Construction Defect Adjuster

Commercial General Liability (CGL) Claims Adjuster

Join Sedgwick, a company dedicated to helping people face unexpected challenges. Our 33,000 colleagues work hard to provide services that matter. We offer a supportive culture and a healthy work-life balance. Sedgwick is recognized as a top workplace and is committed to financial services and insurance.

Claim Investigation & File Ownership

• Independently investigate and manage a full caseload of CGL claims, including premises liability, slip and fall, product liability, construction defect and construction-related losses, and contractual liability exposures.
• Drive timely claim resolution through proactive file management, strategic planning, and adherence to best practices in diary management and documentation.

Coverage Analysis & Policy Interpretation

• Analyze complex policy language, including insuring agreements, endorsements, exclusions (e.g., ongoing/completed operations, additional insured provisions), and limits to determine coverage applicability.
• Draft clear, defensible coverage position letters, including reservation of rights and denial letters, consistent with jurisdictional requirements and client expectations.

Liability & Damages Evaluation

• Conduct comprehensive liability investigations, including:
• Review and analysis of incident reports, contracts, lease agreements, and indemnification provisions.
• Identification and application of contractual risk transfer provisions.
• Obtaining and evaluating recorded statements, expert opinions, photographs, and surveillance.
• Evaluation of injury severity, medical treatment, and long-term exposure, including review of medical records, bills, and independent medical evaluations (IMEs) where applicable.
• Establish, maintain, and adjust reserves in accordance with claim developments and severity exposure.

Litigation Management

• Manage litigated files, including the retention and direction of defense counsel.
• Provide strategic oversight on litigation plans, budgets, pleadings, discovery, and dispositive motions.
• Participate in mediations, settlement conferences, and trial preparation, ensuring alignment with client and organizational strategies.

Settlement & Negotiation

• Negotiate settlements within delegated authority while balancing cost containment and risk exposure.
• Evaluate settlement value based on liability, damages, venue, and litigation risks, and escalate appropriately when exceeding authority.

Risk Transfer & Subrogation

• Identify, evaluate, and pursue risk transfer opportunities, including:
• Additional insured tenders
• Contractual indemnity provisions
• Subrogation potential
• Coordinate with coverage counsel, carriers, and third parties to maximize recovery and proper allocation of liability.

Client & Stakeholder Communication

• Maintain proactive, professional communication with insureds, claimants, brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide detailed status updates, large loss reports, and claim summaries tailored to client-specific reporting requirements.

Documentation, Compliance & Quality

• Maintain thorough, accurate, and timely file documentation to support claim decisions and audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable state regulations, client service instructions, and internal audit and quality standards.
• Participate in internal and external audits, file reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Adjuster licensing as required by jurisdiction(s) handled.
• Minimum of 5+ years of commercial general liability claims handling experience required; experience with litigated and construction-related claims strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of CGL coverage, policy interpretation, and jurisdictional differences.
• Experience managing litigated claims and working with defense counsel.
• Knowledge of construction defect, additional insured coverage, and risk transfer strategies.
• Ability to assess liability, damages, and exposure in complex loss scenarios.
• Strong negotiation and settlement skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including drafting coverage correspondence and client reports.
• Proficiency in claims systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Demonstrated organization, attention to detail, and time management.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-driven environment.
• Proven ability to meet or exceed performance, quality, and compliance metrics.

Work Environment

• Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines.
• Physical: Computer keyboarding, travel as required.
• Auditory/Visual: Hearing, vision and talking.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k and matching, PTO, disability and life insurance, employee assistance, flexible spending or health savings account, and other additional voluntary benefits.
• Sedgwick is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace.