California Homeowners Claims Manager

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Excess and Surplus Homeowners Claims Manager to lead and develop and oversee our California property claims operations. This role operates under the direction of the VP of Claims and is responsible for building key elements of the California claims program, managing day-to-day claims handling, ensuring compliance with California’s statutory requirements, and driving best-in-class claims service.
 

Key Responsibilities:
 

• Claims Oversight & Leadership
  • Develop, manage and direct the California Homeowners property claims program, including independent adjusting firms and service vendors.
  • Provide technical guidance on coverage analysis, investigations, liability determinations, loss estimating, and settlement negotiations.
  • Ensure timely and fair resolution of claims in accordance with policy terms and California Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations (10 CCR §2695.1 et seq.).
  • Work in conjunction with the Claims Litigation department in the management of disputed and litigated claims.
• Regulatory Compliance
  • Monitor and enforce compliance with statutory requirements, including excess & surplus lines homeowners claims handling standards.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of California claims statutes, timelines (e.g., acknowledgment within 15 days, acceptance/denial within 40 days), and reporting obligations.
  • Partner with Legal and Compliance teams to respond to external inquiries, escalations, or audits.
• Operational Excellence
  • Develop and refine claims handling processes, performance metrics, compliance processes, and quality assurance programs.
  • Oversee use of independent adjusters, contractors, appraisers, and other vendors to ensure cost-effective, high-quality service.
  • Leverage claims technology, data, and analytics to drive efficiency, identify trends, and improve customer outcomes.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Recruit, coach, and mentor internal or vendor staff, fostering a high-performance, customer-centric culture.
  • Conduct regular training on compliance, claims best practices, and emerging risks (wildfires, floods, litigation trends, etc.).
  • Lead by example in demonstrating professionalism, ethical standards, and policyholder advocacy.
• Strategic Contribution
  • Collaborate with senior leadership to set claims strategies and budgets for California homeowners business.
  • Contribute insights on risk trends, catastrophe response readiness, and market conditions.
  • Support expansion initiatives and integration with existing operations.

• Minimum 7+ years of property claims experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Knowledge and experience with CA Homeowners Litigation.
• Strong expertise in California homeowners claims handling and deep familiarity with the state’s statutory requirements.
• Experience with catastrophe claims (wildfire, wind, water) highly desirable.
• Proven ability to manage teams / vendors, resolve complex claims, and deliver outstanding policyholder service.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency in claims management systems and data analysis tools.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.

   

Location & Travel
 

• Preferred candidate based in western US to support PST time zone working hours
• Travel required for catastrophe response, vendor management and internal management meetings.

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Due to current business and operational considerations, we currently hire employees residing in the following states at this time: AL, AR, CA, CT, FL, GA, KY, MO, NC, NV, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI.

Candidates must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. without requiring visa sponsorship now or in the future.

WRM is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We take affirmative action to ensure that all employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities.

Notice to Third Party Agencies: WRM does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting firms. Absent a signed Service Agreement by WRM’s Human Resources Department, WRM reserves the right to pursue and hire these candidates without financial obligation to recruiters or agencies.