Complex Liability Claims Leader - Auto Liability (hybrid)

The Company

At Utica National Insurance Group, our 1,300 employees nationwide live our corporate promise every day: to make people feel secure, appreciated, and respected. We are an “A” rated, $1.7B award-winning, nationally recognized property & casualty insurance carrier.

Headquartered in Central New York, we operate across the Eastern half of the United States, with major office locations in New Hartford, New York and Charlotte, and regional offices in Boston, New York City, Atlanta, Dallas, Columbus, Richmond, and Chicago.

What you will do

You'll be responsible for leading a team of Specialists responsible for complex coverage determinations, investigations, examination, reserve, settlement, and defense of complex auto liability claims. As a leader, you will actively manage and monitor defense counsel performance and ensure Specialists' ability to negotiate appropriate settlement of claims and demonstrate understanding of the litigation process and its impact on a claims exposure and outcome. As needed, you will use your expertise to assist the Head of Auto Claims to develop, adopt and maintain appropriate procedures for investigating, reserving, resolving, or defending claims.

This is a hybrid role that can report to either our Charlotte-Ballantyne, NC; New Hartford, NY; or Buffalo, NY location.

Key responsibilities

• Lead a team of Complex Auto Liability Claims Specialists responsible for appropriate coverage determinations and investigation, examination, reserve, settlement, or defense of complex liability claims handled in the Complex Liability Claims Unit.
• Provide assistance to the Head of Auto to develop, adopt and maintain appropriate procedures for investigating, reserving, resolving, or defending of complex liability claims.
• Establish reserve control procedures to ensure that reserves are current and reflect accurate loss and loss expenses exposure of claims in accordance with Utica National’s reserving philosophy.
• Develop and maintain business relationships with defense panel counsel and provide guidance to team around appropriate assignment of claims to counsel. Monitor defense counsel performance and their ability to handle litigated claims in the most efficient manner.
• Maintain team of Complex Liability Claims Specialists with proven ability to timely negotiate appropriate settlement of claims and demonstrates understanding of litigation process and its impact on a claims exposure and outcome.
• Participate as appropriate in litigation activities including meetings, depositions, conferences, hearings, alternative dispute resolution sessions and trials.
• Responsible for analyzing and communicating changes in law, regulation, and custom to ensure consistent quality claim handling.
• Adhere to quality review program to ensure that technical standards are met and improvement opportunities are recognized and communicated.
• Achieve the service standard of “excellent” for team during all phases of claims handling.
• As required, represents claims liability unit on inter-departmental committees/project teams, and represent the claim department on intra-company committees and project teams.
• Provide Product and Underwriting teams with claim trends that impact underwriting decisions, and support on changes to existing products, the introduction of new products and/or entry into new state.
• Investigate and take appropriate action concerning complaints from insurance departments, agents, insureds, and claimants and their attorneys.

What you need

• 5-7 years of auto casualty claims handling experience working with moderate to high complexity litigated casualty claims. Proven experience negotiating claims and active participation in alternative dispute resolution practices.
• Minimum of 3 years supervisory experience overseeing complex liability claims units.
• Bachelor's degree preferred with insurance industry designations preferred (ex: CPCU, AIC, SCLA).
• Experience with multi-state venues.

Licensing

Required to obtain your license(s) as an adjuster in the state(s) in which you are assigned to adjust claims. Licensing must be obtained within the timeframe set forth by the Company and must be maintained as needed throughout your employment.

Salary range: $122,550 - $153,000

The final salary to be paid and position within the internal salary range is reflective of the employee’s work experience, their geographic location, education, certification(s), scope and responsibilities in the role, and additional qualifications.

Benefits

We believe strongly that talented people are core to our success and are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages, career advancement and challenging work opportunities. We offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan for full time employees that include the following:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Benefit
• Dental Benefit
• Vision Benefit
• Life Insurance and Disability Benefits
• 401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan (Includes annual Company financial contribution and discretionary Profit Sharing contribution based upon annual company financial results)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Assistance, Training, and Professional Designations
• Company-Paid Family Leave
• Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance Benefit
• Voluntary Benefits - Group Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Legal, ID Theft Protection, Pet Insurance
• Student Loan Refinancing Services
• Care.com Membership with Back-up Care, Senior Solutions
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Matching Gifts program
• Paid Volunteer Day
• Employee Referral Award Program
• Wellness programs

Additional information

This position is a full time salaried, exempt (non-overtime eligible) position.

Utica National is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply now and find out what it’s like to be a part of an amazing team, thrive in an exciting environment and work for a company you can be proud of. Once you complete your application, you can monitor your status in the hiring process by logging into your profile. A representative from our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch regarding any change in your candidacy.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
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