Material Damage Appraiser

Summary: Investigate, negotiate and settle claims of a more serious nature within personal settlement authority under general supervision. Render prompt claim service and establish the best possible relationship with all persons involved.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
• Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
• Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
• Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.

Authority: Responsible for settlement of claims within personal authorization. Must follow claim procedures and applicable legal doctrines, however, uses independent judgment and initiative to obtain results.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent. Experience at the claim representative level with the ability to handle more complex cases with only general supervision. Generally acquired at about 3 years of experience.

Promotional potential and organizational progressions: Senior Material Damage Appraiser.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Communication Skills:
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Clearly conveys complex information to insureds, agents, attorneys, and others.
  • Manages emotions effectively in conversations.
    
• Mathematical & Analytical Skills:
  • Proficient in calculating settlement amounts and numerical totals.
  • Analyzes information from various reports, photographs, and documents.
    
• Decision-Making & Problem Solving:
  • Applies legal concepts, contracts, case laws, and company policies to assess claims.
  • communicates decisions effectively to relevant parties.
    
• Relationship Management:
  • Directly interacts with insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, vendors, and internal teams.
  • Handles sensitive and complex situations with professionalism and diplomacy.
    
• Industry Knowledge & Technical Skills:
  • In-depth understanding of insurance coverages, tort law, claim valuation, and claims management.
  • Proficient in computer systems and data entry.
  Strong time management and consistent attendance.
  

Physical Requirements: The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment: Visually and physically inspect accident and/or loss scenes. Conduct in-person meetings with claimants, insureds, agents, and the public in a variety of locations away from the home office. Visually and physically inspect damages claimed. Work outdoors in all types of weather for a limited time period while inspecting damages or a loss scene. Photographically record damages, accidents, and/or loss scenes.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Nodak Insurance Company complies fully with all federal, state, and local employment laws and shall provide equal employment and advancement opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, the presence of any mental or physical disability, status with regard to public assistance or marriage, or any other category protected by local, state or federal law.