Sr Consultant, Claims - Management Liability & Specialty Lines (Surety)

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, 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 and partners 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 virtual and/or remote based applicants.

What to Expect: This role is an individual contributor role. Although it doesn't immediately involve leadership responsibilities, there is potential in the future for the role to grow and change.

Ideal Candidates will have: Surety Claims and/or strong Construction Litigation experience highly preferred. JD preferred.

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Job Description Summary

If you can put your keen legal mind to work analyzing, managing and resolving insurance coverage and claims, we want to know more about you! Working on our team offers the opportunity to be involved in settling litigated claims of the highest level of complexity and severity in terms of exposure and coverage.

As a Senior Claims Consultant, you'll investigate, evaluate and negotiate claims to a successful resolution. This role supports management liability and specialty lines of business including surety liability, error and omissions, directors and officers and employment practices liability, among others. Claim files will include litigated accounts of the highest complexity and severity, and of significant value to the organization. We will count on you to collaborate and provide insight to our business partners on claims and policy wording questions and maintain, develop and influence relationships with customers and business partners. You'll have opportunities to be a subject matter authority and collaborate with internal business partners to develop and implement claims strategies.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Investigates and evaluates coverage, liability and damages to set an appropriate claim strategy, settlement and file reserves for the most serious and complex claims within approved claims authority.

• Provides timely and appropriate evaluation of claims to identify and manage reserves in compliance with company standards.

• Delivers outstanding customer service and satisfaction through effective interactions with insured, agents and legal counsel.

• Develops, coaches, trains and mentors individual team members. Acts as top level subject matter authority in specialty line claims. Identifies and develops training plans and strategies for the division.

• Maintains current knowledge of multiple coverage lines, venue-specific court decisions which may impact the claim function, current guidelines, and policy changes and modifications.

• Provide feedback on claim trends and development. Provide input to underwriters on review of potential and existing insured’s claim experience.

• Contributes to a collaborative environment by consistently demonstrating teamwork, motivation, positive behavior and effort to achieve goals and objectives.

• Provides top level consultation/direction to claims leadership, peers and other business partners about severe specialty claims issues, coverage, or risks.

• Recommends changes to business leadership. Provides implementation strategies and coordinates execution processes in product development and management for specialty lines of business. Provides claim handling expertise to new product development.

• Provides standardized processes for claims handling related to new products. Assists in developing business plans to ensure claims quality results.

• Provides associate performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organizational planning, hiring and placement and disciplinary actions of contributing staff.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Claims Director or Associate Vice President

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: College degree preferred. Juris Doctorate desired

License/Certification/Designation: Associates must acquire the required federal and/or state licenses/registrations within the time period designated by the business unit. Additional licenses/registrations may be required when new products and services are implemented. If an associate fails or is unable to obtain required licenses/registrations within the designated time period, the associate will be ineligible to continue in the position. Completion of insurance courses such as IIA, AEI, or CPCU preferred.

Experience: Ten years of prior insurance experience preferred. Proven experience investigating and resolving severe complex litigated claims. Confirmed experience analyzing and handling sophisticated coverage issues. Specific experience in a particular line of business may be required by the hiring business unit.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Proven knowledge of the best claims practices used to resolve severe claims. Top level specialist in a particular line of business. Additional education may be required by the business unit. Extensive knowledge and expertise relating to insurance contracts, coverage issues, contingent or extra-contractual liability against insurers and litigation management, both foreign and domestic.

Demonstrated analytical skills to make independent decisions and resolve conflict in application of coverage to submitted claims, application of laws of jurisdiction to investigation facts, application of policy exclusions and exceptions. Validated ability to coordinate defense counsel in the handling of cases involving serious and complex liability and damage issues from inception through trial. Excellent verbal and written communication skills for use in communicating with policyholders, claimants, attorneys and all levels of management. Confirmed organizational skills to effectively establish work priorities in conformity with objectives and standards. Demonstrated personal computer skill, including the ability to operate claims and business software.

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

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the Vice President and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Travel as required.

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 process.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 05/07/2026. 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 applican