Deputy Team Leader

Davies is hiring for a Deputy Team Leader in Leeds to join its casualty claims team within the Legal department. This is a permanent, full-time role based in the Leeds office, with a working pattern that includes one day in the office and four days working from home. The team is looking for someone who wants to lead by example, support colleagues through mentoring, and keep client service at the heart of everything they do.

The Deputy Team Leader will back the Team Leader to drive results, shape the development of more junior colleagues, and ensure client service remains outstanding. You’ll carry a varied caseload of around 150 casualty claims while helping to uphold quality standards and meet operational targets. If you want a role that blends hands-on claims handling with leadership duties, this is a chance to make a real difference for both clients and teammates.

With a Leeds base and a focus on EL, PL, Product and Property damage claims, this position is ideal for someone technical about claims who also enjoys guiding others. If you’re comfortable reviewing files, advising on strategy, and stepping up when required, you’ll likely feel right at home here.

Leading from the front in casualty claims

Day-to-day work starts with assessing new claims, setting clear strategies, and determining initial reserves that reflect the case value and complexity. You’ll review workloads, allocate cases, and approve payments within your authority, while conducting peer reviews to maintain consistency and quality. When needed, you’ll refer files to litigation and contribute to feedback discussions, especially in the Team Leader’s absence, and you’ll stay on top of weekly statistics and planning for the week ahead.

Beyond individual files, you’ll supervise the team to ensure everyone meets required standards, participate in regular team meetings, and help keep everyone informed about internal and external developments. You’ll support motivation and engagement, manage claims records in the management system, and hold regular 1-2-1s with Admin Assistants, File Handling Assistants and CH1s to maximise performance. You’ll also help monitor performance, sickness, and holiday coverage, and assist in performance reviews and recruitment when requested, all while ensuring client protocols, SLAs and KPIs are followed.

What we need from you to hit the ground running

Here’s the core experience Davies expects for this deputy role. The successful candidate will bring

• Strong grasp of claims processes, systems and procedures and the ability to apply them consistently
• Solid EL/PL claims technical knowledge
• Sharp analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Clear understanding of best practice and a track record of contributing to improvements
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Good understanding of client protocols and the ability to adjust to changing client requirements
• Interpersonal skills that can influence and negotiate effectively
• Ability to give balanced, constructive feedback to individuals
• Commercial awareness and understanding of market dynamics
• A real passion for the business and the role
• An understanding of business development strategies and a willingness to support them

What you’ll gain from hours, location and perks

The role is 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, with a single unpaid hour for lunch. The primary location is the Leeds office, and the role will operate with one day in the office and four days from home.

Davies offers a broad benefits package, including the Davies Incentive Plan, 25 days of holiday per year (increasing with service and with the option to buy or sell 3 days), a Simply HealthCare Cash Plan, and 24/7 online GP and wellbeing support. After a year of service there is death in service cover, and the pension contribution is 5% from the employee and 3% from the employer. Additional perks include employee resource groups, volunteering opportunities, cycle to work and tech schemes, a season ticket loan, gym flex, online discounts, Gourmet Society membership, Merlin attractions tickets, and discounts at local retailers. Some benefits apply after probation.

Tips to help you land the role

Start your resume with a line that highlights your leadership in casualty claims and your track record handling around 150 active files, including EL/PL and property damage, plus experience mentoring junior teammates.

When you showcase the must-have skills, cite concrete examples where you applied robust claims processes, adhered to client protocols, influenced peers, and delivered balanced feedback that lifted team performance.

Prepare for interviews with stories about how you review and allocate claims, how you support a Team Leader, and how you handle performance issues while keeping client SLAs in view.

A smart question to ask is how the team measures success for a Deputy Team Leader in the first six months and what milestones the team would like to see achieved during that period.