If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.
Please Note: This position will sit in Columbus, Ohio.
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Job Description Summary
Would you thrive in an environment where you can develop strategic vision and objectives to lead ongoing transformation and evolution of Ethics, Quality Assurance, and Training, supporting the mission of a Fortune 100 insurance company to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care? If you possess strong leadership skills along with the academic credentials, strong analytical skills, ethical and operational acumen needed for successful legal, quality and operations work, our Trial Division team may be for you!
Nationwide Trial Division (NTD) is a national team with multiple regions across the United States. As AVP, Legal Ethics, Quality Audit and Operations, you’ll lead and manage a team supporting these areas for all regions and practices, including attorneys and paralegals. Your role as a leader in NTD will offer the opportunity for continuous innovation of training curriculum delivery and methodology, and the development of strategies for leveraging new technologies and distance learning techniques. In addition, you will be responsible for the budget of the Quality, Ethics, and Training teams including the annual Quality Assurance Reviews for each NTD office. You’ll be responsible for the overall quality-control efforts for the practices and procedures within Trial Division. We’ll count on you to oversee the performance of the Ethics team to ensure that sound, legally defensible decisions are made with respect to NTD attorney and associate activities. Additionally, you will have responsibility for leading the Trial Division Centralized Filing Unit and related administrative support that the team provides across the firm, as well as for collaborating closely with our technology partners to ensure effective and efficient technology solutions are in place for each of our trial offices. You’ll cultivate and maintain strong and enduring relationships with NTD VPs and AVPs, as well as with other senior Claims leaders and Claims Quality (QA). This role offers the opportunity to demonstrate a very broad litigation and legal P&C background, and to leverage your excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
Develops and implements quality-control programs across NTD operations. Creates appropriate testing, scoring and management reporting, procedures and processes including development and execution of risk based audit processes and procedures ensuring management addresses noted findings. Works with Claims QA team to implement a risk-based approach to drive better file quality across NTD’s case assignments (>25,000). Monitors adherence to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
Identifies operational opportunities and/or weakness via trend analysis, data review, leadership interviews and assessments. Partners with NTD leaders and staff on development of corporate Best Practices. Assists in assessing changing laws and regulations and develops appropriate testing for same.
Designs, develops, and delivers the learning experience to include proactive insight and reinforcement. Cultivates relationships with key Claims partners across the enterprise becoming a trusted advisory and partner to achieve mutual goals, exchange best practices, knowledge and information.
Develops programs to help NTD associates prepare to handle more commercial litigation defense work as the business evolves.
Drives innovation and best practices throughout the organization by staying relevant on industry practices and trial division’s capabilities in these areas.
Leads the performance of the legal ethics team to deliver sound, legally defensible decisions in response to discovery, liability theories, and state bar inquiries across the country. Directs the investigation of complaints or allegations that attorney has not complied with state ethics law. Ensures appropriate strategies are taken to protect NTD/staff counsel from state bar scrutiny in responding to various discovery, liability theories and state bar inquiries across the country.
Publishes clear opinions and communications of ethical standards and expectations for all of Trial Division. Monitors adherence to compliance with state and federal laws and regulations impacting both staff counsel as a whole and individual attorneys on individual case assignments.
Leads the Trial Division Centralized Filing Unit and related administrative support that the unit provides across the firm, such as file openings and closings, background checks and more.
Collaborates closely with technology partners to ensure effective and efficient technology solutions are in place for each of our trial offices.
Manages direct reports and is responsible for their performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organizational planning, hiring, placement and disciplinary actions. Creates clear expectations and objectives and provides development opportunities.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
Reporting Relationships:Reports to SVP Trial Division. Leads a team offour including Ethics, Quality Assurance and Business Operations attorneys, Senior Director, Business Operations, and Director, Business Consulting. Oversees a team of indirect reports that include Analysts, Sr Analysts, Consultants and Senior Consultants performing learning and performance, business consulting, process management and centralized filing unit duties.
Typical Skills and Experiences:
Education:Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association-accredited law school and active license to practice law in at least one state is required. Has specialized knowledge in Ethics and/or Rules of Professional Conduct and Attorney Disciplinary process and understanding of general training principles.
License/Certification/Designation:Associates reporting within Nationwide’s Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.
Experience:Typically, a minimum 8 of years' civil litigation, trial experience and/or agency hearing representation and considerable management and/or leadership experience (10 years preferred).
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:Knowledge of the P&C Insurance industry. Ability to interact effectively with all levels of leadership. Excellent customer focus to proactively identify and understand customer needs. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for interaction with executives, leadership, and all levels of associates; strong presentation and negotiation skills. Demonstrated decision making skills; recognizes, analyzes and provides input on performance situations. Can deal with a variety of issues and recommend and/or implement solutions. Ability to coach, mentor develop and motivate associates.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resource Business Partner.
Values:Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.
Overtime Eligibility:Not Eligible (Exempt)
Working Conditions:Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.
ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.
Benefits
We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.
Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.
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