Claims Litigation Manager – Auto

About the role

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families. Our core values – honesty, integrity, loyalty and service – define how we treat each other and our members. We are proud to support active‑duty military spouses and may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for them consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

Responsibilities

• Manages moderately complex litigation to include serious injury or property damage, questionable damages, questionable liability and questionable coverage issues.
• Applies intermediate knowledge of claims litigation processes.
• Proactively manages litigation and acts as liaison with members, internal and external counsel.
• Clearly documents litigation strategy, litigation budget, investigation, evaluation, negotiation, settlement, and trial decisions.
• Represents USAA at mediations, case conferences, and/or trials.
• Reviews, audits, and approves legal fees and expenses.
• Partners and/or directs law firm vendors to facilitate timely lawsuit resolution.
• Holds law firm vendors accountable for following Defense Counsel Litigation Handling Requirements.
• Recognizes and solves routine and intermediate issues arising out of legal case management.
• Follows practices and processes to achieve results to positively impact the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of the team; proactively identifies opportunities to improve processes.
• Interacts with membership, attorneys and management to advise on moderately complex litigation.
• Ensures members receive high levels of service from themselves and law firm vendors.
• May act as an informal resource for team members.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of related experience (in addition to the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 4 years work experience handling liability and first party claims or progressive experience in litigation.
• 2 years customer contact experience.
• Claims adjuster license in assigned state or ability to obtain license within 3 months.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience handling casualty liability claims to include bodily injury and uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury claims.
• 2+ years' direct handling of Auto Bodily Injury and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Litigation to resolution.
• Familiarity with injury claims litigation processes.
• Experience working injury claims in California, Washington, Nevada and Arizona.
• Continuing Education to include any relevant insurance designations (SCLA, CPCU, AIC, etc.).

Skills

• Demonstrated negotiation and customer service skills.
• Excellent communication skills with experience as an effective liaison between partners, members, outside counsel and management.
• Knowledge of P&C policies and state laws.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance related to claims and claims litigation.