Vice President, Claims - Commercial Liability, Complex Injury and Litigation

Vice President, Claims - Commercial Liability, Complex Injury and Litigation

Encova Insurance is seeking a dynamic Vice President, Claims - Commercial Liability, Complex Injury and Litigation to join our Columbus, Ohio corporate office team. This high-impact executive role requires residency in the Columbus, Ohio area to support in-office collaboration and leadership.

Reporting to the SVP, Chief Claims Officer, the Vice President, Claims is accountable for the operational performance of the commercial general liability, national injury, and claims litigation functions across all lines of business, including Commercial Package, Workers' Compensation and Personal Lines. This role ensures disciplined claim execution and consistent decision-making to achieve claim outcomes that protect policyholders, address total loss cost, and support profitable growth.

Essential Functions:

• Partner with the SVP and Chief Claims Officer to shape and execute claims strategies that align with company financial objectives, risk appetite, and customer expectations.
• Lead a team of leaders by setting direction, defining expectations, and driving accountability for performance, outcomes, and execution.
• Coach and develop leaders to strengthen performance and decision making, prepare them for broader responsibilities, and build a stronger succession pipeline for key roles.
• Build and sustain engaged, high-performing teams at all levels, including talent development, succession planning, and performance management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, transparency, and collaboration.
• Ensure consistent claim handling, disciplined execution, and clear decision-making across all areas of responsibility by establishing and implementing best practices that improve operational consistency.
• Leverage data and analytics to maintain operational oversight, measure results and behaviors, and develop strategies focused on improving outcomes and elevating performance.
• Leverage technology and predictive analytics to improve decision-making, increase operational effectiveness, drive efficiency, and optimize workflows that enhance outcomes and the claims experience.
• Ensure proactive, consistent litigation management through effective strategy, panel counsel partnership, cost discipline, and a focus on strong outcomes.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability for law firms and litigation teams through defined metrics, and regular performance assessment and oversight. Lead roundtable discussions involving issues of coverage, exposure evaluation, reserving, and settlement authority, trial preparation, and attend mediations, arbitrations, depositions, and trials as needed.
• Partner with Claims Operations to ensure ongoing development of technical and leadership capabilities across the organization.
• Continuously assess operational performance and implement improvements to processes, execution, and results.
• Partner with underwriting, actuarial, finance, legal, and other stakeholders to provide insight on loss trends, litigation environment, and risk drivers, and to support business decision-making.
• Partner with claims leadership to manage cost containment and expense management strategies for allocated and unallocated expenses.
• Align staffing, structure, and resource allocation to support performance objectives and business needs. Lead or support strategic projects across claims operations as assigned.

Other Functions:

• Attend and participate in seminars or other conferences.
• Represent Encova through leadership in trade associations, non-profit organizations and associate resource groups.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university is required. Juris Doctor from an accredited law school is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years demonstrated claims leadership experience in complex commercial liability, injury, and litigation management is required.
• Technical experience and knowledge on a broad array of substantive areas including property and casualty claims, products and coverages – e.g., commercial and personal auto, commercial property, general liability, workers' compensation, and umbrella – liability and damages assessment, risk transfer, exposure evaluation, trial strategy, reserving practices, and dispute resolution is required. Industry expertise in construction, product liability, auto dealers, and manufacturing helpful.
• Experience managing high-severity and complex litigation exposures, including trial decision-making and settlement strategy.
• Deep understanding of litigation management philosophy and behaviors, including proactive case management, strong partnership with counsel, and the ability to make timely, disciplined decisions that drive outcomes and effectively manage total loss cost and exposure.
• Proven ability to lead leaders and build bench strength through coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Thorough knowledge of tort law, civil procedure, insurance coverage, and general insurance law, including reinsurance programs and treaties
• Demonstrated capabilities to lead cross-functional organization, motivate and drive performance.
• Ability to think critically to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrated understanding of how claims outcomes impact financial performance and profitability, with the ability to effectively partner with underwriting, actuarial, and other profit center leaders to align strategies and communicate insights that inform risk selection, pricing, and portfolio management.
• Executive communication skills with the ability to influence across functions and align stakeholders.
• Ability to leverage technology and emerging tools to create claim capabilities that improve workflows, increase efficiency, and enhance decision-making across the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data, analytics, and reporting to maintain operational oversight, identify trends, evaluate performance, and develop strategies that improve outcomes and drive execution across the organization.
• Financial acumen, including ability to interpret results and evaluate the impact of claims outcomes on business performance.
• Strong knowledge of legal and regulatory developments related to the insurance industry.

This position has been evaluated in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Encova Insurance makes every effort to reasonably accommodate disabilities to permit performance of the essential functions and candidates who need such accommodation are encouraged to seek it. This description reflects the nature and level of work performed by associates in this position. It is not an all-inclusive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required. It provides an accurate overview of the work and skills needed to perform this position. Because job content may change from time to time, Encova Insurance reserves the right to add and/or delete functions from this job as it deems necessary for business reasons.

Ready to join our team? At Encova Insurance, we firmly believe that our associates drive our company's success by delivering unrivaled service to our customers. With success in mind, we make an ongoing effort to provide an environment that offers challenging, stimulating, and financially rewarding opportunities. Join us to discover a work experience where you can learn and grow to your fullest potential.

What you can expect from us

In addition to a competitive compensation package, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and growth of our associates. Available benefits (subject to any policy or plan changes) include, but are not limited to:

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Company-provided life and income protection plans
• Eligibility to participate in a company incentive bonus program
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - 100% company match up to 7% on annual salary
• Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
• Flexible Work Arrangements - Hybrid and remote depending on the role

We believe that happy, healthy associates are the foundation of great work. Join us and thrive both professionally and personally.

Encova Insurance is an EOE/E-Verify employer.