Manager, Litigation

BP&C•Omaha, NE

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Farm Family is seeking a highly capable Litigation Manager to join their team and work from their Omaha, NE office. This role will manage a team of seven claims specialists adjudicating litigated claims across several lines of business. The Litigation Manager will consult with the Company’s General Counsel and Attorneys on all lawsuits, assignments, and proceedings of litigated claims. This role is responsible for ensuring the Litigation team adheres to internal best practices and remains up to date on legal changes. The ultimate purpose of this role is to ensure lawsuits are closed within approved settlement authority, within company guidelines, at a cost savings to the company by proper evaluation of lawsuits and exposures. In addition, this role is responsible for handling appeals and Department of Insurance inquiries and complaints. This is a 100% in-office position.

Requirements

Good business acumen (understand how an insurance company works and makes money, including how this role impacts both Farm Family and our customers’ ability to be profitable).
Working knowledge in leading people, coaching, and getting results done through others.
Advanced knowledge of coverage analysis and litigation management.
Exceptional focus on customer service.
A minimum of seven years’ prior relevant experience in complex coverage analysis and adjudication of litigated claims across a broad range of lines of business including construction defect, farm, range, and agriculture exposures, general liability, and New York Labor Law, including people management and negotiating lawsuits.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required.
Two or more insurance designations or four additional years of related experience adjudicating claims beyond the minimum experience required below may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
A strong focus on execution in getting things done right.
Proven ability to consistently produce and deliver expected results to all stakeholders.
Ability to regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.
A team builder, someone who understands that success is dependent upon the performance of the team and not individual team members.
Creates strong morale and spirit within the team: shares wins and celebrates success as a team.
Dedicated to developing talent.
Understands and is committed to teaching technical skills and developing people so that they realize their full potential.
Strong focus on selection – determined to have the right people who do the best job.
Ability to establish mentoring relationships with key employees and participates in the development of succession and training plans for all positions.
Empowers others by driving decision-making, authority, and resources to trusted employees and providing stretch assignments.
Advanced technical expertise related to claims resolution and settlement principles, practices and procedures.
Ability to identify and resolve conflicts in a timely, objective manner, using sound judgment to reach a solution.
Independent decision maker – takes full responsibility for making decisions keeping risk and compliance at the center of the process.
Makes decisions with data driven tools and information.
Demonstrates active listening and proactive communication by listening first, and then preparing carefully before engaging in conversation to communicate well thought out feedback.
Shows care and concern by expressing curiosity authentically, being self-aware, constantly engaging input from others, and collaborating with ease.
Ability to build rapport and foster collaborative, productive relationships with business partners and organizational peers with a focus on timely and meaningful exchanges of information and providing value-added solutions.
The courage to offer and support others to express different opinions and ideas, regardless of popularity or immediate acceptable.
Polished and professional written and verbal communication skills.
The ability to read and write English fluently is required.
Proficient in MS Office Suite and other business-related software.
Must demonstrate a desire for continued professional development through continuing education and self-development opportunities.

Nice To Haves

A J.D. from an accredited law school preferred.
Working knowledge of Guidewire ClaimsCenter strongly preferred.
Insurance designations, ACLA, AIC, CCLA, CLMP, CPCU, FCLA, PCLA, SCLA.

Responsibilities

Use specialized knowledge in coverage analysis and litigated claims in areas such as construction defect, general liability, and New York Labor Law to provide technical resources, guidance and education for a team of claims adjusters.
Determine the exposures for litigated claims.
Work closely with claims specialists and outside counsel to ensure cost-effective and appropriate litigation management strategies are in place.
Provide advice and oversight into claim disposition strategies.
Handle and negotiate lawsuits to a conclusion.
Provide specific direction or instruction to General Counsel and Attorneys regarding a lawsuit.
Ensure Subrogation and Right of Recovery are diligently pursued when appropriate.
Supervise the assignment and answering of all appeals, attorney letters, and Department of Insurance inquiries as well as review critical correspondence.
Prepare and budget for legal fees in the matter of Litigation.
Ensure performance objectives and metrics are in place and being met to support and meet department goals.
Ensure Farm Family’s best-in-class claim management operating characteristics, measurement criteria, and meaningful metrics benchmarking are communicated to the team and monitored.
Support the selection process to hire and retain claims professionals.
Act as a role model, demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the values of Farm Family.
Continue to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
Have an appreciation and passion for strong claim management.