Full Job Description
About the role
Venbrook is seeking a Director of Subrogation to lead and grow our subrogation department. This leader will own the recovery function end to end day-to-day operations, the infrastructure and technology that support it, client and account relationships, and the strategy for growing recoveries and expanding what we offer.
The role is both strategic and hands-on. The Director will set direction for the department and build the people, processes, data, and tools behind it. They will also stay close enough to the work to guide complex recoveries, keep quality consistent, and represent the function with clients, carriers, and leadership.
The right candidate is a proven subrogation leader who has grown a recovery operation, not just managed one. They pair deep technical knowledge with sound business sense, a strong client focus, and a record of modernizing how work gets done.
What you'll do
Department leadership and strategy
• Set the vision, strategy, and annual goals for the subrogation department so they support Venbrook's overall claims and business priorities.
• Build and refine the department's operating model, including structure, roles, workflows, authority levels, referral criteria, and best practices.
• Set and track key performance indicators such as recovery dollars, recovery rate, cycle time, inventory age, cost of recovery, and client satisfaction. Report results and trends to executive leadership.
• Find and act on chances to expand capabilities into new lines of business, recovery types, and services, including occupational accident, workers' compensation, property, auto, and other specialty programs.
Operations and day-to-day management
• Oversee daily operations, including inventory, file assignments, workload balance, and service standards.
• Give technical direction on complex, high-value, or sensitive recoveries, including liability analysis, recovery strategy, litigation, arbitration, negotiation, and settlement within assigned authority.
• Build quality assurance, file audit, and compliance programs that make file handling consistent and well documented.
• Oversee outside counsel, experts, collection agencies, third-party administrators, and other recovery partners. This includes vendor selection, fee arrangements, performance management, and cost control.
• Make sure the department complies with applicable subrogation laws, regulations, anti-subrogation rules, made-whole doctrines, lien requirements, and client contract terms.
Technology modernization and infrastructure
• Lead efforts to modernize the technology behind the subrogation function, including claims systems, recovery identification tools, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled workflows.
• Partner with IT, claims operations, and outside technology providers to evaluate, choose, and roll out solutions that find recovery opportunities earlier and make the work more efficient.
• Build reporting and dashboards that give leadership and clients clear, timely views of recovery performance.
• Standardize data capture and referral processes across claims teams so fewer recovery opportunities are missed.
Client growth and account management
• Serve as the senior subrogation contact for key clients, carriers, and program partners, and own relationship health, service delivery, and retention.
• Lead client stewardship meetings, performance reviews, and recovery reporting, turning results into clear insights and recommendations.
• Partner with brokerage, sales, and account management teams to support new business, renewals, and service offerings that include subrogation.
• Represent Venbrook's subrogation capabilities in client proposals, finalist presentations, and industry settings.
People leadership and talent development
• Lead, mentor, and develop managers, supervisors, and subrogation professionals. Build a culture of accountability, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Plan staffing and recruiting and build succession plans that keep up with growth.
• Create training, cross-training, and career development programs that strengthen technical skills and prepare future leaders.
• Set clear expectations, conduct performance reviews, and handle performance issues promptly and fairly.
Cross-functional partnership
• Work with claims, legal, finance, underwriting, and client-facing teams to embed recovery thinking throughout the claim's lifecycle.
• Work with finance on recovery forecasting, accruals, budgets, and department financial performance.
• Escalate significant matters to executive leadership with clear, well-supported recommendations.
What you bring
• Bachelor's degree required. JD, MBA, or relevant industry designations (such as CPCU, AIC, or CSRP) are preferred.
• 10 or more years of subrogation or claims recovery experience across several lines of business, including complex, high-value, and litigated recoveries.
• 5 or more years of progressive leadership experience managing managers or multi-level teams, ideally in a carrier, TPA, or brokerage setting.
• A record of building or scaling a subrogation function, with measurable gains in recovery results, efficiency, or capabilities.
• Experience leading technology or process modernization, such as system implementations, analytics, automation, or AI tools.
• Strong client-facing and account management skills, with experience supporting business development, renewals, and client retention.
• Deep knowledge of subrogation law, lien rights, arbitration forums (such as Arbitration Forums, Inc.), and multi-state regulatory requirements.
• Experience with occupational accident and workers' compensation recoveries is strongly preferred.
• Strong business sense, including experience with budgets, vendor spend, KPIs, and financial reporting.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and executive presence, with the ability to influence clients, partners, and senior leadership.
Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $86,000-$121,000. Actual compensation will depend on factors including location, relevant experience, and qualifications.
