Body Shop Estimator

Summary:
Appraises vehicle damage to determine cost of repair for insurance claim settlement. The body shop estimator writes estimates, deals with the insurance companies and customers. Follows jobs as they go through the repair process and works with the body shop technicians.

Essential Duties

• Examines damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical or interior damage.
• Estimates cost of labor and parts to repair or replace each damaged item.
• Reviews repair cost estimates with body shop manager or foreman.
• In the event of a disagreement with manager or foreman on repair cost, arranges to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve the situation.
• Determines feasibility of repair versus replacement of parts, such as bumpers, fenders and doors.
• Evaluates practicality of repair as opposed to payment of vehicle market value before accident.
• Determines salvage value on total vehicle loss.
• Prepares insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
• Estimates cost of repainting, converting to special purposes or customizing undamaged vehicles.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• One year certificate from college or technical school; or three to six months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or six months to one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; or one to two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two to four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers and the general public.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.
  

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs etc.) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
  

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

1. Manufacturer Training
2. Paint Manufacturer Training
3. State Emission Certification
4. State Sales License
5. State Vehicle Inspector Certification
6. Valid Driver's License

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer:

All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor. The firm reserves the right to add to or revise an employee's job duties at any time at its sole discretion. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.