Director Property & Casualty Claims
Job Type: Full-Time
Location: Marble Falls, Texas
Experience: 10 years minimum
License Required: Texas Property & Casualty Adjuster or Texas All Lines Adjuster
Company Overview:
Edwards Risk Management, Inc. (ERMI) is a family-owned independent risk management servicing firm specializing in the administration of workers' compensation, property, liability, employee benefits and unemployment compensation programs. Our vast array of services includes program administration, claims, loss prevention, wellness, indoor air quality, risk management and employee benefit consulting. Our dedicated staff brings experience from many sectors of public and private business, and includes risk managers, administrators, board members, association staff and trustees, adjusters, underwriters, and risk management consultants.
Since our inception in 1990, ERMI has chosen to remain a small company so that we can stay focused on building partnerships with our clients, giving dedicated attention and care to each one. Our caring, service-driven attitude is reflected in our holistic approach to risk management, integrating the science of risk management with highly effective education and training programs in employee safety and wellness. We pride ourselves on the quality product we deliver, the cost-savings we can provide, the continued satisfaction of our clients and, most importantly, their employees and families.
Position Summary:
The Director of the Property & Casualty Claims Department has many roles that require significant insurance or pooling experience, including handling of large property and liability claims, interaction with program and client board members, accountability of best practices and building relationships with pool members, staff, brokers, and partners. Must be self-motivated, have a high level of professionalism, excellent communication skills, as well as a desire to lead a group of professionals into a new area of growth and enhanced member service. The three main functions of this position include:
1) providing leadership and management of the claims department for all P&C business;
2) acting as a liaison between the department, members, brokers, carriers and independent adjusters; and
3) handling of complex property and liability claims.
The PC Claims Director is responsible for managing medium to large/complex property, school professional legal liability, general liability and automobile claims, both litigated and non-litigated. The position provides value-added services to both internal and external clients by using professional skills, pooling/insurance industry knowledge and experience, and the latest technology tools to determine the best service plan for early resolution of claims, as well as long-term management of losses.
This role requires an individual to manage and be accountable for the handling and disposition of claims including investigation, coverage determination, reserving, negotiation and settlement or trial strategies. Significant public entity or insurance coverage experience and strong interpersonal skills are essential. This position will require some travel, as well as coordinating with and servicing both internal and external business partners. As a company/program representative, participation is expected at meetings with boards, management and business partners, as well as at mediations, settlement conferences and trials.
The ideal candidate will manage a 7-8 member team of professionals with different skill levels in handling public entity accounts in Texas and Louisiana. This position is responsible for establishing goals directed toward continual improvement in our service standards and the professional development of our staff. Our objective is to develop and implement a consistent service model for multi-line claims, with known modification for public entity members. The Director will also ensure that client and broker satisfaction remains high and standards are met.
Development and maintenance of pooling/insurance industry experience and proficiency is required. The maintenance of strong excess carrier relationships is also a key component to success.
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Manage, develop and train claim representatives within department goals and standards.
- Actively manage and handle large/complex property and liability claims.
- Review and analyze coverage documents, policies, reinsurance contracts and communicate coverage positions, as warranted.
- Interact with program administrator, partners, agents and account executives to establish and continually improve service standards for all members.
- Oversee/manage litigation activities and advise staff and clients in the process and settlement options, as well as communicate with outside counsel on resolution of difficult claims.
- Attend and actively participate in leadership and staff meetings.
- Structure a program for claim evaluation meetings, establish claim action plans, evaluate reserves, and negotiate claim reserve changes.
- Coordinate with the Director of Loss Prevention Services Group to assist in member deliverables and collaborate on service plans and claims reporting.
- Establish a professional, polished company reputation by understanding, applying and upholding organizational values during outward-facing interactions and guide our service team to ensure communications consistently align with company image.
- When required, be the liaison for third party claims audits.
- Resolve customer complaints according to Best Practices and monitor customer satisfaction in an effort to drive action plans for improvement.
- Maintain strong excess carrier relationships.
- Network with service providers, such as law firms and independent adjusters.
- Recruit and train new staff.
- Report to the CEO and may sit on the Executive Management Team.
- Work in the Marble Falls, Texas office with travel throughout Texas and Louisiana.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree and insurance or risk management industry professional designations
- Ten or more years of claims adjusting, advocacy and risk management experience in an insurance company or public entity pool
- Five years as a manager of at least 5 or more people
- Strong verbal and written skills
- Ability to work independently in a fast paced, team environment
- Ability to conduct internal and external industry educational seminars and training
- Proficiency with technology including, but not limited to, all Microsoft Office products, and ability to become skilled at proprietary software programs
- Ability to travel approximately 20% of the time
Highly Preferred:
- CPCU or Senior Claim Law Associate
- Advanced working knowledge of claims processes and best practices
- Ten or more years' experience as a claims professional with a high degree of specialized and technical competence in the handling of high exposure claims with emphasis in hands-on file and litigation management.
- Visionary, with demonstrated ability to think creatively and innovatively
- Experience in all-lines and multi-jurisdictional claims
- Ability to coordinate and effectively communicate with attorneys, business partners and company executives
Benefits:
ERMI offers competitive salaries and generous benefits, including: group medical plans, flexible spending plan, company matched 401(k), life and accident insurance, long-term disability, fitness membership assistance, Employee Assistance Program, and more.
The mission of Edwards Risk Management, Inc. is to partner with our clients by ethically and efficiently providing innovative and effective risk management services to meet their needs, improving the quality of life for their employees and families, while nurturing and enhancing the wellbeing of our employees and their families.