Construction Defect – Liability Technical Specialist

Who Are We?

Taking care of our customers, our communities and each other. That’s the Travelers Promise. By honoring this commitment, we have maintained our reputation as one of the best property casualty insurers in the industry for over 160 years. Join us to discover a culture that is rooted in innovation and thrives on collaboration. Imagine loving what you do and where you do it.

Compensation Overview

The annual base salary range provided for this position is a nationwide market range and represents a broad range of salaries for this role across the country. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. As part of our comprehensive compensation and benefits program, employees are also eligible for performance-based cash incentive awards.

Salary Range

$81,000.00 – $133,700.00

Target Openings

1

What Is the Opportunity?

Under general supervision, the position is responsible for investigating, evaluating, reserving, negotiating and resolving assigned Specialty Liability Property Damage claims. Provides quality claim handling throughout the claim life cycle (customer contacts, coverage, investigation, evaluation, reserving, litigation management, negotiation and resolution) including maintaining full compliance with internal and external quality standards and state specific regulations. Provides consulting and training resources, and serves as a contact and technical resource to the field and our business partners. This job does not manage staff.

What Will You Do?

• Directly handles assigned claims.
• Provides quality customer service and ensures file quality and timely coverage analysis and communication with insured based on application of policy information to facts or allegations of each case.
• Consults with Manager on use of Claim Coverage Counsel as needed.
• Directly investigate each claim through prompt and strategically-appropriate contact with appropriate parties such as policyholders, accounts, claimants, law enforcement agencies, witnesses, agents, medical providers and technical experts to determine the extent of liability, damages, and contribution potential. Interview witnesses and stakeholders; take necessary statements, as strategically appropriate.
• Actively engages in the identification, selection and direction of appropriate internal and/or external resources for specific activities required to effectively evaluate claims, such as Subrogation, Risk Control, nurse consultants, and fire or fraud investigators, and other experts.
• Verifies the nature and extent of injury or property damage by obtaining and reviewing appropriate records and damages documentation.
• Maintains claim files and documents claim file activities in accordance with established procedures.
• Utilizes evaluation documentation tools in accordance with department guidelines.
• Proactively creates Claim File Analysis (CFA) by adhering to quality standards.
• Utilizes diary management system to ensure that all claims are handled timely. At required time intervals, evaluate liability and damages exposure.
• Establishes and maintains proper indemnity and expense reserves.
• Recommends appropriate cases for discussion at roundtable.
• Attends and/or presents at roundtables/ authority discussions for collaboration of technical expertise resulting in improved payout on indemnity and expense.
• Actively and enthusiastically shares experience and knowledge of creative resolution techniques to improve the claim results of others.
• Develops and employs creative resolution strategies.
• Prompt and proper disposition of all claims within delegated authority.
• Negotiates disposition of claims with insureds and claimants or their legal representatives.
• Recognizes and implements alternate means of resolution.
• Manages litigated claims. Develops litigation plan with staff or panel counsel, including discovery and legal expenses, to assure effective resolution and to satisfy customers.
• Applies litigation management through the selection of counsel, evaluation and direction of claim and litigation strategy.
• Tracks and controls legal expenses to assure cost-effective resolution.
• Effectively and efficiently manage both allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expenses.
• Attends depositions, mediations, arbitrations, pre-trials, trials and all other legal proceedings, as needed.
• Updates appropriate parties as needed, providing new facts as they become available, and their impact upon the liability analysis and settlement options.
• Recognizes cases, based on severity/ complexity protocols that should be transferred to another level of claim professional and refers on a timely basis.
• Appropriately deals with information that is considered personal and confidential.
• Fulfills specific service commitments made to certain accounts, as outlined in Special.
• Account Communication (SAC) instructions and inquiries from agents and brokers.
• Represents the company as a technical resource; attends legal proceedings as needed, acts within established professional guidelines as well as applicable state laws.
• Actively provides mentoring and coaching to less experienced claim professionals to increase the technical expertise and improve bench strength.
• Shares accountability with business partners to achieve and sustain quality results.
• Evaluates all claims for recovery potential; directly handles recovery efforts and/or engage and directs Company resources for recovery efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What Will Our Ideal Candidate Have?

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 5 years business experience preferred.
• Advanced level knowledge and skill in claim and litigation.
• Basic working level knowledge and skill in various business line products.
• Strong negotiation and customer service skills.
• Skilled in coverage, liability and damages analysis and has a thorough understanding of the litigation process, relevant case and statutory law and expert litigation management skills.
• Extensive claim and/or legal experience and technical expertise to evaluate severe and complex claims.
• Able to make independent decisions on most assigned cases without involvement of supervisor.
• Openness to the ideas and expertise of others actively solicits input and shares ideas.
• Thorough understanding of commercial lines products, policy language, exclusions, ISO forms, and effective claims handling practices.
• Demonstrated coaching, influence and persuasion skills.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills are required so as to understand, synthesize, interpret and convey, in a simplified manner, complex data and information to audiences with varying levels of expertise.
• Can adapt to and support cultural change.
• Strong technology aptitude; ability to use business technology tools to effectively research, track, and communicate information.
• Analytical Thinking – Intermediate
• Judgment/Decision Making – Intermediate
• Communication – Intermediate
• Negotiation – Intermediate
• Insurance Contract
• Knowledge – Intermediate
• Principles of Investigation – Intermediate
• Value Determination – Intermediate
• Settlement Techniques – Intermediate
• Legal Knowledge – Intermediate
• Medical Knowledge – Intermediate

What is a Must Have?

• High School Diploma or GED.
• 2 years of liability claim handling experience and/or comparable litigation claim experience.
• In order to perform the essential job functions of this job, acquisition and maintenance of Insurance License(s) may be required to comply with state and Travelers requirements. Generally, License(s) are required to be obtained within three months of starting the job.

What Is in It for You?

• Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members – including spouses, domestic partners, and children – are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
• Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
• Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
• Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
• Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Employment Practices

Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that we can deliver the very best products and services when our workforce reflects the diverse customers and communities we serve. We are committed to recruiting, retaining and developing the diverse talent of all of our employees and fostering an inclusive workplace, where we celebrate differences, promote belonging, and work together to deliver extraordinary results. 

In accordance with local law, candidates seeking employment in Colorado are not required to disclose dates of attendance at or graduation from educational institutions.

If you are a candidate and have specific questions regarding the physical requirements of this role, please send us an email so we may assist you.

Travelers reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

To learn more about our comprehensive benefit programs please visit http://careers.travelers.com/life-at-travelers/benefits/.