Manager, STD & Absence Management Claims - Remote

Symetra Financial Corporation; Bellevue (WA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommu

401(k) with company matching

Paid time off (vacation, sick, flex)

Job summary

Symetra Financial Corporation seeks a Manager, STD & Absence Claims to lead a team responsible for short-term disability and absence management claims. You will coach, develop talent, and use data to drive continuous improvement while ensuring quality and compliance.

The role partners with legal, sales, and implementation teams to resolve complex cases and deliver exceptional service. You will balance customer advocacy with risk management, support external communications, and foster an

Qualifications

• . Five+ years of experience in Short-Term Disability and Absence Management claims.
• . Proven experience coaching and developing teams.
• . Strong analytical skills with data-driven decision making.
• . Excellent verbal and written communication across levels.
• . Proficient in Excel; Power BI a plus.
• . Knowledge of ERISA, state regulations, and claims practices.
• . Ability to travel occasionally as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of STD and Absence claims professionals to achieve quality, service, productivity, and customer experience goals.
• Use reporting and trend data to drive operational improvements and performance.
• Monitor workflows and claim decisions for timely, accurate, compliant administration.
• Conduct audits and provide coaching to support team development.
• Partner with legal, sales, implementation, and other stakeholders on complex cases.
• Serve as a technical resource on STD, leave management, ERISA, and claims practices.
• Balance customer advocacy with risk management and sound claim decisions.
• Support broker and customer inquiries and education on claim philosophy.

Skills

People leadership

Short-Term Disability

Absence management

Analytics

Excel

Power BI

Verbal communication

Written communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

ClaimVantage

Salesforce

FINEOS

Job description

# Manager, STD & Absence Management Claims - RemoteUSARemoteID: 9717---## Job DescriptionSymetra is seeking a **Manager, STD & Absence Claims** to lead a team of case managers responsible for short-term disability and absence management claims. **About the role** In this role, you'll combine people leadership, operational oversight, and technical expertise to deliver exceptional customer experiences while ensuring quality, compliance, and business results. You'll coach and develop a high-performing team, leverage data and reporting to drive continuous improvement, and help shape strategies that support organizational growth and evolving customer needs. If you're a collaborative leader who enjoys developing talent, improving operations, and solving complex claims challenges, we'd love to hear from you. **What you will do** * Lead, coach, and develop a team of STD and Absence claims professionals to achieve quality, service, productivity, and customer experience goals.* Use reporting, analytics, and trend data to identify opportunities for operational improvement and drive performance outcomes.* Monitor workflows, workloads, and claim decisions to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant claim administration.* Conduct audits and quality reviews, providing meaningful coaching and feedback to support team development.* Partner with legal, sales, implementation, and other internal stakeholders to resolve complex cases and deliver exceptional service.* Serve as a technical resource on STD, leave management, ERISA, state regulations, and claims practices.* Balance customer advocacy with effective risk management and sound claim decision-making.* Support broker and customer inquiries, finalist meetings, and education efforts related to claim philosophy and processes.* Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture where employees can grow and succeed.* Lead or participate in strategic initiatives and continuous improvement projects that enhance team effectiveness and customer outcomes.**Why Work at Symetra** Here’s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra: *“What I was searching for was a company that genuinely valued my voice—and I found that at Symetra. I truly enjoy working one-on-one with our customers, especially when they’re going through life’s toughest moments. Being able to offer support and hear their relief and gratitude when we help—it’s deeply meaningful. That’s what makes me proud to be part of the Symetra team.” - Lilly H., Claims Team Lead* *“I chose Symetra because I heard it was a pro-employee company—and it’s absolutely true. The work environment is supportive, the people are great, and the benefits are generous. Symetra truly cares about its employees. The relaxed atmosphere and opportunities to learn and grow—both within your role and beyond—make it a great place to build your career.” - Alicia L., Claims Examiner* **What we offer you** **Benefits and Perks** We don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to our employees. Our programs are designed to make your life better both at work and at home. * Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommuting arrangements* Plan for your future with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%* Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays* Give back to your community and double your impact through our company matching* Want more details? Check out our Symetra Benefits Overview **Compensation** Salary Range: $72,700 - $121,100 plus eligibility for annual bonus program**Who You Are** * High school diploma required; bachelor's degree preferred.* 5+ years of experience in Short-Term Disability and Absence Management claims.* Previous people leadership experience, including coaching, performance management, and talent development required.* Strong analytical skills with experience using reporting and trend analysis to inform decisions and improve performance.* Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of an organization.* Comfortable presenting to internal and external audiences and building trusted business relationships.* Proven success leading change, driving process improvements, and managing multiple priorities.* Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; Power BI experience is a plus.* Experience with ClaimVantage, Salesforce, and/or FINEOS preferred.* CLMS certification is a plus.* Customer-focused leader with strong conflict resolution, negotiation, and decision-making skills.* Willingness to travel occasionally as needed. **Travel:** **Required Training & Professional Development** All newly hired people leaders with direct reports are required to complete a comprehensive leadership development program within their first year. This program includes both virtual and in-person training. The in-person sessions will take place at Symetra’s corporate headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. *Symetra covers all travel and accommodation expenses.* **Reasonable Accommodations** Symetra is committed to providing equitable access to all job-related responsibilities, including required travel. If reasonable accommodations are needed for travel, Symetra’s HR department will work to provide appropriate solutions in alignment with individual needs and company policies. **We empower inclusion** At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We're building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspective, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company. We invite you to learn more about our efforts here.**Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom** Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we're guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price, we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they're buying, and we design products--and operate our company--to stand the test of time. We're committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.For more information about our careers visit: https://symetra.eightfold.ai/careers**Work Authorization** Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.