The Director, Specialty Claims provides leadership for a General Liability claims team, overseeing the handling, strategic direction, coverage analysis, litigation oversight, and resolution of high-value litigated claims.
This role serves as a technical claims resource, reporting directly to the VP, Specialty Claims. The Director, Specialty Claims, is responsible for the overall performance of their team, litigation management, and operational excellence while driving continuous improvement across people, processes, technology, and vendor partnerships.
Qualifications:- A bachelor's degree in Business Administration, or an equivalent education, or career experience.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible commercial casualty claims experience handling high-severity, high-exposure litigated claims.
- 5+ years leading complex claims organizations or technical claims teams.
- Demonstrated experience partnering with internal and external counsel to develop litigation strategies, evaluate legal and financial exposure, and oversee the resolution of high-value General Liability claims.
- Experience handling and managing New York Labor Law claims.
Primary Job Functions:- Provide leadership and technical expertise in guiding complex claims decisions, coverage analysis, litigation strategy, reserve adequacy, and settlement authority for New York Labor Law claims.
- Collaborate with Executive Leadership, Legal, Underwriting, Product, Actuarial, Finance, and Reinsurance to identify emerging loss trends.
- Oversee a team of Senior Claim Adjusters and achieve high standards of productivity, efficiency, and alignment of organizational goals.
- Ensure compliance with all local, federal, and state regulations related to claims while minimizing risk/exposure to the organization.
- Regularly participate in underwriting, actuarial, and client or broker meetings.
- Provide oversight and accountability for outside counsel, forensic experts, and other strategic vendors to ensure consistent litigation management, quality claim handling, cost-effective outcomes, and compliance with company standards.
- Provide reserve and settlement authority to claim staff in connection with their requests and recommendations.
- Exercise appropriate reserve and settlement authority, providing strategic guidance to claims professionals while balancing legal, financial, and business considerations in the resolution of complex claims.
- Build and develop organizational talent.
- Other duties as assigned.
The above cited duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to the job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that an incumbent may be expected or asked to perform.
Skills & Competencies Required:- Experience overseeing high-severity litigated commercial general liability claims and partnering with internal and external legal counsel on litigation strategy.
- Strong understanding of insurance coverage analysis, policy interpretation, and claims litigation management.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate legal risk, financial exposure, and settlement opportunities.
- Ability to influence litigation strategy through collaboration with internal Legal, outside counsel, underwriting, and executive leadership.
- High level of emotional intelligence, influencing skills, and communication skills to enable collaboration with a variety of key stakeholders including senior executive stakeholders.
- Ability to effectively create a collaborative, team-oriented environment including mentoring and motivating team members to be accountable.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven ability in the use of metrics and data to drive performance, assure continuous improvement, and increase efficiency.
Additional Information:- Full benefit package including medical, dental, life, vision, company paid short/long term disability, 401(k), tuition assistance and more.
- The anticipated salary for this position is $135,000 - $185,000per year, based on qualifications and experience.
- Internal Notice: As part of our commitment to talent development, this position is open for internal promotion applications at the time of public posting.
- Fortegra is not accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this position.
- Please be aware of job fraud(s) - all correspondence emails regarding your candidacy will come from our Fortegra.com email address. Thank you.
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