Contracts and Claims Specialist

About the Positions We’re seeking Contracts and Claims Specialists of various skill levels to support large, complex heavy civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, bridges, transit (bus and rail), aviation (international airports), and water/wastewater projects delivered through both traditional and alternative delivery methods. These are construction claims and disputes roles, meaning contract claims rather than insurance adjusting. You’ll evaluate claims and requests for equitable adjustment for entitlement and quantum, test claimed cost and time against the contract and the contemporaneous record, and develop a position that holds up in negotiation, in front of a dispute review board, and in whatever comes after that. Contract administration is part of the job, but the center of it is what happens when the parties stop agreeing. This post is for future roles and not for a specific opportunity that is available right now. We accept applications and conduct interviews in advance of upcoming hiring needs. When a candidate is selected, their profile is activated in our talent pool for this specialty area. We notify our talent pool candidates first whenever we have a project need. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Note: We are seeking candidates of various skill levels, and the following responsibilities represent the core of these roles. Scope and complexity increase with experience level. Analyze claims and notices of potential claim and lost productivity, and evaluate entitlement against the contract provisions that govern each one. Evaluate requests for equitable adjustment and disputed change proposals for entitlement, merit, and cost reasonableness, and recommend a position supported by the record. Review claimed costs, including labor, equipment, materials, extended field and home office overhead, and markup, against contract provisions, force account records, and submitted cost backup. Identify unsupported, duplicated, or misclassified amounts. Coordinate with scheduling staff to evaluate time impact analyses and time extension requests against the accepted baseline and the contemporaneous progress schedules. Assemble the contemporaneous record behind each claim, pulling daily reports, correspondence, requests for information, submittals, inspection records, and meeting minutes into a package that supports the program’s position. Verify that notices meet the timing and content requirements of the contract, and track responses so contractual response periods are met and the program’s defenses stay intact. Develop independent cost estimates and quantity checks on roadway, structures, and utility work to test contractor pricing on disputed changes and claims. Prepare claim position papers, findings of fact, and recommendations for program decision-makers, dispute review boards, and mediation or arbitration panels. Support negotiation and settlement of disputed changes and claims by developing entitlement and quantum summaries, cost comparisons, and a documented basis of settlement. Evaluate claims arising in active operating environments, including restricted service windows, access limits, and facility shutdowns. Coordinate with counsel, claims consultants, project controls, and finance staff on claim strategy, document production, and responses to formal demands. Track open claims and disputed exposure by contract for program leadership. Attributes Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent multi-tasking and organizational skills. Collaborative mindset that fosters teamwork, trust, and positive relationships. Natural curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, quantity surveying, or finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 5+ years of contract administration and construction claims experience for large (>$500M), complex, heavy-civil infrastructure projects. Experience analyzing or supporting claims, requests for equitable adjustment, or disputed change proposals for entitlement, cost, and schedule impact. Working knowledge of standard construction contract terms and public agency contracting requirements, including notice, changes, differing site conditions, delay, and disputes provisions. Ability to interpret construction contract documents, plans, specifications, and cost and schedule records, and to build an entitlement narrative from the contemporaneous record. Experience with industry standard contract administration, document management, and CPM scheduling software (e.g., Unifier, Aconex, e-Builder, Primavera P6, etc.). Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc.). Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, quantity surveying, or finance. Active professional certifications such as CPCM (NCMA), CCM (CMAA), and/or CCP or CFCC (AACE). Experience serving as the owner’s lead analyst on a claim exceeding $10M in disputed value. Experience supporting contract administration and claims on a package exceeding $100M in construction value. Experience carrying a claim beyond the project level through a dispute review board, mediation, arbitration, or litigation, including document production and support to counsel. Experience preparing or reviewing time impact analyses, as-planned versus as-built comparisons, or windows analyses supporting delay claims, including the treatment of concurrent delay. Proficiency with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software. Compensation Details Expected Salary: $90k-$155k/year ($43-$75/hour). Luster provides the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might offer f