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, while also supporting claims oversight and delegated claims activity relating to New Zealand business written through MGA arrangements. This key role sits as part of the Munich Re Specialty - Global Markets Claims leadership, which is headquartered in London, and will be instrumental in building and overseeing primary insurance claims in our growing specialty lines market written through lead, follow, and MGA market structures, and is responsible for ensuring high-quality claims handling, strong market relationships, implementation of governance, and local operational delivery. This role will support MRSGM Claims in developing and maturing the regional claims platform, onboarding delegated arrangements, developing vendor and service provider networks, and ensuring alignment with regional and global claims strategies.
The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of the Australian insurance market, broader regional landscape experience, deep specialty claims expertise, and demonstrated operational experience building or scaling claims operations within a complex insurance environment. This role also sits as the MRSGM Claims delegate on the Australian Executive Team and collaborates closely with many key stakeholders and executives, including from Underwriting, IT, Finance, HR, and Legal. The Head of Commercial Claims Australia plays an important part in supporting and shaping the Australian market presence for MRSGM Claims.
Your Role
Strategic Claims Leadership
-
Lead the Australian claims function across multiple specialty and commercial lines of business and ensure 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.
Claims Oversight & Technical Management
-
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.
Leadership & Team Development
-
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.
Operational Build & Infrastructure
-
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.
Market Management
-
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.
Governance & Regulatory Compliance
-
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.
Your Profile
-
10-15 years in Senior Claims Leadership experience with a growing primary insurer in the Australian and NZ market.
-
University Degree and/or relevant professional qualifications required; legal qualification such as LLB or JD preferred.
-
Additional Claims / Legal / Insurance Qualifications/designations a plus
-
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 a multi-functional teams, multiple departments, and foster an environment of shared responsibility and accountability.
How You Succeed
-
Strategic leadership and operational execution
-
Technical specialty claims expertise
-
Relationship management and influencing skills
-
Delegated authority and vendor oversight
-
Governance and regulatory awareness
-
Commercial acumen
-
Process improvement and operational design
-
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
-
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing and evolving environment
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.
