Construction Defect Senior Technical Specialist

Job Summary

Under general supervision, this position is responsible for investigating, evaluating, reserving, negotiating, and resolving assigned Construction Defect and Property Damage claims. The role provides quality claim handling throughout the entire claim life cycle (customer contacts, coverage, investigation, evaluation, reserving, litigation management, negotiation, and resolution) ensuring full compliance with internal and external quality standards and state‑specific regulations. The associate serves as a technical resource, providing consulting and training to field teams and business partners.

• Directly handles assigned severity claims, ensuring quality and timely coverage analysis and communication with insured parties.
• Consults with Manager on use of Claim Coverage Counsel as needed.
• Investigates each claim through prompt and strategically‑appropriate contact with policyholders, claimants, law enforcement agencies, witnesses, agents, medical providers, and technical experts to determine liability, damages, and contribution potential.
• Interviews witnesses and stakeholders; takes statements as strategically appropriate.
• Engages in identification, selection, and direction of internal and external resources (subrogation, risk control, nurse consultants, fire or fraud investigators, and other experts) to evaluate claims.
• Verifies injury or property damage by reviewing records and damage documentation.
• Maintains claim files, documenting activities per established procedures.
• Utilizes evaluation documentation tools in accordance with department guidelines and proactively creates Claim File Analysis (CFA) to meet quality standards.
• Manages diary to ensure all claims are handled timely.
• At regular intervals, evaluates liability and damages exposure, establishes and maintains proper indemnity and expense reserves.
• Recommends cases for discussion at round tables; attends and presents at these sessions to collaborate technical expertise and improve payout.
• Shares experience and knowledge of creative resolution techniques to improve claim results of others.
• Applies the Company’s claim quality management protocols and Best Practices; documents rationale for any departure from protocols.
• Develops and employs creative resolution strategies, ensuring prompt disposition of all claims within delegated authority.
• Negotiates claim disposition with insureds, claimants, or legal representatives, recognizing and implementing alternate means of resolution.
• Manages litigated claims, developing litigation plans with staff or panel counsel, including discovery and legal expenses, to assure effective resolution and customer satisfaction.
• Tracks and controls legal expenses for cost‑effective resolution and manages both allocated and unallocated loss‑adjustment expenses.
• Performs other duties as assigned; potential for travel up to 30%.

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Advanced knowledge in coverage, contract interpretation, liability and damages analysis, and thorough understanding of the litigation process, relevant case and statutory law, and expert litigation management skills.
• Extensive claim and/or legal experience with technical expertise to evaluate severe and complex claims.
• Independent decision‑making on most assigned cases without supervisor involvement.
• Thorough understanding of business‑line products, policy language, exclusions, ISO forms, and effective claims‑handling practices.
• Advanced analytical thinking, judgment/decision making, communication, negotiation, insurance contract knowledge, principles of investigation, value determination, settlement techniques, legal knowledge.
• Intermediate medical knowledge.

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Three (3) years of liability claim handling experience and/or comparable litigation claim experience.
• May be required to obtain an insurance license within three months of starting the job.

Health insurance, including coverage for employees and eligible family members from the first day of employment; retirement 401(k) match up to 5% of eligible pay plus a pension plan funded by Travelers;
Paid Time Off (minimum 20 days…