Construction Contracts & Claims Specialist

About the Role

Trueline's client, an established Massachusetts construction firm supporting government, municipal, and commercial projects throughout New England, is seeking a Construction Contracts & Claims Specialist to join their team in the Springfield, MA area. This is a full-time, hands-on role for someone who understands construction contracts, payment disputes, change orders, retainage, claims, and receivables and can help the company recover money owed while strengthening its processes going forward.

What You'll Do

• Review construction contracts, subcontracts, change orders, amendments, and project documentation for payment, notice, and risk issues.
• Track and manage disputed receivables, retainage, unpaid change orders, and other outstanding project balances.
• Help drive recovery efforts related to approximately $1.5M in currently outstanding receivables and claims.
• Prepare demand packages, claim files, supporting documentation, timelines, correspondence, and materials for negotiation, arbitration, or outside counsel.
• Work closely with project managers, accounting, leadership, and outside attorneys to gather the facts and documentation needed to pursue payment.
• Identify missing notices, incomplete backup, contract gaps, and documentation issues that could affect the company's ability to recover money.
• Help improve contract templates, internal procedures, and project documentation practices to prevent future payment disputes.
• Monitor contractual deadlines, notice requirements, retainage provisions, payment terms, and claims procedures.
• Support projects before, during, and after execution so commercial and contract issues are addressed early.
• Coordinate with outside counsel when legal interpretation, litigation, arbitration, or attorney representation is required.

Must-Haves

• 5+ years of experience working with construction contracts, construction claims, commercial disputes, contract administration, or closely related work.
• Strong knowledge of construction payment issues, including change orders, retainage, disputed invoices, claims documentation, and contract compliance.
• Ability to read and interpret complex construction contracts and identify important commercial and procedural requirements.
• Experience assembling claims, supporting payment recovery efforts, and maintaining detailed documentation.
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to prepare clear, fact-based correspondence and claim materials.
• Highly organized, persistent, and comfortable following complicated issues through to resolution.
• Ability to work across project management, finance, operations, leadership, and outside legal counsel.
• Practical judgment and confidence escalating issues when attorney involvement is required.
• A JD is not required.

Nice-to-Haves

• Paralegal experience supporting a construction law, commercial litigation, or construction claims practice.
• Experience working for a general contractor, subcontractor, construction manager, developer, or construction law firm.
• Familiarity with arbitration, mediation, mechanic's liens, payment bonds, or construction litigation support.
• Experience with public, municipal, or government construction projects.
• Paralegal certificate, bachelor's degree, or formal construction contract training.
• Experience creating or improving contract administration and claims tracking processes.

Benefits

• A highly visible role with direct impact on cash flow, contract performance, and project outcomes.
• Compensation ranging from $90,000-$100,000 DOE
• The opportunity to take ownership of construction claims and receivables without needing to be a licensed attorney.
• Direct collaboration with company leadership, project teams, accounting, and outside counsel.
• A chance to solve immediate payment issues while also helping prevent future disputes.
• Broad exposure to construction contracts and claims across the full project lifecycle.
• A full-time position with flexibility to work from home as business needs allow.
• An opportunity for an experienced paralegal, claims professional, or contracts specialist to step into a broader business-facing role.