Director of Casualty Claims - Commercial Lines

Sentry Insurance•Stevens Point, WI

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director of Casualty Claims - Commercial Lines, you’ll serve as a leader of leaders, providing strategic and operational direction to a large team of leaders and claim associates within our casualty claim environment. In this critical role, you will drive comprehensive claim strategies for complex exposures—including Commercial Auto, Transportation Trucking, General Liability (premises and product liability), and other commercial liability scenarios—with a sharp focus on bodily injury evaluation, effective negotiation and settlement, and robust litigation strategies to serve and defend our policyholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience, Juris Doctor preferred
8+ years of related work experience, with successful and increasingly responsible management and leadership experience, including broad background in claims, including exposure to multiple lines of coverage and policies, preferably in commercial auto, transportation, and general liability
Strong analytical, communication, and human relations skills
Knowledge of Sentry's philosophies, products, and systems
Technical expertise in assigned area of claim policies and practices as well as insurance products
Knowledge of applicable laws affecting claims; preferably technical expertise
Strong working knowledge of contracts, service level agreements, and application of terms and conditions
Strong negotiation skills

Responsibilities

Serve as a leader of leaders, providing strategic and operational direction to a large team of leaders and claim associates within our casualty claim environment.
Drive comprehensive claim strategies for complex exposures—including Commercial Auto, Transportation Trucking, General Liability (premises and product liability), and other commercial liability scenarios—with a sharp focus on bodily injury evaluation, effective negotiation and settlement, and robust litigation strategies to serve and defend our policyholders.
Lead and Develop Leaders: Provide strategic oversight and mentorship to your management team, fostering a high-performing culture centered on continuous learning, accountability, and the ongoing upskilling of technical proficiency across diverse claim scenarios.
Guide Financial and Technical Outcomes: Navigate complex authority reserving requests and provide expert settlement and negotiation guidance, ensuring equitable, timely, and compliant resolution of claims while managing expenses to support profit and growth objectives.
Drive Strategic and Regulatory Compliance: Spearhead strategic initiatives related to claim operations, regulatory compliance, and internal best practices, establishing robust management controls, audit standards, and protocols to achieve departmental objectives.
Optimize Workflows with Technology: Continually evaluate and identify opportunities to streamline claim workflows and processes utilizing technology-enabled solutions to drive operational efficiency and modernization.
Shape Policy and Systems: Collaborate on objective setting, the development of claims policies, and the implementation of necessary systems to support seamless claim handling and adherence to departmental standards.
Oversee Audits and Governance: Oversee department and corporate audits by managing communications, supplying requested data, providing supporting documentation, and addressing audit findings to ensure successful completion.
Represent Sentry Externally: Act as a brand ambassador, representing the company in industry associations, committees, boards, and bureaus.