SVP, Chief Claims Officer

Company Details

 

Berkley Human Services, a Berkley Company, is devoted to meeting the needs of Human Services Organizations. Our insurance policies are written through our Berkley affiliates, each of which is rated A (Superior) by A.M. Best Company with a Financial Category of XV.

We offer property and casualty coverages designed for the unique operational aspects of social service organizations. Our Human Services Program dates back to 1989 and has continuously evolved to meet the unique needs of the market we serve. We insure both nonprofit and for-profit social service organizations, such as child daycare, sheltered workshops, group homes, senior citizen centers, senior independent living, schools, counseling services, YMCAs, YWCAs, and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Responsibilities

The Senior Vice President, Claims is responsible for the overall management and direction of the claims department.  Equally as important, participation on the Executive Team, who establishes the strategic direction for the company and ensures the overall profitability and success of the company in the human services market.

 

Overall Management of Claims Operation

• Manage a team of claims professionals by establishing clear performance metrics
• Implement strong policies and procedures designed to produce desired results
• Develop and implement claim best practices for proper and consistent claim performance, compliance and achievement of business goals
• Establish clear reserving standards and ensure that those standards are continually met
• Identify issues and trends in the portfolio; take appropriate and/or corrective action where necessary; communicate trends to underwriters, insureds and brokers
• Identify claims with significant exposure and take a more active role coordinating a strategy for an appropriate resolution
• Coordinate with underwriting on current and proposed policy language and new markets to enter
• Ensure the continual professional development of claims professionals on the team by coordinating both internal and external training and development opportunities
• Cultivate a departmental culture that excels in communication and collaboration

Member of Executive Team

• Proactive participation on Executive Team which establishes and executes the strategic direction of the company
• Work closely with the CEO to discuss, evaluate, and implement strategic directions for the claims operation that supports the overall direction of the company
• Establish solid relationships with other members of the Executive Team in order to improve team performance
• Be able to clearly communicate strategic direction to both internal resources and outside partners and insureds
• Drive the development, implementation and continuous planning, organizing and leading of all claim programs, metrics, processes, results and initiatives

Develop Berkley Human Services into a “Thought Leader” within the human services marketplace

• Proactively establish relationships with brokers and insureds in order to maximize the competitive advantage derived from the claim’s operation
• Develop and manage the reputation of BHS’s claims handling in the market
• Attend industry conventions and events and become a sought out thought leader on developing issues
• Attend marketing, account renewal, and reinsurance meetings as appropriate in order to communicate our claims handling philosophy and leading position in this area
• Instill the above philosophies into all claim’s professionals at the company
• Work closely with company’s loss control function to provide value-added services to our insureds that reduce our exposure to loss

Liaison to both internal and external partners of the company

• Liaison with parent company, WR Berkley, on significant individual claims and trends identified in the overall portfolio
• Communicate portfolio trends and potential solutions to underwriting and actuarial areas
• Participate on quarterly performance calls with parent company in anticipation of earnings releases

May perform other functions as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Commercial Casualty Claims, with a focus on the Human Services market.
• Significant experience in progressive positions demonstrating technical, operations, and management skills in the claims area.
• Experience in collaborating with an executive team.
• Proven ability to improve organizational effectiveness as well as retain, hire, train and develop Claims professionals.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization essential.
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
• Technical proficiency is required.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred.

Additional Company Details

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting agencies or firms. The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees including: • Base Salary • Eligible to participate in annual discretionary bonus • Benefits include Health, dental, vision, dental, life, disability, wellness, paid time off, 401(k) and profit-sharing plans The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.

Additional Requirements

Travel: Occasional