Claims Handler in the Travel Claims Department

Description Position at MTA Headquarters POSTING NO. 14511 JOB TITLE: FELA Claim Agent DEPT/DIV: General Counsel WORK LOCATION: 93-02 Sutphin Blvd FULL/PART-TIME FUL L SALARY RANGE: $80,000 - $95,000 DEADLINE: Until filled Opening: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation’s largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities. Position Objective: This position has the responsibility to investigate, evaluate, and settle personal injury and property damage claims/lawsuits from employees and customers of the Railroads (Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road ). The incumbent must prepare all claims for trial by working closely with defense counsel from receipt of the claim and onset of the lawsuit in order to formulate a litigation strategy and dispose of cases fairly and expeditiously. Responsibilities: The incumbent’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Thorough investigation of all aspects of personal injury and property damage claims and lawsuits, to include reporting, reserving, and medical case management.  Secure accident information through various internal and external sources, such as witnesses, medical providers, claimant’s departmental supervisors, and outside sources.  Evaluate LIRR or MNR’s financial liability and recommend settlement value. Interview and secure statements from party and non-party witnesses, investigate accident scenes, perform site inspections, take photographs, and measurements.  Confer with local police departments, local fire departments/fire marshals regarding incidents that occur on Railroad property. Participate in investigating suspected employees’ theft of time and/or possible fraud (FMLA, sick leave, etc.)  Provide findings to internal departments and trial offices for appropriate disciplinary action.  Testify and assist at disciplinary hearings/trials. Enable facilitation of System Safety investigations by providing claim investigation results within the confines of legal privilege and confidentiality.  Confer with and assist in FRA, PTSB, PESH, and NTSB investigations and audits.  Confer with and assist the Inspector General’s Office in investigations and criminal prosecution.  Confer with and assist in NYS, NY State Comptroller, MTA, and Consultant audits. Negotiate and settle Federal Employers’ Liability (“FELA”) and General Liability claims and lawsuits directly with claimant or with plaintiff’s counsel.  Represent LIRR or MNR regarding litigation cases involving employees and customers by attending and participating in federal and state court conferences, depositions, mediations, and trials. Prepare all pending lawsuits for trial and assist defense counsel with discovery requests, witness identification/interviews, and medical authorizations.  Assist defense counsel with formulation of litigation strategy. Identify third-party responsibility for handling and payment of claims, as well as reading and interpreting contracts and pursuing and expediting tender requests for defense and indemnification. As Third Party Administrator for MTA/MNR/LIRR, handle Station Maintenance and Force Account claims and lawsuits for employees and customer injuries. Must be on call 24/7 on a rotating basis to respond to accident scenes Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Proficiency to generate accurate, detailed reports based upon claim analysis and evaluation of compiled investigative data Strong analytical skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Excellent understanding of medical, legal, and insurance terminology Excellent organizational skills Excellent investigational and negotiation skills and alternative dispute resolution methodology Ability to evaluate and analyze claims issues to obtain fair and cost-effective settlements Ability to handle assignments in a timely manner and in adherence to deadlines Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and/or comparable software applications Must become track-qualified Ability to effectively interface with all levels of the organization, including union representatives and external customers, including attorneys, judges, and mediators Familiarity with railroad operations, policies, and programs preferred Must have a valid driver’s license and have access to a vehicle Proficiency to generate accurate, detailed reports based upon claim analysis and evaluation of compiled investigative data Strong analytical skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Excellent understanding of medical, legal, and insurance terminology Excellent organizational skills Excellent investigational and negotiation skills and alternative dispute resolution methodology Ability to evaluate and analyze claims issues to obtain fair and cost-effective settlements Ability to handle assignments in a timely manner and in adherence to deadlines Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and/or comparable software applications Must become track-qualified Ability to effectively interface with all levels of the organization, including union representatives and external customers, including attorneys, judges, and mediators Familiarity with railroad operations, policies, and programs preferred Must have a valid driver’s license and have access to a vehicle Required Education and Experience: Bachelors’ Degree in Criminal Justice , Business, Law, Insurance Studies, Paralegal Studies, or related field. Demonstrated equivalent education, experience, and/or technical credentials, including four (4) years of related experience, may be included in lieu of a degree. Minimum of five (5) years of experience managing claims/lawsuits, which includes investigation, negotiations, and settlements. New York State Casualty or NYS Independent Adjuster’s license.  If the successful candidate does not have a license, he/she will be required to obtain a license within six (6) months of hire. This position requires individuals to have an investigative background, as each Claim Agent handles a claim from onset to completion, whether it is settled in the claim stage or becomes a lawsuit. The Following is/are preferred : Knowledge of FELA, General Liability, Auto Liability & Public Authorities Law Familiarity with collective bargaining agreements and the union working environment Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology Other Information May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends) Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites . According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the “Commission”). Equal Employment Opportunity MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities. The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.

About Agoda At Agoda, we bridge the world through travel. Our story began in 2005, when two lifelong friends and entrepreneurs, driven by their passion for travel, launched Agoda to make it easier for everyone to explore the world.     Today, we are part of Booking Holdings [NASDAQ: BKNG], with a diverse team of over 7,000 people from 90 countries, working together in offices around the globe. Every day, we connect people to destinations and experiences, with our great deals across our millions of hotels and holiday properties, flights, and experiences worldwide.   No two days are the same at Agoda. Data and technology are at the heart of our culture, fueling our curiosity and innovation. If you’re ready to begin your best journey and help build travel for the world, join us.   Get To Know Our Team: The People Team is a purveyor of opportunity, searching the globe for the most talented individuals and offering them an open, collaborative workplace. By prioritizing skill and potential, we have cultivated a powerful assembly of professionals through our drive for equal opportunity and diversity. We make the move to Agoda a breeze with assisted onboarding programs, and we continue to support and enrich our thousands of Agoda employees through individual growth with outstanding learning programs and various means of assistance. Our development of incredible benefits has ensured everyone can stay strong, healthy, and happy during their time at Agoda. Leading ambitious changes and making a positive impact in the lives of our employees, the People Team is a crucial and rewarding part of the Agoda family.    The Opportunity: We are looking for someone to be part of our Global Employee Relations Team based in Bangkok as a Consultant, Employee Relations. Our Employee Relations team works closely with key stakeholders including our Legal/Compliance team, Talent Business Partner, HR Business Partners and the Senior Management Team to support employees in challenging circumstances, and we seek to identify trends and share insights to adjust our people management practices to get the best talent outcomes. We advise and enable managers to make the best possible decisions, challenging practices that go beyond legal obligation to protect our unique culture at Agoda. We are looking for someone who combines great execution, can effectively handle multiple competing priorities, with the intellectual disposition to challenge current practices. In this Role, you’ll get to: * Act as the subject matter expert on compliance and company policies and procedures, providing advice to managers and employees. * Coach, counsel, and guide managers in managing employees with poor performance and handling misconduct cases. * Support managers in the execution and tracking of disciplinary actions according to the local laws and regulations. * Handle terminations, ensuring the right steps are taken and the right documentation is used so that the risk of labor claims is minimized. * Conduct impartial investigations into grievances and serve as a dedicated Employee Relations partner, identifying trends and insights to inform procedural improvements. * Manage employee relations case timelines and deliverables, ensuring timely stakeholder updates and high‑quality documentation * Analyze performance management data and past misconduct cases to develop recommendations for capability building, policy revisions, training enhancements, and more effective management practices. * Act as an HR Business Partner to a dedicated Department to share actionable insights and trends. * Spearhead automation and improvements towards internal process such as (but not limited to) performance management, offboarding, etc. To be successful in this position it will help you to have: Qualifications & Experience * Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Law, or related field. * Minimum 6-8 years’ experience in Employee Relations or HR Business Partnering/Generalist roles, with demonstrated knowledge of employment law, workforce reduction projects, and handling complex ER issues. Skills & Attributes * Strong problem-solving, sound judgment, and decision-making abilities. * Adaptable, curious, and willing to challenge current practices. * High attention to detail, ownership, reliability, and ethical standards (discretion, confidentiality). * Ability to cope well with ambiguity and change * Humility, flexibility, and strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. * Timely task execution and ability to manage competing priorities. Communication * Fluency in written and spoken English. It’s Great if you Have: * Curiosity, ready to challenge current practices and perspectives * Great attention to detail * Great sense of ownership and reliability * Multicultural or International Experience * Humility, flexibility, good interpersonal skills   #Bangkok #Singapore #Jakarta #KualaLumpur #HongKong #Taipei #Dubai       PLEASE REVIEW OUR HIRING PROCESS GUIDELINES BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW — CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW INTERVIEWING AT AGODA WORKS.     DISCOVER MORE ABOUT WORKING AT AGODA * Agoda Careers https://careersatagoda.com * Facebook https://www.facebook.com/agodacareers/ * LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/agoda * YouTube https://www.youtube.com/agodalife   Equal Opportunity Employer  At Agoda, we pride ourselves on being a company represented by people of all different backgrounds and orientations. We prioritize attracting diverse talent and cultivating an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. Employment at Agoda is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity regardless of sex, age, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, citizenship, veteran or military status, and other legally protected characteristics. We will keep your application on file so that we can consider you for future vacancies and you can always ask to have your details removed from the file. For more details please read our privacy policy. Disclaimer We do not accept any terms or conditions, nor do we recognize any agency’s representation of a candidate, from unsolicited third-party or agency submissions. If we receive unsolicited or speculative CVs, we reserve the right to contact and hire the candidate directly without any obligation to pay a recruitment fee.