AVP, Claims, Mid - Market & Specialty

The-Sovereign-General-Insurance-Company; Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 143,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Sovereign Insurance is seeking an AVP, Claims - Mid‑Market & Specialty to lead our national claims function. This role ensures exceptional claims execution, including coverage, reserve integrity, and indemnity outcomes, across Canada with a senior technical lens.

We require 10–15+ years in complex commercial claims and 7–10+ years in people leadership, with CIP designation mandatory and FCIP/CRM valued; English is essential, French is a plus. Hybrid work with in‑office presence required.

Qualifications

• Post secondary degree in Business/Commerce or related; CIP designation required.
• 10–15+ years of complex and specialty commercial claims handling, with mid-market focus.
• 7–10+ years of people leadership experience in a national or multi-regional setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on complex claims, including coverage interpretation and major losses.
• Chair Large Loss Committee and manage reserve integrity with actuarial input.
• Lead regional claims delivery with bilingual service excellence in Canada.
• Leverage claims analytics to monitor costs and outcomes.
• Build confidence with insureds, brokers, MGA, and delegated authorities.
• Drive AI-enabled capabilities and continuous improvement in claims processes.
• Develop and retain a high‑performing, technically strong claims team.
• Ensure governance, regulatory compliance, and budget alignment.

Skills

Complex claims leadership

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

French is asset

Education

Post secondary degree in Business/Commerce or related

CIP designation

FCIP or CRM valued

MBA an asset

Job description

Company: Sovereign Insurance
Employment Type: Regular Full-Time
Work Model: Hybrid (2 days in office)
Language: English is required, French is an asset.
Additional Information: This/these role(s) is/are currently vacant

The Opportunity:

At Sovereign Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operators General Insurance Company, we believe leadership is shaped by purpose, collaboration, and meaningful contribution. When you grow, we grow — your success crowns ours.

We value diverse perspectives, bold ideas, and people who lift others up. Here, your initiative matters, and your efforts help build the resilience of the Canadian businesses and communities we serve.

That shared commitment strengthens our culture and moves us forward — together. That’s the Crown Effect.

The AVP, Claims - Mid-Market & Specialty will lead the national claims function for Sovereign’s mid-market and Specialty & MGA portfolio, providing strategic and technical leadership across claims delivery, complex loss management and financial outcomes. This role is accountable for ensuring exceptional claims execution, including coverage determination, reserve integrity, indemnity settlement and consistent technical quality across Canada. As a senior Claims leader, the AVP will set and champion claims standards, provide direction on complex and sensitive losses, and strengthen confidence with insureds, brokers and distribution partners. Working closely with Claims Enablement and cross functional partners, this role will also advance the adoption of tools, insights, processes and AI enabled capabilities that enhance efficiency, decision making and the overall claims experience.

How you will create impact:

• Providing technical leadership on complex claims, including coverage interpretation, multi party liability allocation and major or sensitive losses, while setting and upholding consistent file handling standards.
• Chairing the Large Loss Committee and partnering with Actuarial to maintain timely, accurate and disciplined reserving, including reserve integrity, lifecycle accuracy, long tail casualty run off and formal leakage assessments.
• Leading regional claims delivery across Eastern, Western and Quebec Claims and National Claims Operations, ensuring accountability for service, productivity, technical quality, and bilingual service excellence in Quebec.
• Leveraging claims analytics to monitor internal and external costs, manage indemnity and expense outcomes, and translate performance insights into meaningful regional action.
• Building confidence with insureds, brokers MGA, and delegated authority distribution partners by delivering exceptional service, serving as the primary claims relationship contact,
  and representing Sovereign Claims at industry, partner and community events.
• Driving the adoption of tools, workflows and AI enabled capabilities in partnership with Claims Enablement, while championing continuous improvement and bringing a strong technical claims perspective to process, technology and reporting design.
• Building and retaining a high performing, technically strong team through recruitment, onboarding, coaching, development, succession and performance management, while fostering a one team culture of accountability, collaboration, agility and continuous learning aligned with Sovereign’s values.
• Maintaining strong claims governance and financial discipline by ensuring processes and controls meet regulatory and compliance requirements and contributing to claims budgets and the broader claims business plan.

To join our team:

• Post secondary degree in Business, Commerce or a related field; an MBA is an asset. Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) designation is required, with FCIP or CRM highly valued.
• 10 to 15+ years of complex and specialty commercial claims handling experience, with a strong focus on mid-market corporate segments.
• 7 to 10+ years of people leadership experience, including managing senior technical adjusters or technical directors within a national or multi regional environment.
• Deep technical expertise across complex automotive bodily injury, liability, property and E&O claims in Canada; experience with cyber claims and managing large national TPA relationships is an asset.
• Strong knowledge of the Canadian commercial insurance market, including mid market and specialty segments, broker and delegated authority distribution, provincial regulation, claims governance, budgeting, business planning and claims analytics.
• Proven strategic leadership, business and financial acumen, with the ability to build strong cross functional partnerships, influence and negotiate effectively, communicate with executive audiences, solve complex problems and adapt to evolving business needs; bilingualism in English and French is an asset.
• This position primarily works with majority non-francophone groups, and teams located outside of Québec, and requires proficiency in English. The essential non-French duties are not assignable to adjacent or other team members.

How you will succeed:

• You thrive on delivering our exceptional client experience through positive and engaging relationships; embracing accountability to achieve effective results.
• You ensure your day-to-day actions are in harmony with the company’s purpose, vision, and values even when challenged.
• You will support and guide others through changing conditions and encourage the exploration of new opportunities or innovations.
• You value and encourage others to have cooperative and collaborative dialogue because diverse perspectives offer more creative and productive solutions

What you need to know:

• Detail oriented work that requires a high degree of mental concentration for extended periods of time.
• You will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment, in the event you are the successful candidate.
• This position will operate on a hybrid work posture which will require an in-office presence of at least twice a week.
• You will handle sensitive information where a high degree of confidentiality and discretion is required.
• As a leader, strict confidentiality is required with respect to sensitive matters and employees’ personal information.

What’s in it for you?

• Room to grow with confidence — build your career, contribute your ideas, and see the impact of your work.
• A culture that values you — inclusive, collaborative, and respectful, where different perspectives are encouraged and heard.
• Rewards that recognize you and the work you do - competitive salary and variable compensation, benefits and pension, paid time off, development and recognition programs.
• Support for your well-being — a holistic approach to physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.
• Pride in purpose — being part of a Canadian organization dedicated to protecting Canadian businesses and the communities they serve while giving back through volunteering, donations, and national initiatives that help build a more sustainable future.

Expected salary range $142,526 - $237,544. The salary amount for the successful candidate is determined by Co-operators in its discretion and will vary depending on several criteria including but not limited to: local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualification, experience and education.

Employees may also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn additional compensation tied to individual and/or business performance, or other business metrics.