PROPERTY CLAIMS ADJUSTER - FORT DODGE, IA

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance • Fort Dodge, IA

20h • $50,998 - $101,767 • Remote

About The Position

The Property Claims Adjuster-Inspector adjusts property claims for assigned mutuals as part of the Reinsurance Adjuster Program. The role determines coverage by consulting policies and endorsements, evaluates losses through on-site investigations, and settles claims according to Grinnell Mutual Claims procedures. Claims include farm and homeowners property losses. The position may be filled at a level suited to the individual's qualifications and experience; new employees receive individualized, in-depth training through the Reinsurance Adjusting Program.

The position is based in the employee’s remote home office, with a company-provided vehicle for travel to claim sites. The primary location is in or near Fort Dodge, Iowa. Daytime travel is approximately 60–80% of the time, and occasional overnight travel is required, approximately 10% depending on region size and claim volume. The work can be fast-paced, particularly during high-volume periods and when assisting people experiencing a personal loss. It frequently involves outdoor conditions, including occasional extreme heat or cold, and regular driving.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university and at least two years of property adjusting experience involving homeowners and farm owners, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, active listening, and customer service skills, including patience, resilience under pressure, persistence, empathy, and decisiveness.
• Ability to communicate claim information professionally and respond to inquiries one-on-one and in group settings, by phone, in person, and in writing.
• Strong written communication skills, including professional, grammatically correct business correspondence and reports.
• Ability to apply logical thinking and sound judgment using experience and factual information to make informed claim decisions.
• Ability to follow established procedures to assess coverage, determine negligence, and evaluate damages.
• Ability to organize work, prioritize, and meet deadlines while handling frequent interruptions.
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues and supervisors and interact tactfully and courteously with customers and the general public.
• Ability to maintain a valid driver’s license and travel from the home office to customer offices and claim sites.
• Regular and predictable attendance.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive or proprietary information.
• Ability to adhere to Grinnell Mutual policies and incorporate its core values in all areas of work.
• Ability to perform the essential functions, with reasonable accommodation where applicable, including frequent driving; climbing ladders and working on rooftops; and lifting or moving up to 10 pounds regularly, 35 pounds frequently, and 50 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

• AIC or CPCU designation.
• Experience with Xactimate or a similar computer-based adjusting tool.

Responsibilities

• Investigate farm and homeowners property claims through on-site inspections and interviews with claimants, insureds, and witnesses to determine the extent of damage.
• Determine applicable policy coverage and investigate, evaluate, negotiate, and equitably settle assigned claims in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Set and maintain claim reserves based on estimated losses through claim resolution.
• Organize and manage time to resolve assigned cases promptly and professionally.
• Prepare and submit initial and follow-up reports documenting findings and actions taken; record claim activity, contacts, offers, and demands in the file.
• Assist with or prepare files for subrogation, suit, or trial when requested.
• Work with law enforcement to verify stolen items and confirm payment or ownership if recovered after claim payment; submit written restitution requests for arrests, including vandalism claims.
• Maintain relationships with agents and mutual managers, act as a liaison between customers and Grinnell Mutual, support evaluation of mutuals for future business opportunities, and convey mutual feedback to the supervisor.
• Conduct on-site field inspections to determine building values, assess risk acceptability, identify hazards, and recommend corrective actions.
• Recommend appropriate building insurance-to-value coverage and work with underwriting to determine insurability, documenting property conditions with photographs and diagrams.
• Authorize or approve claim payments within delegated authority and company policy limits.
• Manage assigned claim files from initial handling through closure.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health benefits package with premiums reduced for commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
• Disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401(k) program with company match.
• One-time home office reimbursement of up to $1,000.
• Company-paid monthly internet expenses.
• Flexible work environment.
• Paid holidays when the office is closed.
• Company-provided vehicle for travel to claim sites.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level