Job Summary

CNA is seeking a Claims Consultant for its NICO Oversight Team. This role is an individual contributor providing claim oversight, direct clam handling, and litigation management services relating to CNA’s legacy asbestos and pollution claims. This individual will be responsible for engaging directly with a third-party claim administrator who has assumed the direct claim handling and other administrative responsibilities for those claims, and will seek to establish greater transparency into the claims and meaningful involvement in targeted and/or high exposure accounts. This individual will assist in the company’s day-to-day oversight and overall assessment of these matters, and shall be involved in development of CNA’s long-term strategic approach to resolve them within the current reserve. For direct handled claims, the individual will also analyze and determine liability, review insurance coverages, arrange for inspections, negotiate settlements, and pay or collect direct payments.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

1. Oversees claim handling and litigation management for asbestos and pollution claims handled by third-party claim administrator, in addition to directly handling certain asbestos and pollution claims. 

2. Ensures services by third-party claim administrator are performed in accordance with corporate policy, strategic direction and contract provisions, and recommends changes and improvements where applicable.

3. Oversees claim investigations, both for direct handled claims, or claims handled by third-party administrator, including liability, damages and coverage by determining overall claim strategy, monitoring developments and providing guidance to resolve claims. Engages directly with third party administrator to ensure results.

4. Manages overall litigation strategy on claims, coverage or outside counsel by monitoring trials, tracking legal and regulatory developments, advising management and claim professionals regarding issues, approaches and impact of changes.

5. Negotiates highly complex settlement packages, cost share agreements, sets direct reserves and authorizes payment within scope of authority, settling claims equitably and ensuring timely issuance of disbursements.

6. Participates in CNA’s annual reserve study with respect to legacy asbestos and pollution claims, collaborating closely with claim, legal, and actuarial partners.

7. Engages directly with counsel representing CNA on coverage issues; provides insight and helps develop legal positions by conducting research and legal analysis and by offering counsel and guidance on complex legal or claim handling questions or issues.

8. May participate with senior management in the development and implementation of short and long-term strategy for legacy asbestos and pollution claims.

9. Tracks, interprets and communicates claim and financial data by working with Actuaries and Claim. Becomes proficient in relevant claim systems and applications. Assists in reporting developments to senior management. 

10. Monitors emerging trends by remaining current on industry news and developments within functional area of expertise, sharing information with management, internal and external business partners as appropriate.

11. Demonstrates leadership and good judgment, while contributing to a culture of inclusiveness, teamwork, and employee engagement.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationship

AVP or above

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

1. Advanced technical and product specific expertise, claims resolution skill and knowledge of insurance and claims principles, practices and procedures.
2. Strong communication, negotiation and presentation skills.  Ability to effectively interact with all levels of CNA's internal and external business partners. 
3. Advanced analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects. 
4. Ability to deal with ambiguous situations and issues. 
5. Creativity in resolving unique and challenging business problems. 
6. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related software. 
7. Ability to adapt to change and value diverse opinions and ideas.
8. Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.  
9. Ability to evaluate claims based on a cost benefit analysis.  
10. Ability to fully comprehend complex claim facts and issues; and to further articulate analyses of claims in presentations to business partners and management as well as in internal reports. 
11. Ability to implement strategies with a proactive long-term view of business goals and objectives.

Education & Experience

1. Bachelor's degree with JD preferred
2. Admission to the bar of at least one state preferred.
3. Typically a minimum eight years claims experience.