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About the Role

The Head of Commercial Claims Australia is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and technical direction of the primary insurance claims function across the Australian market. This role supports claims oversight and delegated claims activity relating to New Zealand business. It is instrumental in building and overseeing primary insurance claims in the growing specialty lines market and ensures high-quality claims handling, strong market relationships, governance implementation, and local operational delivery. The role supports the development and maturation of the regional claims platform, onboarding delegated arrangements, developing vendor networks, and ensuring alignment with regional and global claims strategies. The Head of Commercial Claims Australia plays an important part in supporting and shaping the Australian market presence for MRSGM Claims.

Responsibilities

Lead the Australian claims function across multiple specialty and commercial lines of business, ensuring consistency within MRSGM Claims governance, standards, and best practices.
Develop and execute the regional claims strategy in alignment with broader business objectives.
Ensure profitable growth through efficient oversight and compliance, technical excellence, and operational scalability.
Develop adequate oversight for delegated claims in nearby regions and countries, including New Zealand.
Oversee claims handling across lead, follow, and delegated/MGA portfolios.
Ensure consistent execution of claims best practices, governance, compliance, and service.
Provide technical guidance for complex, large loss, and other escalated claims.
Monitor claims trends, emerging exposures, and portfolio performance across the region.
Implement and drive consistent best practices and claims quality standards across all handling models.
Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing regional claims team as the platform expands.
Foster a collaborative and commercially minded claims culture.
Support talent development, succession planning, and technical capability building across the region.
Establish, implement, and enhance regional claims processes, controls, and reporting capabilities.
Partner with operations, compliance, legal, and technology teams on systems implementation, workflow design, and operational improvement initiatives.
Support claims system implementation, operational scalability, and workflow optimization initiatives as the platform expands.
Ensure all required MI and external reporting is delivered with consistency, quality, and accuracy.
Work closely with Underwriting, Distribution, and Finance to align claims strategy with business goals.
Support development of network of delegated claims partners, panel counsel, and other claims service providers.
Represent the organization within the broader specialty insurance and claims market.
Support underwriting and distribution teams with broker and client engagement where claims expertise is required.
Ensure compliance with applicable Australian and NZ claims handling requirements.
Maintain effective oversight and audit controls across claims operations and delegated partners.
Support internal Claims Leadership, governance committees, reporting obligations, and regulatory interactions where required.
Promote a strong culture of conduct risk awareness, fair claims handling, and customer outcomes.
Serve as the Australia Claims leader with regulators, brokers, and other stakeholders as required.

Requirements

10-15 years in Senior Claims Leadership experience with a growing primary insurer in the Australian and NZ market.
Strong understanding of specialty insurance, lead and follow market claims, MGA/delegated authority, and Lloyds markets in Australia and NZ.
Strong technical background in multi-line commercial and specialty claims.
Demonstrated success in leading and scaling claims functions across multiple countries and in matrixed structures.
Proven experience managing TPAs and vendors, with measurable improvements in performance.
Familiarity with Australia and NZ claims regulatory frameworks; direct regulator engagement experience preferred.
In-depth knowledge and experience with P&C/ Specialty claims operations.
Exceptional communication skills; credibility with brokers, underwriters, and senior executives.
Ability to lead through transition with a solution-oriented mindset and adaptability.
Collaborative and approachable style to work effectively with multi-functional teams, multiple departments, and foster an environment of shared responsibility and accountability.

Skills

Strategic leadership
Operational execution
Technical specialty claims expertise
Relationship management
Influencing skills
Delegated authority oversight
Vendor oversight
Governance
Regulatory awareness
Commercial acumen
Process improvement
Operational design
Strong communication skills
Stakeholder management
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing and evolving environment

Location

Australia

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Senior Leadership

Education Level

University Degree
Relevant professional qualifications
Legal qualification such as LLB or JD preferred
Additional Claims / Legal / Insurance Qualifications/designations a plus

About the Company

At Munich Re, we embrace, and value, the interaction of diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and thought. This interaction is our foundation. Of our open culture and spirit of partnership. Of how our teams are built and cultivated. Of how we are supported and developed. And at the center of this interaction is each of us.