Auto Physical Damage Claims Lead Appraiser

Job Summary

The Auto Physical Damage Claims Lead Appraiser works within significant limits and authority on Automobile Physical Damage (APD) and specialty equipment claim. The role appraises, analyzes, negotiates, and settles auto physical damage (APD) and specialty equipment claims requiring physical inspection while delivering quality customer service in a high volume, low to moderate technical complexity work environment. The role possesses highly technical skills and the ability to travel frequently for catastrophic response operations to inspect large specialty equipment losses. Westfield Auto Claims resolves first and third party personal and commercial auto claims involving auto physical damage, specialty loss equipment, and auto-related injury claims.

This position is responsible for handling losses involving Specialty Loss equipment. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Heavy-duty trucks  
- Trailers  
- RVs and campers  
- Boats  
- Construction equipment  
- Agricultural and farm equipment  
- Light industrial machinery  

The role is field-based and will be located in Middle to Eastern Tennessee, with travel required throughout the region. The territory includes:

- Tennessee  
- Kentucky  
- Virginia  
- Northern Georgia  
- Western portions of North and South Carolina  

Candidates should be comfortable working independently in the field, assessing complex equipment losses, and maintaining a high level of customer service and professionalism.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Job Responsibilities

• Resolves Auto Physical Damage (APD) specialty equipment claims with insureds and claimants within a large territory and demonstrates thorough understanding of specialty equipment and evaluates the merits of assigned claims.
• Estimates damaged vehicles to determine and evaluate parts and labor to establish an accurate repair assessment and determines actual cash value and salvage value of total loss units.
• Maintains effective and ongoing communications with insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, other insurance companies, claims professionals, vendors, and repair facilities.
• Ensures customer service excellence and is responsible for the customer, agent and claims professional experience associated with assigned claims.
• Investigates to obtain relevant facts concerning damages, including fraud and prior damage and obtains agreed repair prices and/or total loss settlement figures with insureds, claimants, and repair facilities.
• Inspects damaged vehicles to determine and evaluate parts and labor to establish an accurate repair assessment and determines actual cash value and salvage value of total loss units.
• Maintains effective and ongoing communications with insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, other insurance companies, claims professionals, vendors, and repair facilities.
• Works with other claims professionals and travels to other service offices as needed in order to handle and/or assist with larger exposure specialty loss claims.
• Assists leader with reinspection and/or training of other claims professionals and acts as liaison with insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, other insurance companies, representatives, vendors, company employees, and repair facilities.
• May travel on short notice for catastrophe storm team duty or other daily driving duties as assigned.
• For field roles only: Travels as often as needed including regular utilization of assigned fleet vehicle in order to cover assigned territory.

Job Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in APD Claim Handling or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field and/or commensurate experience.
• For field roles only: Valid driver's license and a driving record that conforms to company standards.

Location

Remote

Licenses and Certifications

• Adjuster License (preferred)
• Associate in Claims (AIC) (preferred)

Behavioral Competencies

• Collaborates
• Communicates Effectively
• Customer Focus
• Decision Quality
• Nimble Learning
• Build Effective Teams
• Business Insight
• Develops Talent
• Directs Work
• Ensures Accountability
• Manages Complexity

Technical Skills

• Claims Adjustment
• Claims Auditing
• Claims Resolution
• Claims Review
• Fraud Detection
• Information Systems
• Financial Controls
• Data Analysis and Reporting
• Insurance Industry Knowledge
• Insurance Regulatory Compliance

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. These may be subject to change and additional functions may be assigned as needed by management.