Manager, Litigation

Company

Farm Family specializes in farm and ranch protection with a wide range of products including flexible farm packages, business owner policies, commercial package, workers compensation, commercial auto and select personal auto coverage. Farm Family is a leader in serving the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets and is pursuing growth across the U.S. The Farm Family entities are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Clearbrook Group Holdings Inc.

Job Description

Summary:

We are looking for a highly capable Litigation Manager to join our team and work from our Omaha, NE office.  This role will be managing a team of seven claims specialists of varying levels of experience adjudicating litigated claims across several lines of business underwritten by Farm Family, including construction defect, farm, ranch, and agriculture exposures, general liability, and New York Labor Law.  This role reports directly to the Director of Litigation located in New Jersey.

The Litigation Manager is directly responsible for consulting with the Company’s General Counsel and Attorneys on all lawsuits, assignments, and proceedings of litigated claims. The Litigation Manager is responsible for ensuring the Litigation team   adheres to internal best practices as well as remaining up to date on any legal changes. The ultimate purpose of this role is to ensure lawsuits are closed within approved settlement authority, within company guidelines, at a cost savings to the company by proper evaluation of lawsuits and exposures. . In addition, this role is responsible for handling appeals and Department of Insurance inquiries and complaints.
 

This is a 100% in-office position. Candidates must be able to work on-site at a designated company office during standard business hours.
 

Essential  Responsibilities:

• Use your specialized knowledge in coverage analysis and litigated claims in areas such as construction defect, general liability, and New York Labor Law to provide technical resources, guidance and education for a team of claims adjusters with varying levels of experience to enable them to manage all litigated claims to the appropriate outcome.  This includes all aspects of the lifecycle of the litigated claim, including:
  • Determining the exposures for litigated claims.
  • Working closely with claims specialists and outside counsel to ensure cost-effective and appropriate litigation management strategies are in place that will lead to the best overall outcome.  As needed, providing advice and oversight into claim disposition strategies.
  • Handling and negotiating lawsuits to a conclusion.
  • Providing specific direction or instruction to General Counsel and Attorneys regarding a lawsuit.
  • Ensuring Subrogation and Right of Recovery are diligently pursued when appropriate.
• Supervises the assignment and answering of all appeals, attorney letters, and Department of Insurance inquiries as well as review critical correspondence.
• Prepares and budgets for legal fees in the matter of Litigation.
• Ensuring performance objectives and metrics are in place and being met to support and meet department goals.
• Ensuring Farm Family’s best-in-class claim management operating characteristics, measurement criteria, and meaningful metrics benchmarking are communicated to the team and monitored to ensure there is accountability for proper and consistent claims performance, achieving the appropriate financial outcomes, and department goals.
• Supporting the selection process to hire and retain claims professionals that consistently demonstrate appropriate technical expertise, maturity and a professional commitment to excellence and customer service.
• Acting as a role model, and with sustained positive energy, demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the values of Farm Family. Continuing to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
• Having an appreciation and passion for strong claim management. 

Qualifications / Experience Required:

• Must have good business acumen (i.e. understand how an insurance company works and makes money, including how this role impacts both Farm Family and our customers’ ability to be profitable).
• Requires a working knowledge in leading people, coaching, and getting results done through others, an advanced knowledge of coverage analysis and litigation management, and an exceptional focus on customer service.  This is typically achieved through:
  • A minimum of seven years’ prior relevant experience in complex coverage analysis and adjudication of litigated claims across a broad range of lines of business including construction defect, farm, range, and agriculture exposures, general liability, and New York Labor Law, including people management and negotiating lawsuits. 
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required.  Two or more insurance designations or four additional years of related experience adjudicating claims beyond the minimum experience required below may be substituted in lieu of a degree.
• A strong focus on execution in getting things done right.  Proven ability to consistently produce and deliver expected results to all stakeholders by:
  • Finding a way to achieve success through adversity.
  • Being solution (not problem) focused
  • Thinking with a global mindset first.
• Successful traits (flexibility, ability to thrive in change, being resourceful on your own) necessary to work in a fast paced environment that is evolving constantly.
• Ability to regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance. This
• A team builder, someone who understands that success is dependent upon the performance of the team and not individual team members.  Creates strong morale and spirit within the team: shares wins and celebrates success as a team
• Dedicated to developing talent.  Understands and is committed to teaching technical skills and developing people so that they realize their full potential.
• Strong focus on selection – determined to have the right people who do the best job. 
• Ability to establish mentoring relationships with key employees and participates in the development of succession and training plans for all positions.  Empowers others by driving decision-making, authority, and resources to trusted employees and providing stretch assignments.
• Advanced technical expertise related to claims resolution and settlement principles, practices and procedures.
• Ability to identify and resolve conflicts in a timely, objective manner, using sound judgment to reach a solution.
• Independent decision maker – takes full responsibility for making decisions keeping risk and compliance at the center of the process.  Makes decisions with data driven tools and information.
• Demonstrates active listening and proactive communication by listening first, and then preparing carefully before engaging in conversation to communicate well thought out feedback.
• Shows care and concern by expressing curiosity authentically, being self-aware, constantly engaging input from others, and collaborating with ease.
• Ability to build rapport and foster collaborative, productive relationships with business partners and organizational peers with a focus on timely and meaningful exchanges of information and providing value-added solutions.
• The courage to offer and support others to express different opinions and ideas, regardless of popularity or immediate acceptable.
• Polished and professional written and verbal communication skills.  The ability to read and write English fluently is required. 
• Proficient in MS Office Suite and other business-related software.
• Must demonstrate a desire for continued professional development through continuing education and self-development opportunities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school preferred.  
• Working knowledge of Guidewire ClaimsCenter strongly preferred.
• Insurance designations, ACLA, AIC, CCLA, CLMP, CPCU, FCLA, PCLA, SCLA.

About Working in Claims at Farm Family

• Farm Family does not treat our claims or our claims professionals as a commodity. The work we offer is challenging, diverse, and impactful.
• Our Adjusters and Managers are empowered to exercise their independent discretion and, within broad limits and authority, be creative in developing solutions and treat each case as the unique situation it is. 
• We have a very flat organizational structure, enabling our employees have more interaction with our senior management team, especially when it relates to reviewing large losses. 
• Our entire claims team works in a collaborative nature to expeditiously resolve claims.  We offer a work environment that inspires innovation and is open to employee suggestions. We even offer rewards for creative and innovative ideas. 
• We believe in building an inclusive and diverse team, and we strive to make our office a welcoming space for everyone. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: 

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. At this time, we are not able to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar state or local law and you wish to discuss potential reasonable accommodations related to applying for employment with us, please contact our Benefits Department at 210-321-8400. 

Benefits and Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation package, performance-based incentives, and a comprehensive benefits program—including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Core Values

At Clearbrook our Core Values are Integrity, Collaboration, Pursuit of Excellence and Forward Thinking. These values reflect who we are today and who we aspire to be - guiding how we work, how we lead and how we succeed.