Director, Claims Vendor Relations

Markel • Richmond, VA

32d

About The Position

If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special! The Director, Claims Vendor Relations will be a strategic leader within the Claims organization, responsible for advancing the way Markel manages its legal and non-legal vendor partners. With a strong focus on procurement discipline and litigation management, this position ensures alignment of Markel’s Claims vendors with key stakeholders. This leader will oversee the full lifecycle of vendor relationships—strategy, selection, contracting, performance, and risk oversight—with a strong emphasis on building long-term partnerships based on mutual respect, quality service, and fiscal accountability. The ideal candidate is an experienced legal and operational professional who brings deep knowledge of insurance litigation, vendor procurement, data & analytics and cross-functional collaboration. This position will work closely with all Claims leaders, including the Chief Claims Officer to provide thought leadership, adopt best practices, and drive strategic initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required - JD, MBA, or other advanced degrees preferred
• 15+ years in insurance, claims leadership, legal operations, or vendor/procurement management roles.
• Proven experience managing legal vendor panels and litigation strategy for a large, diverse portfolio.
• Strong procurement background, including contract negotiation, vendor onboarding, performance evaluation, and strategic sourcing.
• Deep understanding of insurance claims and legal services landscape, with the ability to build consensus across stakeholders.
• Prior experience working in or with law firms, claims legal teams, or litigation-heavy environments preferred.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and analytical thinking.
• High emotional intelligence and relationship-building acumen.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and lead through complexity.
• US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Vendor & Litigation Oversight Lead department-wide vendor procurement, strategy, and governance for legal and non-legal partners, including Third Party Administrators (TPA’s) supporting Markel Claims.
• Oversee a diverse portfolio of litigation-related vendor engagements, ensuring proper alignment with internal legal strategy, claims priorities, and customer-focused outcomes.
• Operationalize vendor panel and rate processes in a manner consistent with industry standards and develop an exception process for non-panel vendors.
• Ensure all vendors reflect the values embedded in the Markel Style—honesty, fairness, pursuit of excellence, and service to our customers and community.
• Procurement & Cost Management Provide strategy, guidance and best practices to build a strategically managed vendor framework that covers the entire vendor relationship life cycle
• Develop and execute procurement strategies that prioritize quality, accountability, and efficiency in sourcing litigation and operational vendor services.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (procurement, finance, legal, compliance, and IT) to negotiate favorable contract terms, manage rate structures, and enhance service-level agreements.
• Lead enhancements to the bill review process to drive transparency and cost control.
• Lead strategic initiatives to maximize and leverage the overall effectiveness of vendor spend.
• Vendor Relationship Management Focus on developing partnerships and foster a spirit of collaboration with vendors, internal customers (lines of business), and other key stakeholders.
• Act as the executive point of contact for Markel's key vendor relationships, with a focus on performance, accountability, and shared success.
• Manage vendor panels, both legal and non-legal
• Utilize vendor scorecards, metrics, and regular performance reviews to drive measurable improvement in vendor service delivery.
• Ensure vendors operate as true extensions of Markel Claims and share our commitment to excellence and policyholder satisfaction.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Culture Building Lead, coach, and inspire a best-in-class Claims Vendor Relations team that champions internal customer service, vendor engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Claims leadership, offering strategic recommendations on vendor use, litigation efficiency, and cost optimization.
• Foster strong collaboration with internal teams including Claims Compliance, Underwriting, Actuarial, and Legal to ensure coordinated execution of vendor and litigation strategies.
• Reporting & Strategic Alignment Develop metrics and KPIs to measure teams’ success across standard procedures, stated goals, and objectives.
• Develop and deliver meaningful reporting on vendor performance, litigation trends, and operational impact to Markel senior leadership.
• Collaborate with the Chief Claims Officer and other senior leaders to align vendor and litigation initiatives with long-term departmental and enterprise-wide goals.
• Support special projects and participate in leadership forums to further Markel’s mission and growth.

Benefits

• In keeping with the values of the Markel Style, we strive to support our employees in living their lives to the fullest at home and at work.
• We offer competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees’ needs at all stages of life.
• All full-time employees have the option to select from multiple health, dental and vision insurance plan options and optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance.
• We also offer a 401(k) with employer match contributions, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, PTO, corporate holidays and floating holidays, parental leave.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees