Manager, Claims Legal Support

Desjardins • Mississauga, ON

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

As Manager, Claims Legal Support, for the Ontario, Atlantic and Western (OAW) region, you will play a pivotal leadership role in driving operational excellence and shaping the performance of a high-impact legal support function. Leading a team of 7 Section Managers and an extended group of over 100 professionals, you will oversee the delivery of law clerk services and legal administrative support critical to our success. This role sits within our dynamic In-House Legal team specializing in Property and Casualty Insurance Defence—an engaged, collaborative network of more than 200 legal professionals across five key locations: Toronto, Mississauga, Aurora, Ottawa, and Calgary. A key component of this role is fostering strong, strategic partnerships with Legal Counsel and the Claims department—particularly within Accident Benefits and Bodily Injury—ensuring alignment, effective communication, and coordinated approaches to complex claims handling and litigation support. This collaboration is central to delivering seamless, client-focused outcomes while driving continuous improvement across functions. This is a unique opportunity to influence strategy, strengthen team capability, and champion a culture of performance, innovation, and service excellence across a growing and geographically diverse organization. You will require a thoughtful, steady, and people-focused approach to building trust, stability, and engagement. Success in this role requires a leader who understands the value their teams bring to the broader organization—recognizing their needs, motivations, and expectations—and leveraging that insight to drive performance and engagement. You will invest in developing talent, creating pathways for growth and opportunity, and empowering leaders and employees to reach their full potential. You are a relationship-builder who values getting to know people beyond transactional interactions. You lead with curiosity—asking questions, listening deeply, and challenging the status quo to continuously improve how work gets done. You foster an environment where collaboration is prioritized over individual achievement, and where success is defined by the collective strength of the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• A minimum of nine years of relevant experience, including three years in management
• Experience managing leaders and developing high-performing teams
• Leadership experience with the ability to coach, influence, and inspire.
• Property and casualty insurance industry/experience
• Advanced proficiency of English due to the nature of the duties or work tools or because the position involves interactions with English-speaking partners, members and/or clients
• Intermediate knowledge of main systems (Legal software, Claim Systems, Microsoft Office)
• Intermediate knowledge of standards and processes related to Property & Casualty legal matters (AB, BI, Property, etc.)
• Intermediate knowledge of the industry and legislation in OAW
• Available for travel once per month to an office

Nice To Haves

• Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered
• Action oriented, Courage, Customer Focus, Develops talent, Differences, Engagement, Interpersonal Savvy, Nimble learning, Situational adaptability
• Trade Union (If applicable)

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sector action plans aligned with strategic priorities, ensuring strong cross-functional integration
• Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and standards while managing individual and team performance to consistently achieve business objectives
• Lead, coach, and develop Section Managers and staff, building leadership capability and supporting ongoing talent growth and future workforce needs
• Foster a collaborative, motivated culture through clear communication, shared vision (mission, values, objectives), and a focus on collective team success
• Strengthen relationships across teams by promoting curiosity, meaningful engagement, and a deeper understanding of people beyond transactional interactions
• Drive operational excellence by ensuring efficient processes, challenging the status quo, and leading continuous improvement initiatives
• Partner closely with Legal Counsel, Claims, and other stakeholders to identify issues, ensure alignment, and implement effective, client-focused solutions
• Oversee budgeting and resource management while promoting accountability, problem-solving, and strong, people-centered leadership practices.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus
• 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year
• Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement
• Group insurance including telemedicine
• Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager