AVP - Major Claims Leader

UFG Insurance • Cedar Rapids, IA

12h • Hybrid

About The Position

UFG is currently seeking an AVP, Major Claims Leader who is responsible for the strategic direction, operational leadership, and technical excellence of the organization’s most complex and high-exposure claims. This role oversees a diverse portfolio including complex products liability, class actions, coverage litigation, complex construction defect claims, excess and surplus lines, general liability and commercial auto litigation. Reporting directly to the VP of Corporate Technical Claims, this role serves as a key technical and leadership authority within the claim’s organization, providing executive-level guidance on claim strategy, reserving, litigation management, risk transfer, and resolution of high-severity matters. The role operates in a highly collaborative environment, partnering with the VP of Corporate Technical Claims on enterprise-level initiatives involving: Legal, Underwriting, Actuarial, Reinsurance, and external counsel to drive consistent, predictable, and optimal outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Must meet applicable state licensing requirements for handling multi-line commercial claims.
• 10+ years of experience handling or overseeing high-exposure, complex commercial P&C claims, including construction defect, casualty, or excess lines.
• 7+ years of progressive leadership or management experience.
• Demonstrated success managing complex litigation, coverage disputes, and large-loss resolution.
• Experience with complex GL/CA litigation, construction defect, excess and surplus, class actions, product liability and coverage litigation
• Advanced technical expertise in coverage analysis, liability and damages evaluation, and complex litigation management.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, with the ability to lead leaders and influence across functions.
• High ethical standards, professionalism, and sound judgment.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and written.
• Ability to lead a team of 4+ direct reports; 20+ indirect reports efficiently.
• Data driven decision making.
• Willingness to learn additional lines of business as Underwriting expands portfolio.
• Ability to efficiently manage both a unit budget and company finances.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree or J.D. preferred.
• Professional designations such as CPCU, AIC, SCLA, CCLA, PCLA, or similar strongly preferred or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strong, visible leader responsible for driving a positive, high-performance culture focused on technical excellence, accountability, and adherence to best practices.
• Lead, mentor, and develop highly technical claims managers and specialists handling complex construction defect, excess & surplus, and casualty matters.
• Promote workforce planning, succession development, and continuous professional growth across teams.
• Oversee quality review and collaborate with to ensure continuous improvement in claim handling and decision-making.
• Provide overall leadership for high-exposure, complex claims teams, including guidance on coverage determinations, liability and damages evaluation, reserving, litigation strategy, and resolution.
• Oversight and guidance on claims strategies for complex construction defect, products liability, class actions, coverage litigation, and GL/CA litigation portfolios.
• Partner with the VP of Corporate Technical Claims on enterprise-level initiatives, strategic objectives, and claims best practices.
• Provide expert-level guidance on coverage interpretation, policy analysis, contractual risk transfer (indemnity and additional insured), and excess exposure evaluation.
• Provide guidance to teams on collaborative development and execute litigation strategies in state and federal courts.
• Direct complex litigation management, ensuring alignment with best practices, cost containment strategies, and risk appetite.
• Ensure claims are managed in compliance with regulatory requirements, and organizational standards.
• Develop and promote consistent claims handling practices across all teams.
• Review and approve reinsurance reports and participate in reinsurance audits.
• Maintain awareness of changes in statutory law, case law, policy language, and coverage trends; communicate impacts to leadership and staff.
• Leverage data analytics to manage team capacity, and operational effectiveness.
• Prepare and present high-profile, complex executive summaries, loss analyses, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Benefits

• Annual incentive compensation
• Medical, dental, vision & life insurance
• Accident, critical illness & short-term disability insurance
• Retirement plans with employer contributions
• Generous time-off program
• Programs designed to support the employee well-being and financial security.
• Officer-level employees may also be eligible for additional compensation components, including performance-based incentives, long-term incentive plans, and participation in executive benefit programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees