What are the responsibilities and job description for the Marine Cargo and Freight Forwarding Claims Examiner position at Vanguard Claims Administration?
About Vanguard
Founded in 1997 as an independent adjusting firm, Vanguard has grown into a leading provider of claims adjusting, third-party administration, and catastrophe claims services for both the domestic U.S. and London markets. With a strong and expanding presence in London, we are proud to be one of the market’s largest independent adjusting and TPA firms. Our success is rooted in a simple motto: EVERY CLAIM COUNTS.
For more than 20 years, our seasoned professionals have delivered superior investigative, reporting, and claims-handling services backed by rigorous internal controls and a culture of detail, accuracy, and integrity.
Position Overview
Vanguard is seeking an experienced Marine Cargo & Freight Forwarding Claims Examiner to investigate, evaluate, and resolve cargo loss and damage claims involving ocean, air, and inland transportation. This role includes oversight of freight forwarding and NVOCC-related claims and requires adherence to SOC 2 security, confidentiality, and processing integrity standards.
The ideal candidate brings strong maritime claims expertise, excellent analytical skills, and a commitment to secure and compliant claim handling.
Key Responsibilities
- Review, investigate, and adjudicate marine cargo, freight forwarding, and NVOCC-related claims in accordance with regulations, carrier liability rules, and company procedures.
- Analyze supporting documentation including bills of lading, invoices, packing lists, delivery receipts, surveys, and incident reports.
- Determine liability, evaluate damages, assess subrogation potential, and recommend appropriate settlements.
- Communicate professionally with carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, NVOCCs, insureds, and surveyors to resolve claim-related matters.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and audit-ready documentation within claims management systems.
- Follow established internal controls aligned with SOC 2 Processing Integrity, Security, and Confidentiality requirements.
- Protect sensitive client and cargo data through secure access practices, encryption standards, and permission-based handling.
- Report suspected fraud, irregularities, or potential data-security risks as needed.
- Support internal and external audits by demonstrating adherence to SOC 2–compliant processes.
- Provide clear, consistent updates to clients and internal teams on claim status and required documentation.
- Explain liability decisions, coverage interpretations, and settlement outcomes with clarity and professionalism.
- Collaborate with operations, customer service, NVOCC, finance, and legal teams.
- Ensure claims handling complies with FMC regulations, COGSA, Hague-Visby Rules, Carmack Amendment (when applicable), and company-specific tariffs or service contracts.
- Prepare claim summaries, trend analyses, and root-cause reports for leadership.
- Participate in training sessions, continuous improvement efforts, and internal audit activities.
- Perform additional duties as required to support business and compliance objectives.