VP, Programs US Claims

At Argo Group, you can make a direct impact while working in an organization small enough to be agile and big enough to make a difference. We ask you to bring a growth mindset and a desire to share your unique perspective with our dynamic teams.

Argo Group, a global multiline underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty market, offers a comprehensive line of high-quality products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of our clients. We foster an inclusive culture that embraces diversity and design thinking, relies on innovation and agility, promotes collaborative service delivery, frequent, integrated communication, and authentic recognition of excellence. 

A Brief Overview

We are looking for a highly capable and effective VP, Programs to join our team and work from any Argo office. We work together in the office five days a week in order to strengthen our culture, build team connections, and drive profitability. This individual will oversee third party claim administrators handling claims on Argo’s behalf, manage the sub-functions of Programs and Quality Assurance and manage a team of Claims Account Managers contributing to providing superb claims results for our clients.

How You Will Make an Impact:

• Supervise and provide training, mentoring, and technical oversight, to the department and administer oversight of TPA partners, including setting up new programs and negotiating favorable contract terms with potentially major impact on departmental results.
• Monitor the quality of work performed by internal employees or TPAs adjusting claims for US programs to ensure superior claims results and compliance with Claims Administration Agreements and Claims Reporting Requirements. 
• Ensure industry-leading customer service and efficient claims resolutions with best financial outcomes.   
• Successfully manage and provide technical oversight to a department of Claims Account Managers.
• Establish, refine and evolve best-in-class claim management operating characteristics, measurement criteria, and meaningful metrics benchmarking and ensure there is accountability for proper and consistent claims performance, achieving the appropriate financial outcomes, and meeting departmental goals;
• Recommend operational plans and tactics that will directly impact the achievement of overall functional results.
• Manage expenditures to budget / plan.
• Support the professional claims selection process to retain claims professionals that consistently demonstrate appropriate technical expertise, maturity and a professional commitment to excellence and customer service.
• Act as the single point of contact for all assigned programs for both internal and external customers
• Liaison with IT to onboard TPA’s to Argo claims tools and systems.
• Conduct and/or coordinate regular audit and claim review process for all assigned programs.

What We Need:

• Must have good business acumen (i.e. understand how an insurance company works and makes money, including how this role impacts both Argo Group and our customers’ ability to be profitable).
• Requires broad management and leadership knowledge. This is typically achieved through:
• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university is required.
• Minimum 10 years claims experience required. Strongly prefer 3 years in a People Leadership capacity.
• Experience managing specialty programs, TPAs, MGAs, and/or other outside vendors.
• Experience conducting audits with a proven ability to communicate and present findings accordingly.
• Advanced technical expertise related to specialty liability policies, claims resolution, and skills and knowledge of insurance and claims settlement principles, practices and procedures.
• Strong communication, negotiation and presentation skills. Ability to effectively interact with all levels of the company’s internal and external business partners.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
• Strong focus on selection – determined to have the right people who do the best job.  Has a reputation for your ability to identify, attract and hire talented people.
• Ability to effectively partner with finance, actuarial, IT and marketing resources.
• A strong focus on execution in getting things done right.  Proven ability to consistently produce and deliver expected results to all stakeholders by:
  • Finding a way to achieve success through adversity.
  • Being solution (not problem) focused
  • Thinking with a global mindset first.
• Client focus – the ability to effectively determine specific client needs and to provide value added solutions.
• Successful traits (flexibility, ability to thrive in change, being resourceful on your own) necessary to work in a fast paced environment that is evolving constantly.
• A relentless desire to continually update your skills through continuing education and self-development.
• Demonstrates inner strength.  Has the courage to do the right thing and demonstrates it on a daily basis.
• Intellectual curiosity.  Consistently considers all options and is not governed by conventional thinking.
• Ability to build commitment both internally and externally.  Ability to communicate corporate vision and to gain support for your views, opinions and decisions.
• Dedicated to developing talent.  Understands and is committed to developing people so that they realize their full potential.
• A team builder, someone who understands that success is dependent upon the performance of the team and not individual team members.  Creates strong morale and spirit within the team: shares wins and celebrates success as a team
• Ability to establish mentoring relationships with key employees and participates in the development of succession and training plans for all positions.
• Empowers others by driving decision-making, authority, and resources to trusted employees and providing stretch assignments.
• Ability to analyze data for accurate and timely reflection of support staff performance and impact on the claims department.
• Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with clients, business partners and organizational peers with a focus on timely and meaningful exchanges of information.
• The courage to offer and support others to express different opinions and ideas, regardless of popularity or immediate acceptable.
• Demonstrates active listening and proactive communication by listening first, and then preparing carefully before engaging in conversation to communicate well thought out feedback.
• Polished and professional written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to articulate the financial value of your work at multiple responsibility levels inside our business including Argo senior executives.

Physical Demands

Unless otherwise specified below as an essential function of the job, this role generally operates within a standard office environment requiring the use of a PC and other related office equipment.

About Working in Claims at Argo Group

• Argo Group does not treat our claims or our claims professionals as a commodity. The work we offer is challenging, diverse, and impactful.
• Our Adjusters and Managers are empowered to exercise their independent discretion and, within broad limits and authority, be creative in developing solutions and treat each case as the unique situation it is. 
• We have a very flat organizational structure, enabling our employees have more interaction with our senior management team, especially when it relates to reviewing large losses. 
• Our entire claims team works in a collaborative nature to expeditiously resolve claims.  We offer a work environment that inspires innovation and is open to employee suggestions. We even offer rewards for creative and innovative ideas. 
• We believe in building an inclusive and diverse team, and we strive to make our office a welcoming space for everyone. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds to apply.

How We Work - Our Employee Values

Employees at Argo thrive together as a responsible, profitable specialty insurer where all stakeholders share in our success.  
 

We are committed to:

• Demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit:
  • Get the job done in a non-bureaucratic, resourceful manner.
  • Create a culture of accountability ensuring the delivery of world-class products and services.
• Do the right thing:
  • Act with integrity always.
  • Adhere to the commitments set forth in the Argo Group Environmental, Social and Governance program.
• Collaborate:
  • Create an open and transparent environment in which diverse experience, skill sets, and individuals can team together to drive optimal outcomes.
  • Encourage and include unique perspectives at all times.
• Respect each other:
  • Create an environment that promotes dialogue, mutual support and cooperation between and among all, where people are fun to be around, proud of what they do, and willing to achieve beyond normal expectations.