Director Complex Claims

Vela Insurance Services provides specialized Excess and Surplus Lines Casualty and Professional Liability insurance solutions in the following four market segments.: Construction Specialty Casualty Velocity Small Business & Professional Liability.

We offer national service and local knowledge to our exclusive wholesale broker network and the businesses they serve.

Manage direct and supervise a complex claims team in multiple lines of business including General Liability Products Liability and Construction Defect. Promote and advance Best Practices claims handling to industry and company standards procedures and objectives. Be responsible and accountable for departmental reserving practices results through reporting data metrics and other sources. Collaborate and guide projects and programs within and outside the department as requested.

• Provide an expert level of technical oversight and direction to claim professionals at all levels with a datadriven approach to managing the team
• Work to build team commitment and promote a positive climate and trust with the team internal and external partners
• Act as key decision maker in determining claim values and resolution strategies
• Promote and deploy litigation strategies and early resolution approach on complex claims
• Consult and direct complex coverage analyses in collaboration with team members and inhouse coverage counsel
• Provide guidance and support to claims professionals and retained counsel to analyze various reserving coverage defense and litigation strategy issues that arise in complex multiparty claims
• Participate in and drive pretrial strategy and calls for your team and others to reach best outcomes
• Provide guidance and support to claim professionals with direct negotiations mediations and arbitrations
• Maintain and keep a timely diary complete all work on designated timelines on all claim files and activities for your group
• Maintain required performance metrics planning and strategizing to improve performance
• Conduct and document claim file reviews on diary reserve evaluations manager file audits and performance appraisals of direct reports and provide professional development guidance and opportunities
• Participate in conduct and advance compliance requirements training and audits as requested or required
• Work closely with claim professionals on claims within and over their authority levels
• Assist claim professionals in preparing reports for and conducting discussions with various levels of management and service partners
• Contribute to profitability by supervising adherence to Best Practices to achieve optimum financial results
• Develop and maintain positive customer relationships and provide superior customer service
• Collaborate with internal and external partners including underwriters brokers agents counsel and others
• Work cooperatively with other claim teams and departments within the company including making presentations on various topics and training opportunities
• Act as mentor and assist professional development of direct reports and others
• Identify procedural technical or personnel opportunities and/or issues
• Utilize data to identify trends and target claims for appropriate and timely reserving and potential early resolution
• Meet and maintain all State licensing requirements at all times (see qualifications below)
• Adhere to all statutory regulations Unfair Claims Practices acts and corporate Best Practices
• Perform other duties and/or projects as assigned

• Four 4 year College Degree JD preferred
• Industry designations preferred (CRIS AIC SCLA etc.
• Twelve 12 or more years claims handling experience or equivalent experience
• Seven 7 plus years of previous managerial experience
• Prior leadership training
• Indepth knowledge of the insurance industry including legal and regulatory environments.
• Specific knowledge and expertise in multiple lines of business including but not limited to Construction Defect General Liability and Products Liability (BI & PD) related claims
• Ability to lead challenge and develop claim professionals to help them achieve their maximum potential
• Ability to manage remote/ virtual teams
• Ability to travel as needed
• Applicable adjusters license(s) to include: CA CT DE FL KY LA NH NM NC OK RI SC TX VT WV WY