Director, Risk Management

About the role

This is a high-visibility role for a seasoned risk management professional who wants real breadth: financial lines, property, casualty, and cyber, plus a wide mix of business package, stand-alone, and specialty coverages for the Company's subsidiaries which range from hospitality to project management. Reporting to the SVP, Risk Management, the Director will lead risk identification, mitigation, and prevention efforts across Ashford's family of operating companies — with direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to grow the role.

The role offers a broad, varied portfolio — casualty, property, cyber, construction, marine, bonds, and captive insurance — with a direct line to the SVP, Risk Management and regular interaction with brokers, lenders, and subsidiary leadership across the platform. The Director will have a seat at the table on enterprise risk management and the captive insurance program, with room to shape both as they evolve, and will be part of a lean, collaborative team where ownership and initiative are noticed — and rewarded with growth.

Responsibilities

• Gathering pertinent information from various departments and subsidiaries and preparing applications and submissions for a variety of corporate insurance programs as well as for subsidiary companies
• Preparing marketing materials and interacting with brokers in preparation for insurance policy renewals
• Pulling and consolidating reports amongst various brokers and preparing loss runs and reports on claims
• Performing trend analysis and recommending and implementing risk mitigation solutions such as safety policies and training
• Providing contractual, insurance, and risk management support to internal departments and subsidiaries, including negotiation and drafting of insurance language in material contracts with clients, lenders, contractors, and vendors
• Preparing budgets and allocations of insurance premiums to hotels and subsidiary companies
• Preparing accounting reports and interfacing with accounting and auditing teams
• Working with brokers to place bonds and managing their renewal
• Overseeing the renewal of flood policies
• Requesting and reviewing certificates of insurance
• Working with lenders and their consultants on policy review and compliance matters
• Assisting with the enterprise risk management program and captive insurance program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in business or a relevant field
• CPCU, ARM, or similar risk management certification preferred
• 5+ years of progressive risk management experience
• Extensive experience with shared and layered programs required
• Working knowledge of: (i) casualty coverage, including workers' comp in multiple jurisdictions; (ii) construction and development coverages, including builder's risk, GL wraps, and owner/contractor controlled insurance programs; and (iii) property coverages, including All-Risk, Named Perils, Wind/Hail, earthquake, pollution, terrorism, flood, and NFIP programs
• Captive insurance structure experience preferred
• Lodging industry acumen a plus

Skills

• An energetic, solutions-first mindset — you thrive on variety and move fast in a lean, entrepreneurial environment
• Ownership mentality — you take a problem, run with it, and see it through
• A confident, persuasive communicator, equally comfortable presenting to executives and negotiating with brokers and vendors
• Genuine relationship-builder — you connect easily with people at every level, from field teams to the C-suite
• Curious and improvement-minded — always looking for a smarter way to do things
• Collaborative, analytical, and a good sense of humor under pressure
• Strong work ethic paired with real accountability to deadlines and outcomes

About Ashford

Ashford is an alternative asset management company with a portfolio of strategic operating businesses that provide global asset management, investment management, and related services to the real estate and hospitality sectors. Ashford's principals have a strong track record and many years of experience investing in and asset managing lodging and real estate. Ashford currently serves as advisor to Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE: AHT), a publicly traded real estate investment trust. Ashford also has a Services division, where it strategically invests in operating companies that provide products and services to the industry, including project and construction management (Premier Project Management), hotel management (Remington Hospitality), audiovisual services (Inspire Audiovisual), destination services including watersports, beach, recreation, and transportation services (Red Watersports & Leisure), and hypo-allergenic room products (Pure Wellness).