Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Claims Manager to join our Property team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to lead the administration of claims activities for an assigned unit, ensuring quality claims handling and service while coaching and developing team members to achieve individual, departmental, and company goals.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Leads the day-to-day operations of the assigned claims unit handling 1st party personal and commercial lines property claims, ensuring prompt, courteous service and sound claims handling in accordance with established claims standards, service levels, and quality expectations.
• Monitors, oversees, and audits claims to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Takes prompt action to resolve complaints and discrepancies and informs management of significant issues that may require additional attention.
• Manages team workload to ensure claims are distributed equitably and pending claims are addressed in a timely manner.
• Coaches, directs, and develops team members to support individual, departmental, and company goals.
• Provides daily leadership to the assigned team through staffing, performance management, training, and development.
• Maintains accountability for team performance and results.
• Interprets and executes established policies and guidelines while making decisions that have a significant impact on the assigned business unit.
• Applies claims knowledge and experience to solve problems of broad scope and complexity.
• Analyzes patterns within partial or conflicting information to identify and implement appropriate solutions.
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with team members, other departments, and external organizations and partners.
• Uses persuasion and negotiation skills to effectively communicate varying types of information and resolve issues.
• Participates in professional industry groups to remain informed of industry advancements and incorporates relevant best practices into claims operations.
• Shares new information, best practices, and process improvements with the team.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Five to seven or more years of directly related claims processing and case management experience working with claims of varying levels of complexity.
• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of applicable state laws, regulations, policies, and claims practices.
• Prior supervisory or management experience with demonstrated ability to coach, direct, and develop team members.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and solve complex problems.
• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Sound judgment and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong organizational and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency with core systems, office technology, computer equipment, and software applications.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field of study; equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• CPCU designation or a similar insurance industry certification.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $93,100 – $128,040 annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and/or may be considered for other positions.

Western National Insurance Group reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset.

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions).
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio.
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer.
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework      and access to The Institutes (risk and insurance education).
• Paid parental leave.
• Bonus opportunities.

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.