Group Insurance and Claims Manager in Birmingham

Together, we move what matters. We are at the start of something powerful. Heavy Haul Rail was created with a simple but transformative belief: the UK deserves a smarter, cleaner, more resilient freight future. Every role in this business carries purpose. Whether you work in operational delivery, driving trains, engineering, or business support, the work you do contributes directly to reducing emissions, easing road congestion, strengthening supply chains and powering British industry. This is meaningful work, with real impact.

Who we are: Previously operating as Freightliner’s Heavy Haul business, we are now an independent company following CMA CGM Group’s acquisition of Freightliner UK’s Intermodal Logistics business in January 2026. Heavy Haul Rail is the UK’s next-generation rail freight partner built for a sector ready to evolve. We believe it’s time to move differently. Congested roads, rising emissions, fragile supply chains. These aren’t just logistical challenges; they’re environmental and economic wake-up calls. We’re here to lead the modal shift, helping businesses transition from road to rail with confidence, clarity, and measurable impact.

We move 17 million tonnes of freight a year for customers in the industrial, energy and construction markets. The company operates 95 locomotives and over 1,000 wagons. Heavy Haul Rail’s team of 950 supports customer deliveries to over 100 locations across the UK, running 250 trains per week. Heavy Haul Rail also supports the renewal and maintenance of rail infrastructure and provides specialist services to passenger train operators and rolling stock companies. But none of this happens without our people.

We are looking for an experienced Group Insurance and Claims Manager to join our Birmingham-based team. This is a pivotal role with responsibility for leading the Group’s insurance and claims programmes across the UK and supporting aspects of our European operations. You'll play a key role in protecting our business, supporting strategic growth, minimising risk and ensuring we recover value when incidents occur.

What You'll Do:

• Lead the annual insurance renewal programme for the Heavy Haul Rail Group.
• Manage all insured and uninsured claims, ensuring effective investigation, resolution and recovery.
• Develop and implement insurance strategies that support new business opportunities and future growth.
• Build strong relationships with brokers, insurers, loss adjusters, solicitors and other external stakeholders.
• Support claims investigations across multiple insurance classes, including property, liability, motor and freight-related losses.
• Analyse claims trends and loss performance, identifying opportunities to reduce risk and improve business resilience.
• Maintain accurate claims and insurance reporting, ensuring senior stakeholders have clear visibility of financial exposures and liabilities.
• Partner with Commercial, Legal, Finance and HSSE teams to review contracts and provide expert insurance guidance.
• Drive continuous improvement in claims handling processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Support recovery of Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 claims and maximise recoveries arising from losses and business disruption.
• Contribute to wider enterprise risk management and business continuity initiatives.
• Deliver training, advice and guidance to colleagues across the business on insurance and claims matters.
• Provide monthly and quarterly reporting for governance, audit and leadership requirements.

What We're Looking For:

We're looking for a commercially minded insurance professional who combines technical expertise with excellent stakeholder management skills. You'll bring:

• Significant experience managing insurance programmes and claims within a complex operational environment.
• Experience handling claims across: Freight Liability, Public Liability, Motor, Employers' Liability, Property (Rolling Stock and Static Property), Recovery Claims.
• Strong knowledge of insurance law, claims regulations and statutory requirements.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing and communication skills.
• The ability to build credibility with senior leaders and external partners alike.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret trends and make informed recommendations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Flexibility to travel across the UK and occasionally internationally when required.

Just as importantly, you'll be someone who:

• Delivers objectives with energy, commitment and enthusiasm.
• Takes ownership and continually looks for ways to improve.
• Embraces challenges and maintains a hands-on approach.
• Builds strong working relationships through collaboration and respect.
• Demonstrates accountability and professional integrity.
• Supports the development of a positive safety culture across the business.

This post is subject to standard pre-employment checks including employment references, medical and D&A screening, and successful DBS background checks.

Why Join Us?

Here, you're not one small part of a big machine. You're a key contributor with national significance and real-world impact. We want our colleagues to feel proud of the work they do, connected to our mission and empowered to shape the future of this business. As part of Heavy Haul Rail, you can expect:

• Purpose that matters. Your work contributes to a cleaner, more efficient freight industry.
• Opportunity to shape what's next. We're new, agile and ready to do things differently – your ideas help build our future.
• A team that moves forward together. Collaboration, respect and shared ambition define how we work.
• A commitment to excellence. We deliver with pride, precision and professionalism.
• Room to grow. Your development fuels our momentum.

Our perks and benefits:

Our people are our most important asset. We strive to empower our employees, ensuring they are trained and competent, fit for work, always informed, and completely engaged in our culture that places safety and wellbeing firmly at the heart of everything we do. In return, we offer considerable career progression and a rewarding career in an award-winning team, alongside:

• Competitive pay
• Fantastic final-salary pension scheme after an initial qualifying period
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Opportunities for ongoing training and development
• Access to the company's life assurance scheme
• A flexible benefits package designed to support your work and home life, from healthcare support to retail and lifestyle savings

We know where we're heading. We know why it matters. Now, it's time to move, to make it real, together. If you meet the criteria outlined above, apply now using this link.

Shaping tomorrow. Starting today. The future we want to build won't happen on its own – we have to move it forward, together. Heavy Haul Rail has the purpose, the ambition and the opportunity to reshape how Britain moves. Whatever our roles, we are collaborators, creators and custodians of a better future. This journey starts with what we choose to do today, tomorrow and every day after that.

Our values are:

• Make Every Mile Matter: We act with intention and responsibility, knowing our work shapes a cleaner, stronger future for the UK.
• Build Boldly: We use our entrepreneurial spirit to challenge legacy thinking and design better ways forward, for our customers, our industry and each other.
• We Move As One: We collaborate with trust, respect and shared momentum because progress is a team sport.
• Deliver With Certainty: We stand behind our work. We're reliable, precise and accountable in everything we do.
• Fuelling The Future: We invest in our people and our potential, championing learning, curiosity and continuous improvement.