Director of Casualty Claims - Commercial Lines

Sentry Insurance Agency•Stevens Point, WI

5d•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. In addition, you will lead and develop leaders by providing 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. You will guide financial and technical outcomes by navigating complex authority reserving requests and providing expert settlement and negotiation guidance, ensuring equitable, timely, and compliant resolution of claims while managing expenses to support profit and growth objectives. You will drive strategic and regulatory compliance by spearheading strategic initiatives related to claim operations, regulatory compliance, and internal best practices, establishing robust management controls, audit standards, and protocols to achieve departmental objectives. You will optimize workflows with technology by continually evaluating and identifying opportunities to streamline claim workflows and processes utilizing technology-enabled solutions to drive operational efficiency and modernization. You will shape policy and systems by collaborating on objective setting, the development of claims policies, and the implementation of necessary systems to support seamless claim handling and adherence to departmental standards. You will oversee audits and governance by managing communications, supplying requested data, providing supporting documentation, and addressing audit findings to ensure successful completion. You will represent Sentry externally by acting as a brand ambassador, representing the company in industry associations, committees, boards, and bureaus.

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

Lead claims associates to drive compliant, timely resolutions, expense control, and superior customer service.
Govern settlement authority and direct staff training.
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.
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.
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.
Continually evaluate and identify opportunities to streamline claim workflows and processes utilizing technology-enabled solutions to drive operational efficiency and modernization.
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 department and corporate audits by managing communications, supplying requested data, providing supporting documentation, and addressing audit findings to ensure successful completion.
Act as a brand ambassador, representing the company in industry associations, committees, boards, and bureaus.