Senior Claims Handler / Insurance Officer

Location: Hybrid - Work From Home + Minimum 2 Days per Month Onsite (West Midlands-based Council)
Rate:

• 288.63

• Contract: 3-6 months (Interim), potential for temp-to-perm
  Deadline: Contract to run until 31st December (initially)

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Claims Handler / Insurance Officer to join a busy Local Authority insurance team. You’ll manage your own caseload and a small team handling a range of insurance claims, including personal injury and third-party property claims under Public and Employers’ Liability.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated insurance professional with public sector experience to take on a broad and rewarding role supporting risk, insurance claims, and council-wide insurance programme management.

• Manage a small team handling a range of claims (mainly PI and property), including your own caseload.

• Deal with all classes of business including highways, motor vehicle, forestry, property and personal injury claims.

• Act as first point of contact on liability/defence decisions for the team.

• Liaise with legal teams, third-party solicitors, and claimants including litigants in person.

• Attend court, manage small claims proceedings, and give instructions to counsel where required.

• Administer and support all aspects of the council’s insurance programme and ad-hoc policy arrangements.

• Monitor and control claim costs and ensure compliance with legislation (e.g. MOJ reforms, Civil Procedure Rules).

• Support and deputise for the Insurance Manager as needed.

• Maintain the council’s claims handling system (Evo) and support management reporting, benchmarking, and FOI requests.

• Public sector insurance experience, particularly in Local Authority or similar regulated environments.

• Strong knowledge of insurance programmes (e.g. EL, PL, motor, property, highways).

• Solid experience handling and managing insurance claims.

• Confident in determining liability, managing processes, and liaising with insurers, brokers and solicitors.

• Experience using claims systems (e.g. Evo or JCAD).

• Able to attend court and represent council interests in person.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

• Not at manager level, but ready to lead on tasks and support team development.

• Predominantly remote with only 2 days/month required in office.

• Open to candidates seeking temporary-to-permanent transition.

• The post falls within the Commercial (Finance, Procurement, Legal) directorate.