Vice President, Complex Claims

Fortegra•Woodbridge Township, NJ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President, Complex Claims provides executive leadership for Fortegra's Complex Claims function, overseeing the handling, strategic direction, coverage analysis, litigation oversight, and resolution of the Company's highest-severity, major loss, and high-value litigated claims. This role serves as the senior technical and legal claims resource, providing strategic leadership through close collaboration with cross-functional business leaders and external partners, including outside counsel, TPAs, and expert vendors, to optimize claim outcomes, protect the Company's financial interests, identify emerging risks and loss trends, support underwriting profitability, and ensure timely, fair, and compliant claim resolution. Leading the Complex Claims function, the Vice President is responsible for its overall performance, strategic direction, reserving philosophy, litigation management, and operational excellence while driving continuous improvement across people, processes, technology, and vendor partnerships.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) required
10+ years of progressively responsible commercial casualty claims experience handling high-severity, high-exposure litigated claims across multiple specialty lines.
7+ years leading complex claims organizations or technical claims teams.
Demonstrated experience partnering with internal and external counsel to develop litigation strategy, evaluate legal and financial exposure, and oversee the resolution of high-value claims.
Experience handling Commercial General Liability, Commercial Auto, Excess Liability, and Professional Liability claims required, inclusive of New York Labor Law.
Licensed adjuster.

Nice To Haves

Experience in excess/umbrella, D&O/E&O claims, general liability, and reinsurance is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership and technical expertise in guiding complex claims decisions, coverage analysis, litigation strategy, reserve adequacy, and settlement authority for the Company's highest-exposure claims.
Collaborate with Executive Leadership, Legal, Underwriting, Product, Actuarial, Finance, and Reinsurance to identify emerging loss trends, evaluate portfolio exposure, improve underwriting profitability, and support enterprise risk management initiatives.
Oversee small team of complex claims personnel to manage and achieve high standards of productivity, efficiency, and alignment of organizational goals.
Ensure compliance with all local, federal, and state regulations related to claims while minimizing risk/exposure to the organization.
Regularly participate in underwriting, actuarial, and client or broker meetings.
Provide oversight and accountability for outside counsel, forensic experts, and other strategic vendors to ensure consistent litigation management, quality claim handling, cost-effective outcomes, and compliance with company standards.
Demonstrate knowledge of loss severity and trend analysis.
Manage the resolution of claim issues/complaints raised by internal and external business partners.
Provide reserve and settlement authority to claim staff in connection with their requests and recommendations.
Exercise appropriate reserve and settlement authority, providing strategic guidance to claims professionals while balancing legal, financial, and business considerations in the resolution of complex claims.
Build and develop organizational talent.