The Team

The Aviation Liability practice sits within Clyde & Co’s global Insurance & Disputes offering and is recognised as a market leader, acting for airlines, aircraft operators, insurers and reinsurers across the full spectrum of aviation-related claims.

The Aviation Liability Claims team manages a diverse portfolio of work, including high-volume consumer aviation claims, complex and sensitive liability matters, and significant loss and catastrophe response. The team works closely with colleagues across legal, regulatory, and claims handling functions, both in the UK and internationally, leveraging deep sector expertise and established client relationships.

This role sits at the heart of the Aviation Liability claims function, providing strategic leadership across claims development, operational delivery, and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on scalability, quality, and client outcomes.

The Role

The Head of Claims Development & Operations – Aviation Liability is responsible for the strategic direction, operational performance, and ongoing development of the Aviation Liability claims offering.

You will lead claims operations across aviation liability matters, driving efficiency, consistency, and innovation in claims handling, while ensuring the highest standards of technical excellence and client service. The role combines strategic planning, people leadership, process optimisation, and stakeholder engagement, and plays a key part in supporting the long-term growth of the aviation liability practice.

Working closely with partners, senior claims leaders, and clients, you will ensure that claims operations are aligned with client needs, regulatory requirements, and wider firm objectives.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

Provide strategic leadership for Aviation Liability claims operations, setting clear direction and priorities aligned to business and client objectives
Lead the development and continuous improvement of claims handling frameworks, processes, and methodologies across aviation liability matters
Oversee the management of high-volume and complex aviation claims portfolios, ensuring effective risk management, quality outcomes, and commercial focus
Drive operational excellence, including performance management, MI, cost control, and service delivery standards
Partner with legal teams, insurers, and external stakeholders to ensure integrated and effective claims strategies
Support innovation initiatives, including claims transformation, technology adoption, and data-led decision making
Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a senior point of contact on claims operations and development matters
Lead, mentor, and develop claims managers and senior claims professionals, fostering a high-performance and inclusive team culture
Contribute to business development activity, including client pitches, tenders, and the development of new claims propositions
Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual, and governance requirements across all claims activity

Essential Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate will bring:

Significant senior-level experience in aviation liability claims management or claims operations within insurance, legal, or specialist claims environments
Strong technical knowledge of aviation liability claims, including consumer, attritional, and complex loss scenarios
Proven experience in leading large or complex teams and delivering operational change or transformation
Demonstrated ability to design and implement efficient, scalable claims processes
Strong commercial awareness and experience working closely with insurer and corporate clients
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the credibility to operate at senior level internally and externally
A track record of developing talent and building high-performing teams
Experience working in regulated environments and managing governance and risk frameworks

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Our Commitment

Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.

A Note on Privacy

Please take a moment to read our privacy notice.. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.

If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.

This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.

Aviation Liability Claims jobs

Head of Claims Development & Operations- Aviation Liability (Newcastle)