Director, Specialty Claims

About the Role

The Director, Specialty Claims provides leadership for a General Liability claims team, overseeing handling, strategic direction, coverage analysis, litigation oversight, and resolution of high‑value litigated claims. Reporting directly to the VP, Specialty Claims, the role serves as a technical claims resource and is responsible for overall team performance, litigation management, and operational excellence while driving continuous improvement across people, processes, technology, and vendor partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and technical expertise in guiding complex claims decisions, coverage analysis, litigation strategy, reserve adequacy, and settlement authority for New York Labor Law claims.
• Collaborate with Executive Leadership, Legal, Underwriting, Product, Actuarial, Finance, and Reinsurance to identify emerging loss trends.
• Oversee a team of Senior Claim Adjusters and achieve high standards of productivity, efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Ensure compliance with all local, federal, and state regulations related to claims while minimizing risk/exposure to the organization.
• Regularly participate in underwriting, actuarial, and client or broker meetings.
• Provide oversight and accountability for outside counsel, forensic experts, and other strategic vendors to ensure consistent litigation management, quality claim handling, cost‑effective outcomes, and compliance with company standards.
• Provide reserve and settlement authority to claim staff in connection with their requests and recommendations.
• Exercise appropriate reserve and settlement authority, offering strategic guidance to claims professionals while balancing legal, financial, and business considerations in the resolution of complex claims.
• Build and develop organizational talent.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent education/experience.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible commercial casualty claims experience handling high‑severity, high‑exposure litigated claims.
• 5+ years leading complex claims organizations or technical claims teams.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with internal and external counsel to develop litigation strategies, evaluate legal and financial exposure, and oversee resolution of high‑value General Liability claims.
• Experience handling and managing New York Labor Law claims.

Skills & Competencies

• Experience overseeing high‑severity litigated commercial General Liability claims and partnering with internal and external legal counsel on litigation strategy.
• Strong understanding of insurance coverage analysis, policy interpretation, and claims litigation management.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate legal risk, financial exposure, and settlement opportunities.
• Ability to influence litigation strategy through collaboration with internal Legal, outside counsel, underwriting, and executive leadership.
• High level of emotional intelligence, influencing skills, and communication skills to enable collaboration with senior executive stakeholders.
• Ability to create a collaborative, team‑oriented environment, including mentoring and motivating team members to be accountable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to use metrics and data to drive performance, assure continuous improvement, and increase efficiency.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• Company‑paid short‑term and long‑term disability.
• 401(k) retirement plan.
• Tuition assistance.
• Full benefit package including additional offerings.

This position is open for internal promotion applications at the time of public posting.

Pay

The anticipated salary for this position is $135,000 – $185,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience.