Managing Counsel
SFM – The Work Comp Experts
Work somewhere you love
SFM is unique in that we are small enough that your voice is heard but has all the benefits and perks of a larger employer. We value your opinion, help you reach your goals, and make it easy for you to maintain work-life balance. SFM is committed to creating the best work environment and believes that our exceptional and motivated employees are our greatest strength. SFM emphasizes work life balance, and our benefit package is designed to assist you in navigating your work-life journey.
Our benefits include:
- Affordable Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, HSA, FSA
- Flexible hybrid work environment
- Traditional and Roth 401(k) plans with company match
- Company contributions to help pay off student loans
- Monthly home internet allowance
- Free life insurance, STD & LTD
- Opportunities for annual gainshare bonus
- Pet insurance
- Generous PTO
- 9 paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Annual company-wide volunteer day
- Adoption financial assistance
Visit our careers page to learn more about working at SFM.
About SFM
Since 1983, our mission has been to be the workers’ compensation partner of choice for agents, employers and their workers. SFM seeks to inspire safer workplaces by protecting workers from harm and helping the injured recover. We have expanded to well over 25,000 customers in the Midwest and grown our offerings to include vocational rehabilitation, loss prevention, medical services and more. Though much has changed through the years, our focus continues to be unrivaled customer service, safety, and providing better outcomes for employers and injured workers. At SFM, the work you do has a direct impact on making a difference in someone’s life because our mission is to inspire safer workplaces and help the injured recover.
The role
Join our dynamic organization leading and overseeing SFM’s in-house insurance defense law firm overseeing a team of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative assistants inspiring a sense of service excellence and providing high-quality legal advice to all clients defending Workers’ compensation claims/lawsuits. In this role, you will act as a managing partner handling all the responsibilities associated with running a law practice while carrying a reduced caseload defending work comp claims. The Managing Counsel will collaborate with key business partners, both within the organization and outside of the company. You will partner with claim professionals by providing effective advice on strategies impacting related legal issues. As a leader of the in-house law firm, you will promote and initiate the development of innovative strategies, develop team members, work with existing technology and seek out new technology to manage daily operations to improve workflows. At SFM, we believe in work-life balance and offer hybrid work. Apply today and discover why we are consistently ranked a top employer and a place people choose to grow their career at. Bring your people leadership and legal expertise to SFM!!
What you will be doing
- Leads the in-house law firm (claims legal team) to provide the best possible legal representation and advice in a service-focused manner to the Company’s policyholders and claims representatives. Leads by example showing professionalism to internal and external customers.
- Facilitates annual strategic goal setting for the team, and assists with monitoring performance to achieve successful results.
- Manages the claims legal team's caseloads to ensure efficient workflow, timely completion of tasks, and balanced distribution of work.
- Makes operating decisions needed to achieve business results, and effectively manages team budget.
- Exhibits a continual growth mindset in developing and growing client service, litigation, and law firm leadership skills.
- Participates and takes leadership roles in projects and inspires innovation and continuous quality improvement.
- Collaborates with cross-functional business units and company leaders on long-term strategies, claims and litigation trends affecting the insurance industry to address issues that are impacted by workers’ compensation legal issues.
- Raises litigation awareness and participates in educating the Company’s policyholders and agency force to promote the value of in-house counsel and collaborates with key business partners within the organization to provide such education.
Legal Counsel
- Handles a reduced caseload commensurate with leadership duties and provides legal defense on behalf of the Company and its policyholders related to workers' compensation and Coverage B claims.
- Collaborates with the Company’s subrogation team to pursue and protect the Company and its policyholders’ interests in investigation, negotiation, and legal pursuit of subrogation claims.
- Establishes and manages standards for best practices reflected by the partnership agreement with the Company’s Strategic Business Units.
- Monitors developing case and statutory law, drafts legal advisories and advises policyholders and the Company on topics related to workers’ compensation defense, subrogation, Coverage B, and other related third-party claims.
- Presents or participates in seminars and educational opportunities for Company personnel and the Company’s policyholders.
- Promotes and facilitates pre-litigation resolution and efficient administration of claims through regular counseling with other teams and coordination with the Company’s claims tech and medical resources.
- Manages caseloads and determines when referring files to outside counsel is appropriate. Works together with corporate legal and claims tech personnel in managing outside counsel relationships.
Leadership and Staff Development
- Develops and communicates vision and expectation levels to team members and relates them to corporate vision and strategic direction. Maintains appropriate interactions with persons both within the organization and externally.
- Provides team members with the tools needed for the team to accomplish stated objectives.
- Consistently provides feedback and communication to staff members related to company and team performance.
- Leads team members to make decisions based on established criteria/goals and monitors performance to achieve successful results.
- Defines and develops team member’s job, responsibilities, and accountabilities, in both a physical and virtual environment.
- Selects, coaches, and retains staff. Inspires team members to attain goals and pursue excellence. Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for improved performance. Effectively utilizes each team member to their fullest potential.
- Partners with and uses Human Resources as a resource for talent acquisition, training, and performance management.
- Provides training and development opportunities. Identifies and develops future leadership within the team. Challenges team members to develop professionally or as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor.
What We will Love About you
- Licensed to practice law in Minnesota, graduate of accredited law school.
- Minimum of ten years’ experience in private practice or as in-house counsel, working in the insurance litigation field, with substantial experience handling workers’ compensation claims, required.
- Minimum of 3 years in leadership roles and/or demonstrated informal or actual law firm or legal department management experience, required.
- Strong, effective leadership with a strategic focus and a track record of inspiring colleagues and team members to perform at their potential by fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
- Extensive knowledge of Minnesota workers' compensation statutes and rules.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully handle and resolve high-exposure, complex litigation, and workers’ compensation claims.
- Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with multi-disciplinary business teams.
- Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple projects, effectively delegating to ensure successful completion.
- Proficient in using current technology and in adopting new technologies to enhance job performance and service delivery.
- Experience using analytics tools and techniques to evaluate performance metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent decision making and negotiation skills.
- Able to navigate difficult conversations effectively and professionally.
- Driven to create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
- Strong, practical problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
- Exceptional customer service skills.
- Ability to work variable work schedules when needed.
- Must have a valid driver’s license.
- Must be willing to come into the office as needed.
Physical Requirements
Regular attendance is required. Work takes place in a semi paperless environment within an office setting, either on business premises or other remote location, using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers, which requires being stationary for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and work with close vision. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds. Work is performed indoors with little to no exposure to extreme outdoor weather conditions.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Join us!!
SFM Mutual Insurance Company and each of its parent companies, subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital, familial, or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected classification.
SFM Companies, EEO/AA Employers. SFM is a participant of E-Verify. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws.
