Senior Director, Claims & Litigation Counsel

Department: Litigation & Claims Mgmt

Work Shift: Day

Job Category: Legal

Banner Health believes leadership matters. We look for leaders who share our vision of making health care easier, so life can be better. Our executives are at the forefront of the health care transformation, planning the future of Banner Health. This opportunity includes the option to participate in a variety of health, financial, and security benefits. In addition, this position may be eligible for our Management Incentive Program as part of your Total Rewards package.

This position is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to the claims and litigation management team. It includes implementation of best practices, financial responsibility for performance of claims, oversight of claim reserves and outcomes, and providing legal advice related to risk management incidents, potential claims, and litigated matters. The leader reports directly to the company’s offshore captive insurance company board and regularly interacts with domestic and international insurance market contacts.

The role oversees, leads and mentors Claims Directors managing their own caseloads and the Claims team as a whole; it also participates in strategies, mediations and trials with cases involving high exposure and ensures cost‑effective management of Hospital and Physician Professional Liability (HPPL), General Liability (GL), Employment Practices Liability (EPL), and other liability claims and litigation. The leader coordinates with other risk area functions to implement strategic initiatives that reduce the financial impact of liability risk and claims on the organization.

• Provide leadership and direction to ensure cost‑effective management of liability claims and litigation, including interacting with senior leaders, handling claim files, creating reports, database entries, establishing standardized procedures, and updating policies.
• Provide direction and legal advice to Claim Directors and Specialists; actively manage cases with high exposure, establish reporting guidelines, oversee trial preparation, negotiate or direct negotiation of claims/lawsuits within delegated authority, and represent the organization at case evaluations, pre‑mediation meetings, mediations, and trials.
• Provide legal advice and counsel to employees, leadership, and captive insurer concerning risk management issues, mitigation, settlement and litigation strategies, and direct privileged investigations.
• Develop, participate in, and coordinate internal and external claims audits; lead reserve review processes; monitor claim trends and benchmarks; prepare data reports and case review materials; present information to facility leadership, risk managers, committees, executives, and others.
• Participate in attorney selection and re‑evaluation; retain approved defense counsel on a per‑claim basis; supervise outside counsel; partner to establish claim resolution strategies and communicate them clearly.
• Lead and oversee processes and policies for establishing timely, reliable indemnity and expense reserves; oversee creation of reports and metrics for tracking key claims and litigation aspects to optimize team performance and report to senior leaders and the captive insurance program.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and stakeholders to develop system‑wide responses to risk issues; develop policies, procedures, tools, and training; present at system committees and board meetings; coordinate with functional areas to develop and maintain programs that promote early identification, reporting, investigation, disclosure, and intervention of serious injury or liability events.
• Oversee investigation and evaluation of complex claims, manage through mediation and/or trial, negotiate directly with claimants and attorneys on serious exposures, supervise and mentor others, and direct privileged investigations; resolve claims within established authority levels.

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent education and experience.

Expert‑level working knowledge in the relevant area, normally obtained through 5–7 years of…