Director of Commercial Liability Claims & Risk

Our client, a well-established and growing self-insured employer, is seeking a Director of Commercial Liability Claims & Risk to lead and evolve their claims operations and enterprise risk strategy. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing a team of Commercial General Liability Claims Examiners, training and development of claims staff, strengthening risk mitigation practices, and driving operational excellence across the organization.

This position offers the opportunity to influence both strategic direction and day-to-day claims handling execution, ensuring effective claim outcomes while proactively reducing exposure. This person would be required to work out of our client's Houston, TX office.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight to a team of Commercial General Liability Claims Examiners, ensuring productivity, quality, and compliance standards are consistently met
• Establish and refine claims and risk management frameworks, policies, and procedures
• Oversee the full lifecycle of claims, including complex and high-severity matters across multiple exposure types
• Testify in court / interact with community leadership
• Analyze trends, identify emerging risks, and implement proactive strategies to minimize loss and improve outcomes
• Partner cross-functionally with internal departments such as legal, operations, finance, and compliance to support organizational objectives
• Engage with external stakeholders including claimants, vendors, insurers, and legal representatives to drive resolution
• Review coverage, evaluate liability, and make determinations on claim outcomes including approvals and denials
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation, reporting, and reserve management
• Develop reporting for leadership, highlighting performance metrics, trends, and risk exposure
• Lead training initiatives to enhance team capabilities and ensure adherence to best practices
• Oversee systems, tools, and databases used for claims and risk tracking, ensuring data integrity and efficiency
• Manage escalated matters and communicate risk exposure to senior leadership

Qualifications

• 10  years of progressive experience in handling or overseeing Commercial General Liability claims
• 5  years of claims leadership / management experience
• Strong background in liability claims and operational risk oversight
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing claims teams
• Experience in grocery, retail chains, or convenience stores
• Deep understanding of insurance coverage analysis and claims resolution strategies
• Ability to interpret policies and provide guidance on risk exposure and mitigation
• Experience working with claims management systems and reporting tools
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of an organization

Compensation & Benefits

• $150,000 - $225,000 (based on experience) plus Short and Long-Term Incentive Plans
• Relocation Package
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan with company contribution
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• Additional employee-focused benefits and long-term growth opportunities