Director of Subrogation

About the role

• Location: Remote
• Reports to: Claims Operations
• Employment type: Full-time

About the role

Strala is seeking a Director of Subrogation to lead and grow our recovery function. This leader will own subrogation strategy, team performance, and operational execution - from identifying recovery opportunities through negotiation, arbitration, litigation, and collection.

The Director will build a disciplined, scalable operation that increases net recoveries, shortens recovery timelines, and delivers clear results for clients. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong technical judgment, commercial awareness, and the ability to improve how people, processes, and technology work together.

Key responsibilities

Strategy and financial performance

• Develop and execute the subrogation strategy and hit performance measures for gross and net recoveries, recovery yield, cycle time, aged inventory, and recovery expenses.
• Forecast recovery results and explain performance, risks, and improvement opportunities to leadership and clients.

Recovery operations and technical oversight

• Oversee the full recovery lifecycle, including intake, investigation, liability assessment, demand preparation, negotiation, escalation, and collection.
• Set clear standards for file assignment, prioritization, documentation, settlement authority, and closure.
• Provide technical direction on complex, high-value, disputed, and litigated recoveries.
• Ensure evidence is preserved and critical deadlines are identified, tracked, and acted upon.
• Evaluate pursuit strategies based on recovery potential, supporting evidence, expected expense, and likelihood of success.
• Establish quality reviews and file audits to improve consistency and prevent recovery leakage.

Team leadership

• Recruit, coach, and develop subrogation professionals and managers.
• Set individual and team goals, balance workloads, and hold employees accountable for quality and results.
• Build training programs that strengthen investigation, negotiation, arbitration, and recovery skills.

Clients, counsel, and recovery partners

• Serve as the senior subrogation contact for clients, carriers, and internal stakeholders.
• Lead recovery reviews and communicate strategies, outcomes, and material developments clearly.
• Select and manage outside counsel, collection agencies, investigators, and other recovery partners.
• Monitor vendor results, fees, service standards, and the financial value of outsourced work.
• Partner with Claims, Legal, Finance, and Account Management to protect recovery opportunities throughout the claims lifecycle.

Technology and continuous improvement

• Improve claims-system workflows, data quality, reporting, and recovery identification.
• Partner with engineering teams to implement practical automation and analytics.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive subrogation or claims recovery experience, including complex property and casualty recoveries.
• 5+ years of leadership experience, with demonstrated success building or improving a recovery operation.
• Strong automobile claims experience, including liability investigation, damage evaluation, and negotiation.
• Working knowledge of multi-state subrogation practices, arbitration, and litigation management.
• Demonstrated ability to improve net recoveries, operational efficiency, and team performance.
• Experience managing vendors, budgets, performance reporting, and client relationships.
• Strong analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in a third-party administrator, carrier, or claims services organization.
• Experience with commercial auto, rental fleets, or self-insured programs.
• Familiarity with Arbitration Forums, Inc.
• Relevant professional designations, such as CSRP, CPCU, or AIC.
• Experience implementing claims technology, analytics, or workflow automation.