VP, Head of Complex Excess Claims

Zurich Insurance Group•Dallas, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Zurich is seeking a Vice President, Head of Complex Excess Claims to lead the strategic direction, technical excellence, and operational performance of our Complex Excess Claims organization. This role has oversight of our Primary Complex and Excess teams. Reporting directly to the Head of Property and Casualty Claims, this leader will oversee a national organization of claims professionals, team managers and AVPs. The VP will be responsible for delivering strong technical outcomes, disciplined financial performance, and an exceptional customer experience. This role requires close partnership with Underwriting, Finance, Actuary, Marketing, and Distribution, as well as key external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be market facing, leverage claims insights to influence underwriting strategies, optimize loss costs, and support profitable growth across the business. The ideal candidate is a strategic, results-oriented collaborative leader with deep Complex Excess Claims expertise, strong operational acumen, and the ability to lead and inspire high-performing teams in a complex, matrixed environment. The location is flexible and can be attached to any of our major Zurich offices with business travel expected.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 12 or more years of experience in the Claims area
6+ years of people management experience
6+ years of insurance and/or litigation experience
Demonstrated customer service experience
Experience collaborating across functions and work groups
Strong negotiation skills
Experience analyzing loss cost, severity, and trend data
Proven ability to identify and implement loss mitigation strategies
Proficiency with Microsoft Office
Ability to travel up to 20%
Complex Excess Claims Experience

Nice To Haves

Extensive experience handling Complex Excess Claims , including large, complex losses
Advanced knowledge of insurance claims and the legal and regulatory environment
In‑depth understanding of legal statutes and litigation processes
Experience working with financial data and business cases
Strong communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment
Juris Doctor (JD) and/or professional designations such as AIC, SCLA, CPCU

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a high‑performing national Complex Excess Claims organization, ensuring consistent technical quality, compliance, and customer-focused outcomes.
Set and execute a forward‑looking claims strategy aligned with Zurich’s Complex Excess Claims vision and broader business objectives.
Serve as a thought leader on complex, Complex Excess exposures, including emerging risks and industry trends.
Collaborate with Underwriting, Finance, Actuary, Marketing, and Distribution to provide claims insights that support product development, broker and customer stewardship, and new business opportunities.
Present claims trends, risk insights, and loss drivers to internal and external partners to support retention and growth.
Represent Claims in customer, broker, and prospect meetings as a senior subject‑matter expert.
Review and enhance claims risk and compliance strategies; develop and maintain policies relevant to Complex Excess Claims.
Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements and fair claims practice standards across jurisdictions.
Monitor legal, regulatory, and market developments and translate them into actionable recommendations.
Drive continuous improvement through process simplification, innovation, and adoption of best practices.
Evaluate organizational efficiency, workflows, and resource deployment to enhance service delivery and financial performance.
Sponsor and lead complex, cross‑functional initiatives and programs, ensuring disciplined execution and results.
Make and oversee complex line‑of‑business claim decisions that are financially responsible, defensible, and aligned with organizational guidelines.
Analyze severity, frequency, and loss trends; identify and implement strategies to mitigate loss and volatility.
Strengthen technical capability across the organization through coaching, development, and knowledge sharing.
Attract, develop, and retain top claims talent; foster a collaborative, inclusive, and performance‑driven culture.
Support succession planning and long‑term capability building within Complex Excess Claims.