Insurance Operations Manager

Building Locally, Leading Nationally

Top 50 Homebuilder Nationwide, #6 Best Place to Work, Top 10 Privately-Held Businesses in NC, Builder of the Year Award Recipient!

Why Eastwood Homes?

Founded in 1977, Eastwood Homes is a privately-held residential homebuilder dedicated to providing homes of exceptional value and outstanding craftsmanship in six divisions and three states throughout the Southeast region. With more than 45 years of experience and 15,000 home closings (celebrated in 2016), Eastwood Homes prides itself on offering more than just a place to live, we offer a way of life for homeowners and employees alike. We invite you to join our team of dedicated, motivated, and passionate professionals and experience the true meaning behind our company motto, Built with Care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: The Corporate Insurance Operations Manager is principally responsible for advising IBEX HC, LLC, Eastwood Construction Partners, LLC, and all related and affiliated entities or subsidiaries as identified from time to time, whether now existing or later created and the Stewart family and the Company’s directors and officers, as necessary, (cumulatively, the “Company”), on a range of insurance reporting, regulatory compliance, organizational tracking, claims management, legal production, and related issues. As a member of the management team, the incumbent works and communicates with all departments and divisions within the organizations. This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer and has dotted line reporting responsibilities to the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. This role requires willingness to be part of a team, flexibility, strong communication skills and the assumption of overall responsibility for legal, regulatory and compliance initiatives.

The Insurance Operations Manager must:

1. By experience, education, or a combination thereof, have property and casualty insurance and claims management experience, with experience in the homebuilding and construction industry (with preferred experience in captive insurance and prior work in risk transfer amongst multiple insurers, as well as homeowner’s associations, general contractors, and detailed insurance requirements within contracts);
2. Analyze and understand insurable project risk mitigation opportunities; educate and interact with risk management and operational teams to ensure coordination between project activities, exposures, and appropriate insurance coverage(s) and independently answer questions related to insurability risks and opportunities;
3. Independently, and within an integrated team, explore and make recommendations on alternative risk solutions & strategies such as captives, self-insurance, excess or other insurance vehicles, including bonds, to manage risk transfer challenges;
4. Be familiar with claims management software and reporting;
5. Demonstrate a thorough working proficiency in use of office equipment: phone systems, fax machine, copier, personal computer, postage machine and printers;
6. Be capable of interacting and effectively communicating with outside insurance representatives, claims managers, regulators and compliance representatives, experts, as well as employees;
7. Be able to interact professionally with internally oriented customers, subcontractors, suppliers, company personnel, land developers, and other associates of Eastwood Homes;
8. Demonstrate a working knowledge of third-party warranty and insurance specifications and requirements, as well as subcontracts, supplier agreements, professional service agreements, and insurance forms in various forms;
9. Demonstrate the ability to manage tight deadlines, promptly address changes without disrupting schedules, and managing high volumes of work with minimal direct supervision;
10. Demonstrate excellent verbal communication, research and writing skills;
11. Demonstrate ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in diverse subject areas;
12. Demonstrate an outstanding work ethic and an operational mindset;
13. Demonstrate a business-oriented approach to problem-solving, tempered by an appreciation for insurance nuance, risk and heightened analytical and organizational prowess;
14. Demonstrate excellent judgment and initiative in selecting the most effective solutions, with a focus on making fiscal decisions consistent with promoting long term Company interests;
15. Demonstrate an ability to work under pressure and prioritize and manage workload, manage simultaneous tasks, and meet deadlines within a changing fast-paced environment;
16. Demonstrate an exceptional ability to be discrete as it relates to sensitive insurance, claims, legal, accounting and human resource information;
17. Demonstrate an aptitude for training employees in areas of emphasis;
18. Develop and maintain expertise in areas of insurance which effect company operations; and
19. Must possess intelligence, independent critical thinking ability, organizational and time management skill, a sensitivity to conflicts of interest identification and management, personal integrity and a commitment to ethical behavior in all jurisdictions, state and federal.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manage the Company’s insurance and risk-transfer programs and processes in the areas of:

1. Subcontracts, professional services, and certificate of insurance onboarding and renewals, to include having principal responsibility for overseeing trade partner compliance on an on-going basis; conducting periodic Vendor/Trade Partner Audit to assure high confidence of achievement in acceptable compliance with legal and insurance requirements and work with trades and trade insurance agents where issues arise. Review & grant appropriate exceptions to standard compliance requirements where business necessity dictates, in coordination with legal guidance provided, as applicable;
2. Review of insurance policy language and provide suggestions and guidance regarding exclusion and coverage questions, in coordination with others as necessary or advisable;
3. Communicate with insurance agents and insurer representatives regarding coverage or exclusion matters in a solution-oriented manner aimed at reducing and effectively managing Company risk transfer;
4. Developing claims management software databases, report generation, trend reporting, and data management;
5. Assist with analysis of annual insurance premiums, financial performance of insurance programs, and determination of premium allocations. Complete premium audits when needed;
6. Assist with contract reviews related to insurance and bond issues;
7. Manage surety bond program, including oversight of administration, reporting, and premium allocations, to include licensure bonding requirements;
8. Organize and provide monthly reporting as needed to update property and casualty reports, schedules and related information;
9. Organize and provide renewal, claims history, ratings, and related support to manage ongoing deliverables targeted at reducing Company financial and risk exposures;
10. Review contacts and independently determine insurance needs required to satisfy such requirements and spearhead obtaining all coverages, forms, certificates and other documentation needed to ensure compliance;
11. Organize and provide claims management and legal discovery support as requested;
12. Support production of Captive Insurance claims and supporting documentation;
13. Identify areas of risk and methods to eliminate or minimize risk. Work to reduce potential liability and risk through adopting policies that protect Company from undue risk and/or legal exposures;
14. Participate in safety, insurance, and other meetings as requested;
15. Remain aware of Insurance specific legal, legislative and regulatory changes and participate, to the extent prudent, in influencing changes which are positive for the Company, or which reduce burdens on the Company;
16. Actively monitors Insurance industry trends and changes in areas of Company risk through membership in appropriate information exchange services, organizations, and attending continuing education, seminars or conferences;
17. Collaborate with and provide support for the Operations safety team to ensure compliance with OSHA standards, processes, and procedures, including annual OSHA Reporting for all Divisions, coordinate on-site inspections of the OSHA Consultant. Work with Legal on any OSHA Inspections or document requests. Facilitate OSHA 10 Hour Training Courses for all field construction personnel;
18. Collaborate with and provide support for the human resources team to ensure compliance with general contractor, real estate, business licensure, and any other licensure requirements, to include working with Legal on any licensure renewals or inquiries, complaints or any new Company or Division set up;
19. Support legal audits of corporate documents and training; this will include yearly audits of contracts, employee manuals, policies, corporate resolutions, and other documentation;
20. Support legal department generally in litigation efforts, including discovery production, discovery research, reports, warranty tracking and to recover in subrogation as applicable;
21. Developing and conducting training sessions for staff on a wide range of topic; and
22. Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years’ insurance claims experience
• Experience in the construction industry
• Bachelor’s degree

At Eastwood Homes, we know that no one is more vital to our success than our team members. For your success and well-being, we offer competitive compensation, challenging opportunities for growth, a comprehensive benefits package including a 401K, and a fun environment in which you can thrive both professionally and personally!

Will you join us?