Job Description Summary

The Excess Surplus (E&S) 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 E&S/Specialty. You'll drive technical oversight of claim matters by providing meaningful and effective consultative guidance, contributing to the Claims Division attainment of high qualify claim outcomes. You will provide operational technical support and develop coverage training plans and strategies for Claim 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 E&S/Specialty. Serves as Claims technical resource to the operation.

• Reviews strategy and approves coverage letters to ensure the consistency and accuracy of coverage positions asserted by the Claims Division. 

• Drives technical oversight of claim matters by providing meaningful and effective consultative guidance, participating in Round tables, review of coverage positions and approval of letters, collaborating with Claims to support quality claim handling.

• Assists in product development providing 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. 

• Designs coverage related templates for use by Claims associates. Provides strategic guidance on coverage and approves coverage letters

• Functions in a technical role to assist with the design and facilitation of technical coverage training needs as identified.

• Provides specialized consultation with Claims to ensure proper selection of coverage counsel. This includes personal follow up with coverage counsel as to the scope of assignment and strategy.

• Delivers a positive customer service experience to internal and external customers.

• 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/Specialty. Direct Reports: Typically, none. May manage support personnel, project staff, or temporary associates as needed.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

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

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

Experience: Ten years prior insurance coverage related experience preferred. Strong knowledge of coverage in commercial 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/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 business unit executive and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the 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 check and/or background check will be required as part of the selection