AVP, Claims Litigation

AmTrust Financial Services•Woodland Hills, CA

8d•$185,000 - $230,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Overview Directly reports to the VP, Claim Legal. Direct the performance of staff counsel offices within assigned territory to support enterprise strategy, improve operational efficiency and maximize claim outcomes. Ensure superior performance in the representation of policyholders, providing guidance for quality outcomes and the efficient management of claim litigation and expense. Identify and monitor measures of productivity, performance and staffing. Oversee compliance with staff counsel operating model and best practices. Collaborate across departments to ensure coordination of initiatives. Responsibilities Leadership : Ensure alignment of staff counsel offices with department and company strategy and objectives. Supervise the work of staff counsel Directors as part of overall accountability for the quality and quantity of work including the performance of all personnel within the assigned territory. Build and maintain collaborative working relationships within Claims and with other departments. Represent the department on relevant projects and initiatives. Litigation Management and Strategy : In conjunction with claim leadership, develop and implement procedures to effectuate the overarching claims litigation strategy. Create and champion expense management initiatives across all phases of the claim lifecycle including early case assessment, targeted and timely resource deployment, budgeting and financial management, resolution planning). Recommend and provide technical and legal training; manage and organize CLE for staff counsel. Staff Counsel Operations : Optimize functional teams for the offices to ensure personnel and resources are appropriately allocated. Contribute to the design of department goals and the accomplishment of those goals. Provide direction to the staff counsel Directors in setting and accomplishing office goals. Develop and implement file evaluation process to ensure proper case handling and compliance with quality standards and best practices. Data Analytics and Reporting : Champion a culture of data-driven decision making. Support the identification and day-to-day management of claim legal data collection and stewardship. Contribute to the design and development of business metrics and leadership dashboards in coordination with the data analytics team. Professional Development and Team Leadership: Build and develop a high-performing team of professionals. Establish clear performance expectations and work with employees to establish career development plans, fostering a culture of accountability, empowerment and growth. Meet regularly with employees to discuss their progress and concerns and to offer ongoing coaching and support. Manage, conduct and timely complete performance evaluation process for direct reports. Remain current on advances in all the above areas of responsibility.

Requirements

3-5 years of experience in a management role, experience as a leader of leaders preferred.
10-15 years of first-chair litigation and/or property & casualty claim experience.
Workers’ Compensation expertise and a mix of private practice and in-house litigation strongly preferred.
Demonstrated success leading process improvement initiatives.
Experience with developing claim outcome measures of production and quality.
Demonstrated ability to analyze claim and legal expense data to drive performance.
Expertise across all aspects of the end-to-end claim lifecycle including litigation avoidance, investigation, assessment and exposure evaluation, litigation planning and resolution.
Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school.
Bar certification/licensing and good standing with appropriate state Bar
Ability to effectively communicate complex matters to executive management.

Responsibilities

Ensure alignment of staff counsel offices with department and company strategy and objectives.
Supervise the work of staff counsel Directors as part of overall accountability for the quality and quantity of work including the performance of all personnel within the assigned territory.
Build and maintain collaborative working relationships within Claims and with other departments.
Represent the department on relevant projects and initiatives.
In conjunction with claim leadership, develop and implement procedures to effectuate the overarching claims litigation strategy.
Create and champion expense management initiatives across all phases of the claim lifecycle including early case assessment, targeted and timely resource deployment, budgeting and financial management, resolution planning).
Recommend and provide technical and legal training; manage and organize CLE for staff counsel.
Optimize functional teams for the offices to ensure personnel and resources are appropriately allocated.
Contribute to the design of department goals and the accomplishment of those goals.
Provide direction to the staff counsel Directors in setting and accomplishing office goals.
Develop and implement file evaluation process to ensure proper case handling and compliance with quality standards and best practices.
Champion a culture of data-driven decision making.
Support the identification and day-to-day management of claim legal data collection and stewardship.
Contribute to the design and development of business metrics and leadership dashboards in coordination with the data analytics team.
Build and develop a high-performing team of professionals.
Establish clear performance expectations and work with employees to establish career development plans, fostering a culture of accountability, empowerment and growth.
Meet regularly with employees to discuss their progress and concerns and to offer ongoing coaching and support.
Manage, conduct and timely complete performance evaluation process for direct reports.
Remain current on advances in all the above areas of responsibility.