Senior Claims Specialist, Environmental Claims

Red Bank, New Jersey

Princeton, NJ

Stamford, CT

New York, NY

Short Hills, NJ

Full time

REQ06836

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance. We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture. As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry.

At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any basis prohibited by the laws that govern its operations.

AXIS is hiring a Senior Claims Specialist – Environmental Claims for its North America Claim Team. This role will manage complex primary and excess environmental claims arising under specialty environmental insurance products and will work closely with internal and external partners to deliver timely, technically sound claim outcomes.

How does this role contribute to our collective success?

The individual will investigate, analyze, and evaluate coverage, liability, damages, and resolution strategy for complex environmental claims. The role contributes to disciplined claim execution, strong portfolio oversight, and effective collaboration with underwriting, legal, actuarial, reinsurance, and other business partners. The individual will also help develop environmental claims expertise across the broader Claims organization.

What Will You Do In This Role?

• Assess complex environmental claims to determine coverage, liability, damages, reserve requirements, and settlement value.

• Manage claims arising under environmental insurance products, which may include pollution legal liability, contractors pollution liability, site-specific pollution, storage tank, and related coverages.

• Develop and execute claim strategies for matters involving remediation costs, bodily injury, property damage, natural resource damages, regulatory action, and other environmental exposures.

• Analyze policy wording, historical operations, allocation issues, trigger and timing considerations, and the interaction of primary, excess, and other available insurance.

• Direct defense counsel, coverage counsel, environmental consultants, experts, investigators, and other vendors to support efficient and effective claim outcomes.

• Identify material developments and emerging exposures, maintain accurate reserves and financial information, and escalate significant claims in accordance with internal guidelines.

• Manage legal, expert, and vendor costs in collaboration with the Litigation Management and Vendor Management teams.

• Communicate clearly with senior executives, brokers, reinsurers, actuaries, underwriters, insureds, counsel, auditors, and other stakeholders.

• Partner with Underwriting and Claims leadership to identify portfolio trends, emerging environmental risks, and opportunities to improve policy language and claim practices.

• Lead or support initiatives that enhance claims processing efficiency, technical quality, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.

• Participate in professional associations and continuing education to remain current on environmental law, regulation, science, and claims developments.

• Serve as a mentor and technical resource to claims professionals, supporting skill development and career progression.

About You

We encourage you to bring your own experience and expertise to the table. While there are qualifications and experiences we need you to have, we are open to discussing how your individual knowledge may help you succeed in this role and contribute to our goals.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience handling complex environmental, toxic tort, long-tail casualty, or other technically challenging claims, preferably within the commercial insurance industry.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze environmental policies, coverage issues, liability, damages, allocation, and complex factual records.

• Working knowledge of environmental laws, regulations, remediation processes, and litigation trends relevant to environmental claims.

• Ability to develop and execute resolution strategies for high-severity, multi-party, or contentious matters.

• Strong judgment in establishing reserves, identifying material developments, and escalating significant exposures.

• Ability to direct counsel, consultants, experts, and vendors while maintaining disciplined control of claim-related costs.

• Clear and credible written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex issues to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across Claims, Underwriting, Actuarial, Reinsurance, Legal, Finance, and other business functions.

• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement initiatives, contribute to training materials, and critically review claims procedures.

• Commitment to continuous professional development and to mentoring peers within the claims discipline.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; professional insurance, legal, environmental, or claims designations are beneficial.

Role Factors

This role requires you to be in the office 3 days per week and adhere to AXIS licensing requirements. Some travel may be required based on business and claim needs.

What We Offer

For this position, we currently expect to offer a base salary in the range of $140,000 to $155,000. Your salary offer will be based on an assessment of a variety of factors including your specific experience and work location.

In addition, you will be offered competitive target incentive compensation, with awards based on overall corporate and individual performance. On top of this, you will be eligible for a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes medical plans for you and your family, health and wellness programs, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, and much more.

Where this role is based in the United States of America, this role is Exempt for FLSA purposes.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Rewarding. Challenging. Meaningful.

We are shaping the direction of Insurance and Reinsurance during a critical and exciting time for the industry.

Whether you are a student approaching graduation or a seasoned professional looking for a new environment, AXIS has the right challenges and career opportunities for you. At AXIS, we value each individual and recognize that attracting and retaining the right people is essential to the success of our company.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes medical plans for employees and their families, health and wellness programs, retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation, and much more.