Claims Consultant

Overview

This role is responsible for handling high-exposure transportation claims—including trucking, public transit, and rail—throughout the United States. The position assesses defense and indemnity obligations, manages claims exposure, and directs settlement and litigation activities in coordination with insureds, underlying carriers, and retained counsel.

Estimated duration is 3–6 months. This is a part-time role (20–25 hours per week).

Responsibilities

• Determine whether there is a present or potential future defense and/or indemnity obligation on assigned claims, and position claims accordingly.
• Handle assigned claims where a present or potential future defense obligation and/or indemnity obligation exists.
• Monitor and evaluate how assigned claims are being handled within self-insured retentions or underlying carriers; gather and review all information, documentation, and advice necessary to evaluate and manage exposure to both the insured and the organization.
• Participate in the defense of such claims with insureds or underlying carriers as necessary to protect the interests of the insured and the organization, or assume control of the defense as required by policy language, law, or circumstances.
• Retain, lead, and supervise monitoring counsel or defense counsel representing the interests of the insured, the organization, or both.
• Establish expense and loss reserves up to designated authority levels and recommend reserving above those levels to the Claims Unit Manager, Senior Vice President of Claims, and President as needed.
• Review, evaluate, and respond in a reasonable and timely fashion to demands seeking payment of an insured’s total applicable limits of liability, time-limited demands, offers of judgment, demands for settlement within limits, and similar demands/offers.
• Retain, lead, and direct coverage counsel to provide advice and guidance to the organization as needed.
• Represent the organization at settlement conferences, mediations, and any courtroom or trial appearances as required.
• Ensure claims are handled (by the insured, an underlying carrier, or by the organization) in a manner that prepares the insured and the retained defense counsel to be ready to try a case to verdict if a reasonable negotiated resolution cannot be achieved.
• Negotiate settlement of claims on behalf of the organization up to designated authority levels; request authority above those levels as needed.
• Provide regular reporting to the Claims Unit Manager, Senior Vice President of Claims, Vice President of Underwriting, and President regarding the nature of claims being handled.
• Perform additional responsibilities and take on opportunities assigned based on need, performance, and demonstrated development potential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Juris doctor with litigation experience preferred.
• Minimum of six (6) years handling or litigating commercial auto liability claims with an insurance company or law firm required.
• Experience handling trucking claims preferred.
• Experience handling claims involving public transit systems (busses, subways, etc.) and railroads preferred.
• Experience handling claims on behalf of umbrella or excess carriers preferred.
• Excellent investigative and analytical abilities.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills.
• Strong creativity and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to assess priorities and manage deadlines effectively.
• Must have sufficient knowledge and confidence to lead, instruct, question, and challenge retained counsel in a reasonable and appropriate fashion.
• Up to 20% travel.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly: $50–$70/hr
• Temporary role (not permanent); estimated 3–6 months.
• Part time: 20–25 hours a week.
• The actual hourly rate/salary will be determined based on factors including scope, complexity, and location of the role; candidate skills, education, training, credentials, and experience; and other conditions of employment.

Location

United States (claims handled throughout the country).

Additional Information

• Sponsorship is not offered for this role.
• The organization does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies or firms.