Claims Manager (Hybrid)

In the role of Life Waiver of Premium Claims Manager, you will lead a team of Life Waiver of Premium Claims Specialists who perform disability analysis on Individual Life products. The team adjudicates claims under Life waiver of premium riders, as well as accelerated benefit rider (ABR and EABR) claims. This work calls for the same skill set as Individual Disability claims, including medical, vocational, financial, and investigative analysis, applied to Life policy and rider provisions. You will build the team's disability claims expertise, with a focus on clear written decision rationale and ownership of each claim from the initial decision through ongoing eligibility. If you are ready to bring your claims leadership experience, business acumen and innovative thinking, and represent Guardian with outstanding customer service, we will bring the support and resources to take your career to the next level. This is an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of our clients when they need it most, we are their Guardian!

You are

Manager of a team of Life Waiver of Premium Claims Specialists. You will develop their claims handling capabilities by strengthening the critical thinking skills needed to apply disability claim practices to Life policy and rider provisions, assess medical, vocational, and functional evidence, and work through nuanced fact patterns. You are skilled at ensuring timely, accurate, and well-documented decisions and a best-in-class customer experience. You are passionate about growing your career and confident sharing ideas to continually improve both yourself and move the organization into the future.

You will

Be a leader

• Lead by example.
• Hire, train, coach, and develop Claims Specialists, including new and early career team members, through structured onboarding and disability claims training.
• Provide actionable feedback, quality reviews, and performance management that promote future learning and success.
• Establish clear ownership of the waiver and accelerated benefit claim inventory and manage caseloads, workflow, and productivity to meet service, quality, and timeliness standards.
• Work across business lines including both internal and external stakeholders, such as Claims, medical and vocational resources, Underwriting, Legal, Compliance, offshore partners, and reinsurers.
• Continuously focus on self-development and embrace feedback and change.
• Innovate and collaborate, challenging the status quo to improve processes, tools, and the customer experience.

Be a decision maker

• Solve complex problems, while making timely, thoughtful decisions to resolve client issues.
• Serve as the escalation point and approval authority for complex, high-exposure, and adverse waiver of premium and accelerated benefit decisions, including approvals, continuations, suspensions, and terminations.
• Critical thinking skills are needed to analyze Life policy and rider provisions, definitions of disability, and accelerated benefit eligibility criteria, as well as medical, vocational, financial, functional, and other issues.
• Ensure claims receive appropriate ongoing review, including recertifications and changes in the definition of disability over the life of the claim.
• Ensure timely and accurate communications and decision rationale that represent Guardian’s values.
• Provide accurate claims decisions in a time sensitive and fast-paced environment, while adhering to regulatory guidelines, internal standards, and reinsurance requirements.
• Use inventory, quality, and audit results to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities, and report results to leadership.

You have

• 7+ years disability insurance claim handling experience (Individual Disability, Life Waiver of Premium, or accelerated benefit rider claims - preferred).
• Prior people leadership experience, or demonstrated experience mentoring and training claims professionals.
• A college or university degree, or high school diploma with strong disability claims management experience.
• Extensive working knowledge of disability coverages and definitions, including own occupation and any occupation, as well as advanced medical, occupational, financial, and investigative skills associated with the management of disability claims, and the ability to apply them to Life insurance products.
• Knowledge of Individual Life insurance policy and rider provisions, including waiver of premium and accelerated benefit riders, contestability, and reinsurance - a plus.
• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills including company representation in matters involving dispute.
• The ability to anticipate internal and/or external business challenges.
• Experience providing best in class customer service, both written and telephonic.
• Demonstrated experience prioritizing competing deadlines and managing a claim inventory.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Solid understanding of Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Location /Travel

This is a hybrid role. If you are within close proximity to one of our Guardian hubs—Bethlehem, PA; Pittsfield, MA; New York City; Stamford, CT; or Boston, MA—you will work in the office three days per week, with Bethlehem or Pittsfield strongly preferred.

Salary Range:

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.