Claims Specialist

Continental Western Group (a Berkley Company); Wisconsin; Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Paid time off

Health savings account

Profit sharing

401k

Tuition assistance

Employee stock purchase plan

Professional continuing education

Job summary

Continental Western Group seeks a Casualty Claims Litigation Specialist to investigate and handle high severity and complex casualty claims across a broad commercial portfolio. You will assess coverage, liability and damages, evaluate reserves and negotiate settlements while coordinating with internal and external counsel.

You’ll join a collaborative team with a focus on knowledge sharing, professional growth and delivering quality coverage solutions for CWG’s Midwest footprint.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Commercial Casualty Claims experience.
• In-depth knowledge of complex insurance coverages, laws and regulations.
• Strong customer orientation, problem analysis and problem resolution skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to partner with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Operate with urgency and professionalism to respond to inquiries from customers.
• Track record of being able to effectively manage a project and/or lead a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel up to approximately two days per month; and a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Investigate loss, evaluate exposures, establish accurate reserves and manage defense and settlement or conclusion of high severity and/or complex claims.
• Re-evaluate exposures and reserves during the life of the claim.
• Correctly enters claim data into claim and related systems for reporting purposes.
• Confers with Claims Supervisors, Claims Manager and Home Office Claims staff to inform, solicit input and strategize.
• Utilizes Claims staff to assist with investigation. Coordinate investigation with Subrogation and Arbitration Units.
• Selects appropriate outside legal counsel to coordinate the defense of each suit.
• Strategize and evaluates, with assistance of outside defense counsel, to determine direction of defense, e.g., defend to conclusion; compromise, or negotiate a fair and equitable settlement.
• Assign tasks, sets completion dates and establishes costs.
• Provide technical advice, direction and mentoring to the Claims Department staff on high severity and/or complex commercial casualty claims.
• Attend settlement conferences, depositions, preliminary hearings and trials when advisable.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.

Skills

Commercial Casualty Claims experience

Insurance coverage knowledge

Customer orientation

Interpersonal communication

Multitasking in fast-paced env

Urgency and professionalism

Project/Team leadership

Microsoft Office proficiency

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

AIC/CPCU/SCLA designation (in progress or completed)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Company Details

Rated

Rated Best Places to Work 2020, 2022 and 2024 by Business Insurance, by Business Insurance, Continental Western Group is a regional property casualty insurance company offering commercial products and services through independent agents in the Midwest. CWG provides unique value through the service provided by our experienced group of employees and independent agents. Since 1886 - Strong, Local and Trusted. As a Berkley company, we enjoy operational flexibility that allows us to deliver quality coverage solutions. W. R. Berkley Corporation , and all member insurance companies, are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company and carry Standard & Poor’s Financial Rating of A+ (Strong).

This role would ideally be based in one of our two offices where we offer a hybrid work schedule with four days in the office; and one day remote where it makes sense to do so.

• Urbandale, IA
• Lincoln, NE

Alternatively, this position can be fully remote, but only for a colleague outside of a commutable distance to the office. However, they must reside within the CWG regional footprint (states: WY, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, IL, WI, IN and MI).

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Responsibilities

As a Casualty Claims Litigation Specialist, you will investigate and handle high severity and/or complex commercial casualty claims in a prompt, equitable manner by analyzing coverage, liability and damages, evaluating reserves, negotiating settlement or conclusion of claims. This will include handling litigated cases across a variety of claims from general Commercial Bodily Injury and Property Damage, Construction Defect, Toxic Tort to Professional Liability. You may also travel within Continental Western Groups' (CWG) territory footprint to attend mediations and/or trials when necessary.

You can look forward to a highly collaborative environment where a learning mindset and knowledge-sharing is highly valued. We encourage diversity of thought to "think outside of the box" and share your expertise, which can expand beyond your immediate team to impact the overall CWG Claims function. The leadership team prides themselves on being accessible, enabling you to be especially nimble when navigating a claim to a resolution on behalf of insureds.

What You Can Expect

• Culture of innovation, teamwork, supportive colleagues and leaders willing to invest in talent.
• Internal mobility opportunities.
• Visibility to senior leaders and partnership with cross functional teams.
• Opportunity to impact change.
• Benefits – competitive compensation, paid time off, comprehensive wellness benefits and programs, employer funded health savings account, profit sharing, 401k, paid parental leave, employee stock purchase plan, tuition assistance and professional continuing education.

We'll Count On You To

• Investigate loss, evaluate exposures, establish accurate reserves and manages defense and settlement or conclusion of high severity and/or complex claims.
• Re-evaluate exposures and reserves during the life of the claim.
• Correctly enters claim data into claim and related systems for reporting purposes.
• Confers with Claims Supervisors, Claims Manager and Home Office Claims staff to inform, solicit input and strategize.
• Utilizes Claims staff to assist with investigation. Coordinate investigation with Subrogation and Arbitration Units.
• Selects appropriate outside legal counsel to coordinate the defense of each suit.
• Strategize and evaluates, with assistance of outside defense counsel, to determine direction of defense, e.g., defend to conclusion; compromise, or negotiate a fair and equitable settlement.
• Assign tasks, sets completion dates and establishes costs.
• Provide technical advice, direction and mentoring to the Claims Department staff on high severity and/or complex commercial casualty claims.
• Attend settlement conferences, depositions, preliminary hearings and trials when advisable.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Commercial Casualty Claims experience.
• In-depth knowledge of complex insurance coverages, laws and regulations.
• Possess strong customer orientation, problem analysis and problem resolution skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to partner with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Operate with urgency and professionalism to respond to inquiries from customers.
• Track record of being able to effectively manage a project and/or lead a team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel up to approximately two days per month; and a valid driver’s license.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but not required.
• Construction Defect claims experience.
• Litigation experience.
• Completion of or working toward AIC, CPCU SCLA or similar designation.

Additional Company Details

We do not accept any unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies or firms.

The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees.

The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.

Sponsorship Details

Sponsorship not Offered for this Role