Technical Director, Claims - Commercial Excess Surplus, and Specialty (CLESS Claims Coverage Litigation)

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Location: The location of this position is flexible and open to 100% remote based applicants.

What to expect: This individual contributor role will mostly handle E&O and EPL policies, focused on coverage litigation law.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 10 plus years of claims handling experience; ideally, experience with coverage litigation law

• A Juris Doctorate (JD) degree is highly preferred.

• Demonstrated analytical proficiency with the ability to advise on insurance coverage for commercial general liability (CGL), professional liability (E&O, D&O, etc), and/or surplus commercial property policies.

• Clearly demonstrate your ability to problem solve and navigate multiple competing priorities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.

(Internal Use Only) Compensation Band: H3

Job Description Summary

The Commercial, Excess Surplus (E&S) and Specialty Claims team handles some of the most unique and interesting insurance claims at Nationwide. Many have complicated risks and loss history, requiring us to be adaptable and resilient in our work to help customers. If you love a challenge and can apply outstanding organizational, investigative and communication skills to your work, we want to hear from you!

As a Technical Director, you'll direct claims coverage and strategy by line of business or risk for Commercial, E&S, and Specialty. You'll drive technical oversight of claim matters by providing meaningful and effective consultative guidance, contributing to the Claims Division attainment of high quality claim outcomes. We’ll count on you to provide operational technical support and develop coverage training plans and strategies for the Claims Division. You'll identify, evaluate and communicate industry trend information and provide risk recommendations to the Claims and Underwriting Divisions.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Drives Claims technical excellence for Commercial, E&S, and Specialty which may include specialized, large loss, long tail exposure, and coverage litigation. Serves as Claims technical resource to the operation.

• Partners with Claims Directors to assess and develop implementation plans for corporate, organizations, and regions; plans and helps develop measurable long range goals and objectives. Maintains a high level of technical knowledge related to industry changes and trends.

• Drives technical oversight of claim matters and provides strategic guidance to ensure consistency and accuracy of coverage positions in support of quality claim handling. Collaborates with Claims, participates in round tables, and approves coverage letters.

• Provides technical coverage guidance to internal business partners. Provides Claims impact information to product development. Identifies, evaluates and communicates industry trend information and provides risk recommendations to the Claims and Underwriting Divisions.

• Collaborates on the design and facilitation identified technical coverage training needs.

• Develops strategic responses to court cases against Nationwide and Nationwide policyholders. Provides specialized consultation with Claims to ensure proper selection of coverage counsel;  including personal follow up with coverage counsel as to the scope of assignment and strategy.

• Analyzes claims results and makes recommendations to Claims Directors on process and  workflow improvements or other initiatives to drive results.

• Delivers a positive customer service experience to internal and external customers. Resolves customer complaints according to best practices. Monitors customer satisfaction to drive technical claims strategies and action plans for improvement.

• Identifies and mentors high performing associates who have the potential for or are ready to fill critical roles in the organization.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Claims AVP or Director for E&S and Specialty. Individual Contributor role but may have 0-3 direct reports. May also support personnel, project staff, or temporary associates as needed.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree or post-graduate studies preferred. Legal degree desired.

License/Certification/Designation: State licensing where required. Successful completion of required and/or applicable claims certification training and/or classes.

Experience: Typically, ten years prior insurance coverage related experience with a focus on claims management and technical expertise preferred. Strong knowledge of coverage in Commercial, E&S, and Specialty lines with proven experience analyzing and handling complex coverage issues. Proven experience handling and/or managing high severity, complex claims, and litigation. Specific experience in a particular line of business may be required by the hiring business unit.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills: Excellent customer focus to proactively identify and understand customer needs. Ability to effectively communicate interpersonally with individuals and groups. Demonstrated decision-making skills, effective listening, verbal and written communication skills necessary for customer contact, negotiation, presentations, project management, and personnel management. Ability to make decisions, establish priorities, and set strategic directions. Ability to organize and deal with a variety of situations, discern problems and recommend and/or implement resolutions. Ability to utilize PC and applicable software preferred.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resource Business Partner.  

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Office environment. Some travel may be required. Must be willing to work irregular hours and to travel with possible overnight requirements.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities within this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 11/21/2024. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

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Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range.

The national salary range for Technical Director, Claims - Commercial, Excess Surplus, and Specialty : $107,000.00-$207,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Technical Director, Claims - Commercial, Excess Surplus, and Specialty : $116,000.00 - $176,000.00

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