Senior Claims Manager- Dearborn

AWC is hiring a Senior Claims Manager for our Regional Office location in Dearborn MI with a hybrid work setting, including 3 days a week at our Dearborn office. This is a salaried position plus yearly Bonus eligible. The successful candidate's actual pay will be based on various factors, such as qualifications, experience, internal equity, and market considerations.

AWC offers a generous benefits package supporting both physical and mental wellbeing. Benefits include -health insurance for associates, spouses and children; basic life and AD&D insurance; disability insurance; EAP; auto discounts; fitness reimbursement; a 401K plan with company contribution; and several voluntary benefits. AWC corporate staff have paid holidays, floating holidays, vacation and sick accruals, bereavement leave and jury duty leave.

Purpose

The Senior Claims Manger provides strategic leadership for the company's company-wide claims management function, vehicle and equipment damage, customer cargo damage, general liability, physical security, theft prevention, and other insured and self-administered claims across all company operations.

This position develops and executes the organization's claims management strategy, ensuring timely, consistent, and cost-effective administration of claims while minimizing financial exposure and supporting operational excellence. The Senior Claims Manger leads one or more Safety and Claims Managers and similar professionals, partners closely with operations leadership, insurance carriers, third-party administrators, legal counsel, and customers, and serves as the organization's subject matter expert on claims management and loss mitigation.

While maintaining close collaboration with the VP Safety, Claims, and Risk Management, this role is primarily focused on claims administration, litigation management, insurance relationships, financial stewardship, and company-wide risk reduction.

Essential Duties

• Provide leadership and oversight for the company's company-wide claims management program, including automobile liability, property damage, cargo damage, customer claims, and general liability.
• Supervise, coach, and develop regional Safety and Claims Managers and other professionals while establishing consistent claims practices, performance expectations, and handling standards across the organization.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve company-wide claims management policies, procedures, standards, systems, and best practices.
• Oversee significant claims and incidents from initial reporting through final resolution, including investigations, root cause analysis, corrective actions, reserve reviews, settlement recommendations, litigation strategy, and claim closure.
• Analyze claims, litigation, loss, and cost trends; develop executive reporting, dashboards, performance metrics, and key performance indicators; and implement technology, process improvements, and cost-reduction strategies that enhance efficiency, accountability, and claim outcomes.
• Oversee customer damage claims, including rail transportation damage, vehicle damage, cargo claims, and quality-related investigations, ensuring timely resolution and consistent customer communication.
• Participate in insurance renewal activities by providing loss analyses, claim summaries, and supporting underwriting documentation.
• Support the development and oversight of corporate physical security and theft prevention programs; partner with Operations and Safety to investigate theft, vandalism, security breaches, and other significant security incidents; analyze security and loss trends; and implement improvements that reduce risk and protect associates, facilities, vehicles, equipment, customer assets, and company property.
• Assist in developing budgets related to claims administration, insurance, and risk management, and support customer implementations and facility startups by evaluating claims and risk exposures.
• Stay current on applicable liability regulations, insurance practices, and industry trends affecting claims administration.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Working Conditions

• Frequent overnight travel (approximately 30–50%) to support company facilities, investigate significant claims, conduct audits, and meet with operations leadership.
• Work is performed in both office settings and active industrial operations, including exposure to outdoor weather conditions.
• Occasional response to significant incidents outside normal business hours may be required.
• Regular use of computers, reporting systems, Microsoft Office applications, and claims management software.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in claims management, risk management, insurance administration, or a related field
• 5 years of leadership experience managing claims professionals or multi-site claims operations
• Bachelor's degree in risk management, business administration, occupational safety, insurance, or a related field preferred
• Strong knowledge of claims administration, litigation management, insurance principles, reserving practices, and loss analysis
• Experience partnering with insurance carriers, TPAs, brokers, legal counsel, and regulatory agencies
• Demonstrated success reducing claims costs and improving claims outcomes through analytics, process improvement, and operational partnerships
• Knowledge of transportation or industrial operations preferred
• Experience managing large claim portfolios and reviewing reserve recommendations
• Experience overseeing corporate security, theft prevention, loss prevention, or physical security programs in a multi-site industrial, transportation, manufacturing, or logistics environment preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with executives, customers, attorneys, insurance professionals, and operational leaders
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills
• Excellent judgment, problem-solving ability, and decision-making skills involving high-value or complex claims
• High level of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and confidentiality
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, reporting tools, and claims management systems

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AWC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or any other protected class with respect to employment opportunities.