High Risk Complaints Handler

Job Title:    High Risk Complaints Leader

Location:   Leicester   (Hybrid), Bexhill (Hybrid)

Welcome to Hastings Direct

We’re a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become The Best and Biggest in the UK market. We’ve made huge investments in our data and tech capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture. We’re proud of the journey we’re on as a company and know that our continued success will rely on the contribution of our talented colleagues.

We provide insurance for over four million customers, but we know there’s even bigger opportunity out there. The fact you’re now reading this job advert means we’ve tempted you to find out more about #lifeatHD – we really hope you like what you see, and you’ll join us to share in the success of the exciting chapter that lies ahead.

We understand some people may not apply for jobs unless they feel they tick every box. If you’re excited about joining us and think you have some of what we’re looking for, even if you’re not 100% sure we would love to hear from you.

Role overview

We are looking for an experienced complaints leader to join us in our Leicester or Bexhill offices. Our team has a focus on executive complaints, litigation, and Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) file requests, and  you’ll  be leading the team that handles these cases.

As a High Risk Complaints Leader, you’ll lead and develop a team of Complaint Resolution Specialists , ensuring customer complaints are handled fairly, efficiently and in line with company policies and regulatory requirements. A critical part of the role is building trusted relationships with stakeholders, including Executive Committee members, and providing clear, credible and timely updates on high-risk complaints, emerging issues and customer outcomes.

With customer outcomes at the heart of every decision, you’ll manage complaint volumes, quality and service standards, and use insight from complaints, MI and customer feedback to identify risks, improve processes and support strong Consumer Duty outcomes.

Job details –   you ’ ll   be required to :

- Oversee the day-to-day running of the High Risk complaints function, ensuring workloads, resource and service standards are managed effectively , taking ownership where necessary and keeping senior leaders informed.

- B uild trusted relationships at all levels through excellent stakeholder management. Provide clear, credible and timely advice, confidently challenge where appropriate , and maintain visibility of high-risk complaints , emerging issues , customer outcomes and regulatory or reputational risks .

- Lead,  coach  and develop a team of Complaint Resolution Specialists, supporting team members through regular 1:1s, feedback, performance  conversations  and personal development.

- Create a culture where every case matters , is managed diligently from end to end, and colleagues are held accountable for consistently meeting this standard.

- Identify  skills gaps and implement targeted development plans.

- Support colleagues through organisational change and business growth.

- Manage attendance,  wellbeing  and engagement issues in line with company policies.

- Recognise and reward excellent performance

- Ensure complaints are handled fairly, consistently, and in line with internal procedures, FCA regulations, DISP rules, FOS  guidelines and Consumer Duty principles.

- Act as a key escalation point providing guidance and support to the wider team.

Essential skills/experience:

- Proven experience in complaint handling in a regulated environment (Insurance experience highly desirable) with a detailed understanding of complaint investigation, FCA complaint handling requirements and resolution processes.

- Previous  leadership or coaching experience, with the confidence to support performance, capability,  wellbeing  and engagement .

- Demonstrable resilience and composure in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to reassess priorities throughout the day and respond confidently to urgent issues, including sensitive or high-profile complaints, tight deadlines, regulatory and reputational risks and emerging customer harm, while maintaining sound judgement and delivery under pressure.

- Evidence of working independently and taking ownership of responsibilities while   maintaining   high standards   of performance.

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive – what this means to you is if you’re applying for a job with us, you’ll have fair access to support and adjustments throughout your recruitment journey. We also welcome applications through the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS ).For more information on the DCS, please visit our inclusive business page on our careers website .  
 
Regrettably, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.

Benefits: I n addition to a competitive salary you will also receive…

Flexible w orking –  w e champion a flexible hybrid working approach – please speak to your recruiter to discuss in more detail

Competitive b onus s cheme  - a ll colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus

Financial w ellbeing – a s well as providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover , income protection at no extra cost , and matched pension contribution s up to 10%, we are proud to provide you with an award winning package which includes – discounts , cashback , free independent mortgage advice and free access to financial wellbeing support

Mental w ellbeing programme – w e have the thrive mental health app, our colleague assistance programme available 24/7, our own in-house mental health first aiders, support groups and a dedicated team to make sure we are covering your needs

There's more! – 2 5 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your  weeks , access to our health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and much more ….

Join us and you’ll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you’ll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we’ll give you all the support, training and development you need. Our 4Cs principles are simple: we believe by creating the right culture for our colleagues and giving them the right tools to do their job, we’ll deliver good outcomes for every customer, helping us to grow the company profitably and sustainably and allowing us to invest in the communities we serve .

Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status. Please also note that we have a thorough referencing process, which includes credit and criminal record checks.

At Hastings Direct, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us. Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.

Job posting end date: