Construction Expert Witness

Intro / Job Brief

The Expert (also known as an Expert Witness or Testifying Expert) supports attorneys and insurance carriers by providing professional opinions and testimony on complex technical matters within the construction and building industries. This person plays a critical role in offering insights into technical aspects, potential liabilities, causation, and damages in construction disputes.

This role represents a specialization of the Technical Expert position with a focus on construction site safety. The ideal candidate has extensive job site experience with an emphasis on safety programs, OSHA compliance, and contractor safety practices, and is frequently engaged to evaluate safety-related causation and responsibility.

The Expert has extensive experience in some aspect of construction or buildings (general contractor, trade contractor, architect, engineer, cost estimator, scheduler, etc.), as well as proven experience serving as the designated expert for lawsuits and/or insurance claims. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, possesses a passion for uncovering the root causes of construction issues, and is adept at presenting clear and cost-effective solutions.

General Objectives

1. Build and grow your Expert Witness legacy in the industry as part of the Pete Fowler Construction Services team.
2. Build and grow your Expert Witness legacy in the industry as part of the Pete Fowler Construction Services team.
3. Serve as a key contributor to the team’s collective knowledge and expertise.
4. Manage a portfolio of projects ensuring both client and company objectives are met.
5. Collaborate with other team members to solve problems, act with integrity, and deliver high-quality work aligned with PFCS values.
6. Maximize portfolio success by delegating work and mentoring others through technical leadership.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Expert Witness Testimony
   1. Serve as the designated Expert Witness for lawsuits and insurance claims.
   2. Provide Expert Witness Testimony including deposition, arbitration, and trial.
2. Marketing & Sales
   1. Collaborate with the Marketing & Sales team to develop an Expert marketing strategy and prepare all necessary documents including Resume/CV, Consultant Introduction, and Testimony List.
   2. Attend pre-project calls with clients to discuss project details and determine if required expertise is met.
3. Building Inspection and Property Condition Assessment
   1. Attend site investigations to inspect structures and conditions relating to the construction.
   2. Rigorously document with photographs, notes, diagrams, and checklists.
   3. Prepare inspection summary narratives of what was discussed and observed.
4. Document Analysis
   1. Review, analyze, summarize, and demonstrate understanding of:
      1. Construction documents (proposals, architectural drawings, contracts / subcontracts, schedules, change orders, daily logs, etc.)
      2. Legal documents (summons, complaints, motions, demands, depositions, expert reports, etc.)
   2. Conduct research and gather data on building codes, standards of care, construction best practices, etc.
   3. Utilize PFCS systems to organize analysis in a clear, concise, and verifiable manner.
   4. Prepare deliverable output of analyses for clients, as determined by project objective.
5. Cost Estimating / Cost Analysis
   1. Prepare scopes of work and cost estimates.
   2. Prepare cost analyses and / or cost comparisons.
   3. Prepare requests for proposal as required.
6. Preparation of Technical Reports
   1. Present site observations, document analysis, and cost estimates to Technical Experts.
   2. Hypothesize causes and utilize PFCS systems to organize and structure hypotheses in a clear, concise, and verifiable manner.
   3. Determine content and flow of reports according to project objective.
   4. Collaborate with Project Coordinators to deliver reports that adhere to PFCS standards.
7. Client Meetings
   1. Attend meetings and mediations with clients and others to gather project information or present PFCS work.
   2. Document meeting notes and utilize PFCS systems to communicate actions as required.
8. Billing
   1. Track time billed to clients on each and every project.
   2. Maintain billable hour targets, monthly goals.
9. Professional Development
   1. Collaborate with management to set quarterly professional development goals aligned with departmental and company objectives.
   2. Actively pursue these goals within the designated timeframe, ensuring acquired skills contribute to achieving company targets.

Qualifications

1. Minimum of 10 years of construction experience or a blend of relevant education and field experience required.
2. Bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, or a related field (advanced degree or professional licensure preferred).
3. Prior experience serving as a designated Expert Witness in construction-related litigation.
4. Applicable licenses and certifications that support your expertise.
5. A humble confidence in knowing you are an "expert" at what you do, and that you could go head-to-head with the best in your field.
6. Strong ability to think critically, analyze problems effectively, and present actionable solutions based on findings.
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are crucial for conveying complex technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
8. Ability to perform the physical tasks required for conducting thorough on-site inspections.
9. A professional presence and confidence appropriate for expert testimony.

Additional Requirements for Safety Expert Specialization

1. Active or prior California General Contractor (GC) license required
2. Extensive experience working on active construction job sites with an emphasis on site safety practices
3. Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations and compliance
4. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications required
5. Safety Engineer certifications preferred

Key Performance Indicators

1. Projects As Expert
2. Billable Hours: Individual
3. Total Portfolio Billings
4. Portfolio Realization
5. Portfolio Contribution Percentage
6. % of Portfolio Billings Billed by Expert
7. % of Portfolio Billings Billed by Others