Complex Claims Consultant - Professional Liability (Architects & Engineers)

CNA Insurance; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Hybrid work schedule

Reasonable accommodations

Job summary

CNA Insurance seeks a Complex Claims Consultant to handle Architect and Engineer liability claims. The role focuses on highly complex commercial claims with multi-million exposures, requiring strong negotiation, analytical, and investigative skills.

Hybrid schedule: 2 days per week in CNA office locations, with coordination across internal teams and external counsel. Requires a Bachelor's degree or equivalent, six+ years of relevant experience, and the ability to obtain an Adjuster License

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Typically a minimum six years of relevant claim-handling experience.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain an Insurance Adjuster License within 90 days where applicable.
• Prior negotiation experience; professional designations like CPCU preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages highly complex commercial claims with large exposures.
• Verifies coverage and establishes reserves per policy language.
• Leads investigations to determine liability and damages.
• Negotiates complex settlements and coordinates with counsel on litigation.
• Develops and communicates claim resolution strategies with partners.
• Mentors and trains less experienced claim professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Investigation

Time management

Multi-tasking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

CPCU designation preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there. At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential. CNA is one of the premier providers of professional liability insurance.

We currently have an opening for a Complex Claims Consultant to handle Architect and Engineer liability claims. These claims can be highly complex in nature, and can be valued in the multi-million dollar range. Insurance litigation and coverage interpretation/analysis experience strongly desired. We seek an individual who has attended mediations and negotiated settlements involving insurance claims.

This professional liability position will be dedicated exclusively to the handling of claims against design professionals including Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Construction Managers, contractors and specialty contractors. New assignments require significant investigation and coordination due to their technical complexity. Utilizing corporate Claim policies and departmental guidelines, the claims consultant reviews coverage, secures and analyzes information in order to determine liability and substantiate damages, directs and controls litigation, and ultimately negotiates and settles claims.

This position works a flexible hybrid work schedule of 2 days per week in one of the listed CNA office locations.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines: Manages an inventory of highly complex commercial claims, with large exposures that require a high degree of specialized technical expertise and coordination, by following company protocols to verify policy coverage, conduct investigations, develop and employ resolution strategies, and authorize disbursements within authority limits.
• Ensures exceptional customer service by managing all aspects of the claim, interacting professionally and effectively, achieving quality and cycle time standards, providing timely updates and responding promptly to inquiries and requests for information.
• Verifies coverage and establishes timely and adequate reserves by reviewing and interpreting policy language and partnering with coverage counsel on more complex matters, estimating potential claim valuation, and following company's claim handling protocols.
• Leads focused investigation to determine compensability, liability and covered damages by gathering pertinent information, such as contracts or other documents, taking recorded statements from customers, claimants, injured workers, witnesses, and working with experts, or other parties, as necessary to verify the facts of the claim.
• Resolves claims by collaborating with internal and external business partners to develop, own and execute a claim resolution strategy, that includes management of timely and adequate reserves, collaborating with coverage experts, negotiating complex settlements, partnering with counsel to manage complex litigation and authorizing payments within scope of authority.
• Establishes and manages claim budgets by achieving timely claim resolution, selecting and actively overseeing appropriate resources, authorizing expense payments and delivering high quality service in an efficient manner.
• Realizes and addresses subrogation/salvage opportunities or potential fraud occurrences by evaluating the facts of the claim and making referrals to appropriate Claim, Recovery or SIU resources for further investigation.
• Achieves quality standards by appropriately managing each claim to ensure that all company protocols are followed, work is accurate and timely, all files are properly documented and claims are resolved and paid timely.
• Keeps senior leadership informed of significant risks and losses by completing loss summaries, identifying claims to include on oversight/watch lists, and preparing and presenting succinct summaries to senior management.
• Maintains subject matter expertise and ensures compliance with state/local regulatory requirements by following company guidelines, and staying current on commercial insurance laws, regulations or trends for line of business.
• Mentors, guides, develops and delivers training to less experienced Claim Professionals.
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationship

Typically Director or above

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the commercial insurance industry, products, policy language, coverage, and claim practices.
• Strong communication and presentation skills both verbal and written, including the ability to communicate business and technical information clearly.
• Demonstrated analytical and investigative mindset with critical thinking skills and ability to make sound business decisions, and to effectively evaluate and resolve ambiguous, complex and challenging business problems.
• Strong work ethic, with demonstrated time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment at high levels of productivity.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex settlements.
• Experience interpreting complex commercial insurance policies and coverage.
• Ability to manage multiple and shifting priorities in a fast-paced and challenging environment.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn business-related software.
• Demonstrated ability to value diverse opinions and ideas.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• Typically a minimum six years of relevant experience, preferably in claim handling.
• Must have or be able to obtain and maintain an Insurance Adjuster License within 90 days of hire, where applicable.
• Prior negotiation experience.
• Professional designations preferred (e.g. CPCU).

In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, the national base pay range for this job level is $72,000 to $141,000 annually. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location.

Benefits

CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees - and their family members - achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals. For a detailed look at CNA's benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

Recruitment & Accommodations

CNA utilizes AI-enabled technology during the recruiting process. For more information, please visit our careers page. CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]

Company Culture & Values

At CNA, we are focused on success, individually and collectively. We pride ourselves on promoting a culture that challenges and engages people. We strive to connect people, departments and business areas, to function as a team, and to serve our customers and communities with professionalism and respect. Our dedication to employee engagement, continuous learning and the open exchange of ideas is the cornerstone of our business. These ideals, combined with our focus on the customer, enable us to explore new market opportunities and build on our success. Our values, culture and financial strength are what differentiates us from other employers and make CNA the place you want to work.

At CNA, we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion - one that attracts talent from all walks of life, foster respect and collaboration, and enables all of our colleagues to do their best work.

At CNA, we have a long standing commitment to the diverse communities in which we live and work. We actively make a difference for the greater good through partnerships, sustainability, initiatives, and working together for a better tomorrow. Corporate Social Responsibility is not one person, or one department, it's the entire enterprise coming together to make the world a better place.