Insurance Contracts and Claims Manager

Job Title

Under general direction, to plan, organize, implement, and manage the County's Liability/Property Claims Division; to administer the County's contract insurance requirements, contract renewals, and schedules of insurance policies, inventory of properties, liability and property claims, including the Valley Medical Center Subrogation Program; to advise and participate in liability claim determination settlements, and to supervise professional and technical staff in the Liability/Property Claims Division.

Typical Tasks

• Manages County's certificate of insurance monitoring program that provides services to County departments;
• Administers the County's contract insurance requirements;
• Negotiates, manages, and administers the County's liability and property claims;
• Establishes and maintains policies and procedures for liability and property insurance contracts and claims;
• Manages the property and casualty insurance renewal process;
• Maintains and is apprised of current insurance coverage(s) and available options;
• Designs, implements, and monitors new insurance-related functions, as needed;
• Maintains inventory of County real and physical properties and the associated values and insurance coverages;
• Maintains current and historical list of County's liability and property insurance coverage;
• Plans, organizes, and supervises the work of professional and technical staff for the Liability/Property Claims Division;
• Manages the claims adjusting function through participating in investigation, review, adjustment, and settlement of claims, and may supervise the settlement of claims up to the amount authorized by the Board of Supervisors;
• Establishes adequate reserves for property and liability claims;
• Represents the County on property and liability issues, including small claims court appearances;
• Prepares correspondence and reports which include confidential information;
• Maintains relationships with County department heads, insurance companies, outside agencies, and the general public;
• Manages the technical support functions and the policies and procedures relating to the establishment of claims;
• Consults with and advises top administrator on activities relating to liability contracts and claims;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Performs related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities: Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through training and experience equivalent to possession of a Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration, Risk Management, Insurance, Finance, or a closely related field, AND Five (5) years of experience performing liability claims and/or insurance contracts management. Two (2) years of the required experience must be equivalent to the County of Santa Clara's Liability Claims Adjuster III classification. A Master's degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of required liability claims and/or insurance contracts management experience, but may not substitute for the experience equivalent to the Liability Claims Adjuster III classification. Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County driver authorization. Certification as an Associate of Risk Management (ARM) or proof of working towards such certification is highly desirable. Knowledge of: Principles and procedures of risk management, loss prevention, and claims adjusting; Principles of organization and administrative, fiscal, and program management; Principles of employee supervision, hiring, training, and development; Principles of risk avoidance and risk transfer; Governmental or other self-insured programs; Insurance administrative principles and procedures; Current trends in liability insurance market conditions, including types of coverage; Automated risk management, claims reporting, and office information systems and applications; Provisions of the Government Insurance Code and the California Insurance Code; Regulations and procedures involved in collecting subrogation. Ability to: Plan, develop, organize, and evaluate programs in risk management and loss prevention; Plan and assign workloads; Supervise, train, develop, and motivate staff; Utilize computer systems; Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; Gather factual information in a sensitive and discreet manner; Interpret and apply codes and regulations relating to insurance coverage; Prepare clear and concise correspondence and reports; Maintain complex records; Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships at all levels.