Senior Claims Specialist, Environmental

Ascot Group; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascot Group, a leading specialty risk underwriter, seeks a Senior Claims Specialist to join the Environmental Claims Team. You will handle first- and third-party environmental liability claims and contractor-related professional liability claims, working across construction, oil and gas, and premises exposures.

This role requires at least four years of casualty claims experience, licenses, and the ability to manage complex litigation with outside counsel.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of casualty claims experience.
• Experience with environmental liability and construction professional liability.
• Ability to manage complex claims and collaborate with outside counsel.
• Licenses for adjusters required or willingness to obtain.
• Bachelor’s Degree required; JD preferred.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end management of primary and excess liability claims.
• Identify coverage issues and prepare coverage letters.
• Analyze contracts to determine coverage, defense, and recovery strategies.
• Manage complex, litigated claims with multiple parties.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on litigation strategies.
• Oversee vendors and billing practices.
• Negotiate settlements within authority.
• Present findings to partners and clients.
• Attend mediations, arbitrations, trials as needed.
• Collaborate with Underwriting and attend broker/client meetings.
• Maintain licenses and travel as required.

Skills

Claims handling

Negotiation

Communication

Team collaboration

Fast-paced environment

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Juris Doctorate Degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world’s preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations.

Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we’re bound by a common mission and purpose: One Ascot. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourish in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way, The Ascot Way.

The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our unique Fusion Model: Client Centric, Risk Centric, Technology Centric.

Built to be resilient, Ascot maximizes client financial security while delivering bespoke products and world-class service — both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve for our clients’ brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline.

Position Overview

We are looking for a Senior Claims Specialist to join our Environmental Claims Team. The Senior Claims Specialist will have direct experience in handling first- and third-party environmental liability claims, professional liability claims arising out of the construction industry, as well as general liability and excess claims arising from contractors, oil and gas industry, auto, trucking, and premises-related general liability claims. This will include experience in handling contractors’ professional liability claims, design ‑ related claims, rectification or mitigation claims, claims involving mold, sudden release toxic tort claims as well as long ‑ tail environmental exposure allegations, and first-party pollution cleanup claims.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for end-to-end management and direct handling of primary and excess liability claims according to policy coverage and state requirements.
• Identify, evaluate, and analyze coverage issues and prepare comprehensive coverage letters for claims handled directly.
• Analyze construction contracts, professional services agreements, and environmental indemnity provisions to determine coverage, defense, and recovery strategies.
• Manage complex, litigated claims involving multiple parties, experts (environmental, engineering, construction), and layered insurance programs
• Work closely with outside counsel to ensure cost-effective and appropriate litigation management strategies are in place that will lead to the best overall outcome.
• Maintain proactive oversight and/or supervision of all retained outside vendors and their associated billing practices and invoices
• Proactively negotiate settlement of claims within designated authority level.
• Present to internal business partners and external clients regarding severity and trends of environmental claims.
• Participate in and attend mediations, arbitrations, trials, and other claim meetings, as needed.
• Collaborate with Underwriting, including marketing and attending broker/client meetings.
• Maintain insurance adjuster licenses, as required.
• Travel as required.
• Commit to The Ascot Way: As a member of the claims team embody The Ascot Way in their daily interaction with colleagues, fostering colleague engagement and development, collaboration, inclusivity, and individual accountability.

Requirements

• A minimum of 4 years of casualty claims experience handling both environmental liability and construction professional liability claims.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple client projects at the same
• Demonstrated ability to work on a team, interact with others, meet deadlines, and successfully perform in a changing work environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ability to work in multiple claims platforms
• Excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills
• High exposure/complex claim exposure evaluation skills
• Strong collaboration and partnership skills
• High degree of influencing skills
• Must have multiple adjusters’ licenses or willing to obtain licenses where needed
• Juris Doctorate Degree preferred, but not required
• Availability for occasional travel
• Bachelor’s Degree

This position may be filled at a different level, depending on experience

Compensation

Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, and skills. The base pay is just one component of Ascot’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual cash bonus, and other forms of discretionary compensation awarded by the Company.

The annualized base pay range for this role is: $130,000 - $160,000

Company Benefits

The Company provides a competitive benefits package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply): Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Commuter Account, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, AD&D, Work/Life Resources (including Employee Assistance Program), and more. Leave Benefits: Paid holidays, annual Paid Time Off (includes paid state /local paid leave where required), Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Other leaves (e.g., Bereavement, FMLA, Adoption, Maternity, Military, Primary & Non-Primary Caregiver) Retirement Benefits: Contributory Savings Plan (401k).