The Senior Director, Claims & Litigation Counsel will provide strategic and operational leadership to Banner Health’s teams responsible for claims and litigation management for professional, general, employment and some management liability claims.  Great opportunity to collaboratively and strategically contribute to Banner’s mission of “Making Health Care Better, so Life can be Easier.”  Broad experience in implementing best practices, managing financial responsibility for claims performance, including overseeing claims reserves and outcomes, process improvement and providing legal advice and direction for risk management incidents, claims and litigation. 

Banner Health believes leadership matters.  We value and celebrate equity, diversity and inclusion and our leaders are at the forefront of health care transformation.   We are One Team committed to the future of Banner Health as a high reliability organization, with excellence and safety in healthcare delivery.

Banner Health is a non-profit health system based in Phoenix, Arizona, with 30 hospitals and several specialized facilities across six states, and having over 55,000 employees.  If you have significant leadership experience with healthcare risk management, quality management, in house liability claims management (including litigation and claims reserves) and litigation consider this unique opportunity with Banner Health.

A JD or LLB from an ABA accredited law school is required.  Strong communication skills and prior managerial experience required. 

Hybrid role based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Your pay and benefits are important components of your journey at Banner Health. This opportunity includes the option to participate in a variety of health, financial, and security benefits. In addition, this position may be eligible for our Management Incentive Program as part of your Total Rewards package.

Within Banner Health Corporate, you will have the opportunity to apply your unique experience and expertise in support of a nationally-recognized healthcare leader. We offer stimulating and rewarding careers in a wide array of disciplines. Whether your background is in Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology, Legal, Managed Care Programs or Public Relations, you'll find many options for contributing to our award-winning patient care.

POSITION SUMMARY

This position is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to the claims and litigation management team. This includes implementation of best practices, financial responsibility for performance of claims including oversight of claim reserves and outcomes, and providing legal advice and direction related to risk management incidents, potential claims, claims and litigated matters. This leader provides direct reporting to the company’s offshore captive insurance company board, and regularly interacts with domestic and international insurance market contacts. This position oversees, leads and mentors Claims Directors managing their own caseloads and the Claims team as a whole and is also active in strategies, mediations and trials with cases involving potential for high exposure and ensures cost effective and successful management of Hospital and Physician Professional Liability (HPPL), General Liability (GL) and Employment Practices Liability (EPL) and other liability claims and litigation. The leader coordinates with other risk area functions including clinical risk management and risk finance to implement strategic initiatives designed to reduce the financial impact of liability risk and claims on the organization.

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent level of education and experience.

Expert-level working knowledge of principles, practices, and operations in assigned or related area of responsibility as normally obtained through a minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible managerial experience, including a minimum of two to three years management level experience within a healthcare system setting or other large multi-operational, complex corporate environment.

This position requires completion of a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) and admission to at least one state bar, and a minimum of five to seven years medical professional liability management experience, either as in-house claims professional or outside counsel. Must gain admission to AZ bar through reciprocity or in-house counsel provision. Must demonstrate expert-level knowledge and awareness of area of expertise in designated facility, business entity or area and/or experience in which the knowledge, skills, and abilities are directly transferrable. Proven track record of driving successful performance outcomes and accomplishing organizational goals.

Must demonstrate skills and business acumen through direct leadership experiences such as: anticipating and responding to the needs of internal and external customers; managing a budget and financial plans; building partnerships with management, staff, and stakeholders to achieve goals and objectives; managing problems and situations where uncertainty is inherent; persuading others to adopt a particular stance on an issue; developing and evaluating best practices and emerging trends for organizational applicability and appropriateness; constructing new and innovative solutions for complex and varying problems and situations while considering the larger perspective or context; mentoring and coaching staff by providing open and honest feedback to enhance performance; developing and implementing strategic goals and initiatives that support organizational success; demonstrating excellent human relations, organizational and communication skills; and demonstrating a passion for continuously improving and providing high quality care and service excellence to customers, patients, families, employees and/or physicians.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Strong negotiating skills and advanced knowledge of healthcare claims, risk management, quality management and performance improvement preferred. Knowledge of in-house liability claims management processes and procedures and other related healthcare regulatory and/or litigation experience preferred. Prior managerial experience.