Senior Risk & Claims Manager

About the Role

What began as an idea between two brothers to open a Mexican restaurant has since grown into one of the largest, privately held Taco Bell franchisees in America. At Border Foods, we work with a people-first mantra. From cooks to cashiers to restaurant managers and beyond, we work together to bring to life the Core Values of Border Foods. As an employee, your mission is to reinforce the Border Foods CORE values: Accountability, Integrity, Family, Excellence, Teamwork, and Empowerment.

The Senior Risk & Claims Manager is responsible for leading Border Foods’ enterprise risk management and claims strategy across all company operations. This role focuses on minimizing organizational risk, reducing loss exposure, improving claim outcomes, and managing insurance-related costs through proactive oversight of claims, litigation, insurance administration, and risk analytics.

Responsibilities

Enterprise Risk Management

• Lead and continuously evolve Border Foods’ enterprise risk management strategy across a multi-state restaurant footprint.
• Identify operational, financial, legal, and insurance-related risk exposures.
• Analyze claim trends, loss drivers, and recurring patterns to proactively reduce organizational risk.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Establish and maintain key risk performance metrics and reporting.

Claims Management

• Oversee administration and resolution of all company claims, including:
  • Workers’ Compensation
  • General Liability
  • Property Damage
  • Crime
  • Fleet / Vehicle Claims
• Manage claim lifecycle from incident reporting through closure.
• Review claim severity, reserve adequacy, settlement recommendations, and escalation needs.
• Partner with adjusters and claim administrators to ensure timely and effective claim resolution.
• Drive cost containment through strong claims oversight and proactive intervention.

Insurance Administration

• Serve as primary point of contact for insurance carriers, brokers, and captive insurance partners.
• Support annual policy renewals, coverage review, and insurance program administration.
• Monitor loss history and claim trends to support renewal strategy and premium management.
• Evaluate policy effectiveness and recommend adjustments to improve protection and reduce exposure.
• Ensure accurate documentation and reporting related to insurance programs.

Litigation Management

• Oversee litigation related to claims, liability, and risk matters.
• Partner with internal stakeholders, adjusters, attorneys, and outside legal counsel on active cases.
• Coordinate evidence gathering, documentation, and case preparation.
• Monitor litigation timelines, legal spend, settlement strategy, and case outcomes.
• Escalate high-risk legal matters to executive leadership when appropriate.

Technology, Systems & Analytics

• Optimize systems supporting claims management, incident reporting, and risk analytics.
• Improve reporting capabilities and enterprise visibility into risk trends.
• Partner with internal technology and analytics teams to identify automation and process improvement opportunities.
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools that support data-driven decision-making.
• Leverage analytics to identify root causes and opportunities for operational improvement.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Lead, coach, and develop direct report to ensure strong departmental performance and continuity.
• Partner closely with Operations, Human Resources, Facilities, Finance, and executive leadership.
• Provide consultation and guidance regarding claims, risk exposure, and mitigation strategies.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and influence risk-aware decision-making across the organization.
• Foster accountability, operational discipline, and proactive problem solving.

Success Measures

• Reduction in claim frequency and severity
• Improved claim resolution timelines and outcomes
• Reduced insurance-related costs and loss exposure
• Improved litigation outcomes and cost management
• Increased visibility into enterprise risk through reporting and analytics
• Strong internal and external business partnerships

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Business Administration, Finance, Insurance, Legal Studies, Human Resources, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of progressive experience in:
  • Risk management
  • Claims administration
  • Insurance operations
  • Litigation support
  • Loss prevention or related field
• Experience managing workers’ compensation, general liability, and insurance claims required
• Multi-site and multi-state experience strongly preferred
• Restaurant, retail, franchise, or other high-volume operational experience preferred
• Experience working with insurance carriers, brokers, TPAs, and legal counsel strongly preferred
• Experience using analytics, systems, and reporting tools to drive business decisions
• Leadership experience preferred
• Valid driver’s license required
• Ability to travel as needed

Skills

• Strong knowledge of claims management, insurance programs, and litigation processes
• Ability to interpret policies, contracts, legal documentation, and claim-related information
• Strong financial and business acumen with cost-management mindset
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong systems and technology orientation
• Ability to identify patterns and translate data into actionable recommendations
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence across all levels
• High level of professionalism, judgment, and confidentiality

Physical Demands

This position requires sitting, standing, walking, bending, lifting, and intermittent travel during working hours. These physical requirements may be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Border Foods reserves the right to modify or assign additional responsibilities at the discretion of the company or its leaders.