Senior Manager, Litigation

Overview

This primarily home-based Senior Manager, Litigation role provides strategic leadership for complex litigation matters. Responsibilities include overseeing legal risk, guiding case strategy, and managing outside counsel to support high-quality case outcomes and protect the interests of insureds.

The role reports to a director, legal.

Candidates must reside within 35-50 miles of one of the following locations: Madison, WI; Boston, MA; Hopkins, MN; Keene, NH; or Atlanta, GA.

Responsibilities

• Lead litigation strategy: Direct and influence legal strategies for complex, high-exposure litigation matters; partner with staff attorneys and outside counsel to develop approaches, evaluate risk, and drive optimal outcomes.
• Manage outside counsel relationships: Select, negotiate, and manage outside law firms and litigation vendors to ensure exceptional service, cost effectiveness, and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Drive resolution decisions: Evaluate litigation exposure and business impact to determine whether matters should be tried, settled, or otherwise resolved; exercise settlement authority and provide guidance on high-stakes decisions.
• Assess and mitigate legal risk: Analyze litigation trends, case developments, and potential exposures to proactively manage risk.
• Ensure excellence in representation: Oversee work performed by staff counsel and outside counsel to ensure quality, professionalism, and compliance with applicable legal and ethical requirements.
• Provide trusted legal leadership: Serve as a strategic advisor on complex legal matters for attorneys, business partners, and senior leadership.
• Lead and develop teams: Foster accountability, collaboration, trust, and inclusion; set clear expectations, provide coaching and feedback, and support professional growth.
• Influence across the organization: Partner with department and division leaders to advance strategic priorities and help shape the litigation function.
• Support organizational values: Actively support the organization’s mission, vision, and values while promoting integrity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Demonstrated effective leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer-driven solutions, support, or service.
• Demonstrated civil trial experience.
• Demonstrated experience dealing with issues related to:
  • (i) tort law
  • (ii) litigation practice
  • (iii) property and casualty insurance contracts, law, and regulation
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of rules of Professional Responsibility for the jurisdiction in which they practice.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of tort, contract, and insurance law.
• Bar admission requirement (as applicable):
  • Admitted to the state bar in the state where they are located or
  • (1) admission to the bar within one year of hire for individuals who must pass a bar exam or portions of a bar exam to be admitted or
  • (2) bar admission as soon as practicable but no later than 60 days of hire for individuals with diploma privilege or who are eligible for in-house counsel registration.
• Juris Doctor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience leading outside counsel.
• Coverage experience.

Compensation & Benefits

• Position compensation range: $150,000.00 - $255,000.00
• Pay rate type: Salary
• Compensation may vary based on job level and geographic work location.
• Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates.

Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and wellbeing benefits, a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays, and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full-time employees). A student loan repayment program and paid-family leave are also available.

Additional Information

• Travel requirements: Up to 50%.
• Physical requirements: Work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
• Working conditions: Not applicable.
• All employees participate in New Employee Orientation during their first week (in person at Madison, WI Headquarters or one of the organization’s core locations; sessions may be delivered virtually at times based on scheduling and availability).
• Offer is contingent on applicable background checks.
• Offer is contingent on signing a non-disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions.
• Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless specified in the posting.
• Equal opportunity employer; qualified applicants with criminal histories are considered consistent with applicable law.
• Reasonable accommodation may be requested during the application or interview process to participate in the process, perform essential job functions, and/or receive other benefits and privileges of employment.