry, particularly professional services agreements, engineering contracts, and the unique contractual and insurance risks associated with infrastructure projects.

Our ideal candidate combines strong legal expertise with a practical understanding of how engineering consulting firms operate. Experience with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), other state Departments of Transportation (DOTs), and public agencies is particularly valuable.

This position provides leadership to our contract administration function and serves as a trusted advisor to company leadership. The Director will lead contractual reviews and provide critical risk guidance during project evaluation and contract negotiations, working collaboratively with the business and Project Delivery leaders responsible for broader project decisions.

This is not a litigation-focused position. The primary emphasis is on proactive contract review, contractual risk assessment, professional liability, insurance risk management, and claims avoidance. The Director will coordinate with external legal counsel when appropriate.

Your Role on the Team:

Contract Review & Risk Management

• Lead the legal and contractual review of complex professional services agreements, master service agreements, design-build and contractor agreements, subconsultant agreements, teaming agreements, nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements, leases, software licenses, and other agreements across the firm's business lines.
• Identify, evaluate, and advise on contractual risks related to indemnification, limitation of liability, standard of care, insurance requirements, warranties, dispute resolution, and other provisions affecting professional services.
• Serve as a key advisor and risk gatekeeper during contract evaluation and negotiations, working with project managers and business leaders who retain responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, and overall project commitments.
• Provide guidance on contractual requirements associated with WSDOT, other state DOTs, municipalities, transit agencies, and other public-sector clients.
• Develop and maintain contract review standards, preferred language, negotiation guidance, and practical tools that promote consistency and efficiency across the organization.
• Strengthen contract documentation practices, including coordination of reviewed agreements, final executed contracts, and material decisions to accept contractual exceptions.
• Exercise sound judgment in distinguishing between unacceptable contractual exposure and manageable business risk, supporting informed decisions that balance risk, revenue, and client relationships.

Professional Liability & Insurance Risk Management

• Serve as the firm's senior advisor on contractual and professional liability risk, collaborating with Project Delivery leadership on broader project delivery risk matters.
• Identify and assess professional liability and business risks associated with the firm's consulting services, including subconsultant insurance gaps, nonperformance, contractual obligations, and limitations of liability.
• Provide guidance to leadership and project teams on potential claims, contractual disputes, and emerging liability issues, emphasizing early intervention and claims avoidance.
• Coordinate with the firm's insurance broker and carriers on coverage considerations, annual renewals, professional liability matters, and emerging insurance risks.
• Facilitate appropriate and timely notification of potential claims to insurance carriers and coordinate with external legal counsel, insurance representatives, and internal stakeholders as necessary.
• Provide contractual and liability risk guidance on major pursuits, alternative delivery arrangements, teaming relationships, and complex client engagements.
• Maintain practical risk management resources, claims escalation procedures, and documentation to support consistent decision-making and organizational continuity.
• Support monitoring and protection of the firm's trademarks in coordination with internal stakeholders and external legal counsel.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and mentor the firm's Contract Administrator, providing guidance on contract review, issue escalation, workflow priorities, and professional development.
• Partner with executive leadership, regional and division leaders, project managers, finance, and other teams to support informed contractual and business decisions.
• Provide training and guidance to project managers and technical professionals on contractual risk, professional liability, insurance requirements, negotiation practices, and claims prevention, including an annual firmwide professional liability training program.
• Build trusted relationships across the organization, encouraging early communication and escalation of contractual concerns and potential risk issues.
• Collaborate with Project Delivery leadership to ensure contractual and professional liability considerations are appropriately incorporated into broader project risk evaluations.
• Provide guidance on professional engineering licensing and regulatory requirements in coordination with the firm's licensed engineering professionals and external counsel, as appropriate.
• Promote a practical, solutions-oriented approach to risk management that protects the firm's interests while supporting client relationships and successful project delivery.

What You Bring to the Team:

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Significant experience practicing law or providing legal counsel in the architecture and engineering consulting industry, with demonstrated expertise in professional services contracts and contractual risk management.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible legal, contract review, or risk management experience, including substantial direct experience supporting A&E consulting operations.
• Demonstrated expertise reviewing complex professional services agreements, including design-build agreements, subconsultant agreements, and public-sector contracts.
• Strong understanding of professional liability, insurance requirements, engineering standards of care, indemnification, limitation of liability, and contractual risk allocation.
• Experience advising on professional liability insurance matters, potential claims, and contractual disputes within the A&E industry.
• Strong business judgment and demonstrated ability to provide practical, defensible recommendations that balance risk mitigation with the realities of operating a consulting business.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership, project managers, and technical professionals.

Highly Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with WSDOT or other state DOT contracting requirements, consultant agreements, and public infrastructure projects.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or prior experience in engineering design, project management, or technical project delivery.
• Experience with design-build and other alternative delivery contracts, including complex contractual risk allocation and flow-down provisions.
• Experience working directly with insurance brokers, carriers, and external legal counsel on professional liability and claims matters.
• Previous leadership experience overseeing contract administration or risk management professionals.
• Experience supporting professional engineering licensing and related compliance requirements.

Why Join Parametrix?

Employee Ownership & Great Benefits: As a 100% employee-owned company, you will share in and contribute to Parametrix's success. You will earn stock in your Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) account and be an important contributor to our collective achievements.

Our Benefits include:

• Comprehensive Healthcare (medical, dental, vision, short- & long-term disability insurance)
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (financial profit sharing)
• Performance-based bonuses
• 401(k) Plan
• Paid Time Off (both vacation & sick/wellness time accruals)
• Paid Holidays
• Parental Bonding Leave

Exciting, Award-Winning Project Work: Our work earns recognition for its innovation and positive impact on communities, giving you the opportunity to contribute to projects that make a difference. Learn more at https://www.parametrix.com/our-work/

Flexible Work Arrangements: We understand the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible work arrangements to support our employee-owners' diverse needs. Whether it is hybrid, remote, or in-office, we provide options that allow you to work in a way that best suits your lifestyle while staying connected and engaged with your team.