Claims Specialist

Receives,investigates, and handles claims for bodily injury, property damage, and auto bodily injury and property damage presented against CenterPoint Energy. Protects the assets of the Company from financial impact of liability claims and lawsuits while analyzing potential risk. Investigates incidents and claims that present potential exposure to the company and evaluates liability exposures. Provides support to the Legal Department and outside counsel.

• Responsiblefor large volume of liability claims, including, but not limited to, Property Damage, Bodily Injury and Automobile, filed against the Company across its operations footprint.
• Manage all phases of claims including litigation.
• Analyze and evaluates financial exposures and expense management of claims activity and reports and presents recommendations of significant exposures and expense to management.
• Investigate (including field investigation) and evaluate liability claims.
• Negotiate claims with claimants, insurers, and attorneys.
• Assist the Legal Department and CenterPoint Energy's outside counsel on lawsuits.
• Maintain timely and accurate updates on claims in claims database.
• Be on call for one week (24/7) at a time as part of the duty rotation; duty may be required at least several times a year.
• Work with and serve as liaison with outside experts, including cause & origin, reconstruction, and other disciplines.
• Set and maintain reserves for claims considering the following criteria: liability, damages (property and bodily injury), and nature and extent of injury.
• Prompt, accurate investigation of liability claims to determine the facts and potential liability; handled to final resolution.
• Develop settlement strategy by evaluating factual information to settle claims in a cost-effective manner.
• Advise and support operating company management in responding to major incident and claims.
• Serve as company representative at mediation or trial, as needed, and/or provide litigation support.
• Risk Mitigation: Develop and deliver training to internal and external stakeholders to ensure that first responders are trained to take appropriate action when an incident occurs for which the company may have adverse exposure.
• Able to demonstrate a working knowledge of applicable federal and state utility laws/regulations (e.g., NESC,PUC, RRC, IURC etc.).
• Perform other duties that may be assigned at the Company's discretion.

• Requiresa bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college.
  
  
  
  • In lieu of a degree, any combination of education and related experience totaling eight (8) years, where each year of applicable college = 1 year and each year of applicable experience = .5 years. Experience in lieu of education is in addition to the Experience requirements.
  
  
  
  

• Requires a minimum 6 - 8 years of relevant experienceas a claims adjuster in the property-casualty insurance industry, or in a field operations position requiring knowledge of the electric/gas distribution system, where customer contact occurred on a regular basis.

• Ableto demonstrate and apply a strong customer focus and deliver superior service.
• Able to exercise discretion, tact and good judgment in dealing with customers, the public, vendors and employees.
• Able to follow through on commitments to ensure everything possible done to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Able to apply curiosity and good investigative skills to fully research and investigate each claim and complete it.
• Able to interact and negotiate with all types of people, while maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor.
• Able to set required and self-established deadlines and complete those, despite some pressure.
• Able to communicate well orally and in writing.
• Able to manage time effectively, handle multiple tasks and priorities.
• Able to work independently and demonstrate initiative to accomplish assigned duties.
• Able to work collaboratively as a team member to accomplish goals and objectives of Claims.
• Able to work accurately, paying attention to detail and following oral and/or written instructions.
• Able to adapt quickly and respond well to changing priorities.
• Able to use good judgment to solve problems with logical solutions and make sound decisions.
• Able to deal comfortably with risk and uncertainty.
• Able to recognize when assistance is needed and request it.
• Able to provide a State of Texas Adjusters License and maintain licensing currency at all times. If not licensed currently, willing to attend classes and obtain a State of Texas Adjusters License within a prescribed period of time.
• Able to provide a valid state driver's license, present and maintain a good driving record and to operate company vehicles safely and in compliance with applicable laws and company policies.