Senior Property Adjuster

Job Description

TITLE:                          Senior Property Adjuster

DEPARTMENT:            EMA Loss Adjusting

REPORTS TO:               Claims Manager

STATUS:                      Regular, Full-Time, Exempt

This is a field position in the Chicago market.

SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE: 
The Senior Property Adjuster effectively determines and communicates the extent of loss or damage associated with commercial property claims in a variety of business classes. The Senior Property Adjuster is typically assigned loss or damage assessments in a moderate cost range, based on incumbent’s experience and demonstrated ability for handling larger or more complex claims.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Investigates insurance claims in any of a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, retail establishments, private or public office buildings, commercial habilitation, hospitality, corporate facilities, transportation sites, manufacturing sites, governmental facilities, schools, clinics, or hospitals; assesses loss or damage resulting from various events including, but not limited to, inclement or catastrophic weather, earthquakes, fire, vandalism, or accidents.  May be called upon to assess time-element and builders’ risk losses.
• Uses a knowledge of property and construction, and/or knowledge of the specific industry or business affected, as typically achieved through significant commercial property loss adjusting experience, personally conducts property inspections and photographs claim sites as necessary to depict and substantiate losses or damage, or the lack thereof.
• Through interviewing or other methods, obtains necessary information from the claimant and from experts such as architects, engineers, builders, construction workers, police officers, health care practitioners, accountants, and others to fully and accurately assess the extent of the loss. Interacts effectively with, and may be required to coordinate efforts of, diverse team of experts.
• Works cooperatively with expert witnesses, attorneys, public adjusters, and carrier’s examiners as needed to conduct investigations, confirm findings and support evaluations.
• Applies a thorough understanding of insurance policies and policy interpretation, establishing appropriate loss estimates based on all relevant information and findings; demonstrates understanding of a variety of coverage and loss types.
• Recommends the reasonable and proper amount the insurance company should pay on a claim.
• Ensures the accuracy of information collected and reported and guards against fraudulent claims.
• Prepares accurate, clear, thorough, and concise reports and letters to insurance carriers, providing conclusions and recommendations. Follows established policies, procedures, and processes in preparing information, exercising sound judgment in applying these to potentially costly losses or involved situations, and submits reports and documents in a timely manner and in accordance with insurer’s standards and expectations.  Effectively uses software systems such as Xactimate as necessary to produce accurate estimates. 
• Maintains accurate, thorough field notes, journal entries, and time and expense records as required. Submits reimbursement reports in keeping with organization and client policies, procedures, and practices and with accepted industry standards. Applies knowledge of both time-and-expense and fee-for-service procedures, according to the stipulations of the agreement with the insurer.
• Follows EM policy and practices and incorporates sound judgment in formulating recommendations and completing evaluations and reports.
• Prepares and conducts presentations and produces special reports for insurance carriers as assigned or required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred
• 2-5 years’ experience in commercial property loss adjusting; experience with catastrophe claims; wide range of experience in various classes and types of business risk, including manufacturing, retail, industrial, habitational, and hospitality.
• Ability to understand claims adjudication process with sound knowledge of commercial and residential construction industries.
• Knowledge of property claim law. 
• Active license, or ability to promptly obtain such, in the assigned state(s).

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Passionate about providing exceptional customer service.
• Skilled in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting pertinent information (discerning the essential from the non-essential).
• Strong research and investigative skills.
• Conflict resolution and persuasion abilities
• Organized and detail oriented.
• Excellent problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Xactimate, Corelogic, and ability and openness to adapt to new technologies

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Frequently requires work to be performed at the site of the property damage or loss, including locations where disasters or catastrophes have occurred.  May require evening, overnight, and weekend travel and work.  During catastrophes, required travel could last 2 weeks or more.  The incumbent could be exposed to outside weather and environmental conditions, including, but not limited to, extreme heat, cold, and precipitation.  Could also be exposed to inside environmental conditions, including, but not limited to noise, vibrations, proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, heights, chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

The incumbent may be required to work in close quarters, crawl spaces, small, enclosed rooms, narrow aisles, passageways, or other enclosed areas, requiring physical agility and resistance to claustrophobia.  The incumbent may be required to work in high areas such as roofs or scaffolding, requiring physical agility, balance, and resistance to acrophobia.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to the working conditions and associated physical activities and requirements above, the incumbent may be required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp, or feel, especially in the course of investigating and assessing property damage; these requirements may include the need to lift weights of up to 50 pounds, including a ladder. 

The work requires close visual acuity, with or without correction, to prepare reports containing words, symbols, and numerical figures; the incumbent is required to view a computer terminal, use a keyboard, read printed documents, make detailed visual inspections, perceive color, perceive depth, and have a sufficient field of vision to carry out all inspection and related duties.