Head of Specialty Complex Claims

About the role

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a leading provider of specialty insurance and global reinsurance. We give people and organizations the confidence to take necessary risks in the pursuit of their goals and ambitions. Our strength is grounded in our people and culture, which encourages collaboration, diversity, and entrepreneurialism.

Job Description

AXIS is seeking a Head of Specialty Complex Claims to join our North America Claims team. This role reports to the Head of North America Claims. As a direct report to the Head of North America Claims, the candidate should possess the ability to lead and develop a sophisticated team of claims professionals handling and managing a wide variety of claims with coverage issues as well as coverage litigation involving Casualty (Primary & Excess), Commercial Property, Financial & Professional Lines, Program Claims (all lines of business), Canada Claims (all lines of business), A&H Claims and serve as a resource for our international counterparts for claims involving domestic coverage issues and litigation.

• Direct management of claims involving complex coverage issues as defined by the Head of North America Claims, including the investigation, analysis and evaluation of coverage liability and damages, within best practices
• Direct management of coverage disputes, including litigation and arbitration matters initiated by Axis issuing companies and when Axis issuing companies are parties to such litigation
• Formulating claims and litigation strategies, assigning, directing, and managing outside counsel in coverage litigation or arbitration
• Managing discovery issues and responses, including opportunities to ensure consistency as well as identifying relevant and responsive information and ensuring proper and adequate preparation of company witnesses for deposition and trial testimony
• Providing guidance to the North America Claims teams regarding coverage issues, coverage disputes and claim handling issues, including strategic direction as well as recommending and approving outside coverage counsel assignments
• Managing coverage counsel and litigation costs as well as collaborating and working with the Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams ensuring cost management and the development and enhancement of the coverage counsel panel
• Collaborating across disciplines and business units, including: the general counsel team overseeing errors and omissions issues arising from claims handling

Key Skills & Abilities

• 7-10+ years of claims management experience handling a wide variety of coverage issues and coverage litigation involving the various claims disciplines summarized previously, as well as:
• Demonstrated ability and experience handling coverage issues involving a wide variety of loss scenarios as well as reporting and presenting about same to senior management
• In-depth knowledge of claims, litigation, arbitration, and trial processes as well as excellent analytical, investigative, and negotiating skills
• Experience practicing law as well as claims management (both directly managed and TPA managed claims)
• Ability to influence and collaborate at all organizational levels, both internally, externally, and within peer groups as well as the ability to identify and resolve complex, disputed claims
• Analytical thinker that can drive results using all facets of the legal and claims processes
• Understanding of and ability to balance both the immediate claim issues as well as the broader portfolio impact and customer service impact of coverage disputes and issues
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to deal effectively with people with conflicting expectations, differing opinions, and multiple viewpoints