Senior Claim Director, Specialty Complex Claims

AXIS•Alpharetta, NJ

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a leading provider of specialty insurance and global reinsurance. We give people and organizations the confidence to take necessary risks in the pursuit of their goals and ambitions. Our strength is grounded in our people and culture, which encourages collaboration, diversity, and entrepreneurialism. AXIS is seeking a Senior Claim Director, Specialty Complex Claims to join our North America Claims team and will report the Head of Specialty Complex Claims. As a direct report to the Head of Specialty Complex Claims, the candidate will be part of a sophisticated team of claims professionals handling and managing a wide variety of claims with coverage issues as well as coverage litigation involving Casualty (Primary & Excess), Commercial Property, Financial Lines, EPL, Cyber, various Professional Lines Specialties and Design Professionals and Environmental claims), Program Claims (all lines of business), Canada Claims (all lines of business) and A&H Claims. This role will also be responsible for delivering the AXIS North America Claims value proposition engaging with stakeholders, brokers, and insureds to ensure constant communication and service engagement distinguishes AXIS claims every day.

Requirements

7-10+ years of claims management experience handling a wide variety of coverage issues and coverage litigation involving the various claims disciplines summarized previously
Demonstrated leadership, organizational, and management skills
Experience practicing law as well as claims management (both directly managed and TPA managed claims)
Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels, both internally and externally as well as the ability to identify and resolve complex, disputed claims
Analytical thinker that can drive results using all facets of the legal and claims processes
Understanding of and ability to balance both the immediate claim issues as well as the broader portfolio impact and customer service impact of coverage disputes and issues
Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people with conflicting expectations, differing opinions, and multiple viewpoints
Demonstrated ability and experience handling coverage issues involving a wide variety of loss scenarios as well as reporting and presenting about same to senior management
In-depth knowledge of claims, litigation, arbitration, and trial processes as well as excellent analytical, investigative, and negotiating skills
Law Degree and admission in good standing to one of the fifty state bars
Adjuster Licenses in all states required by AXIS

Responsibilities

Direct handle claims involving complex coverage issues as defined by the Head of North America Claims, including the investigation, analysis and evaluation of coverage liability and damages, within best practices
Direct handle coverage disputes, including litigation and arbitration matters initiated by AXIS issuing companies and when AXIS issuing companies are parties to such litigation
Formulate claims and litigation strategies, assigning, directing, and managing outside counsel in coverage litigation or arbitration
Manage coverage counsel and litigation costs as well as collaborate and work with the Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams ensuring cost management and the development and enhancement of the coverage counsel panel
Manage discovery issues and responses, including opportunities to ensure consistency as well as identifying relevant and responsive information and ensure proper and adequate preparation of company witnesses for deposition and trial testimony
Provide guidance to the North America Claims teams regarding coverage issues, coverage disputes and claim handling issues, time limited demands, emerging issues, including strategic direction as well as recommend and approve outside coverage counsel assignments
Review Coverage positions for matters pending in states required as per the Specialty Complex Claims Referral Guidelines
Collaborate across disciplines and business units, including: the general counsel team overseeing errors and omissions issues arising from claims handling
Manage selection of and requests to hire coverage counsel related to any claims pending in North America
Identify liability and coverage trends and issues with both individual and portfolio impact and formulate the processes and strategies for handling such claims as well as the related coverage issues ensuring accurate and consistent claims management across impacted underwriting segments and lines of business.
Support response to underwriting inquiries and information requests regarding policy construction and drafting, reporting claim trends, data analysis, and risk assessments
Actively coach and mentor the North America claim teams on coverage issues and guidance
Build and maintain key relationships with internal stakeholders ( e.g., peers, Underwriting, Actuarial, various executive management leaders) and external stakeholders ( e.g., brokers, insureds, attorneys, auditors, reinsurers, and vendors)
Extensive communication with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, insureds, and auditors (both external and internal)
Everyday demonstrate the Axis behaviors that support and align with AXIS values: People, Decisiveness, Excellence and Stronger Together