Senior Auto Appraiser – Field for Phoenix, AZ Metro

USAA•Phoenix, AZ

4d•$63,590 - $114,450•Onsite

About The Position

USAA is hiring a Senior Auto Appraiser for a field-based role serving the Phoenix metro area, including Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Casa Grande, and Maricopa. The position investigates, negotiates, evaluates, and appraises vehicle damage claims for repairable and total-loss vehicles, ensuring estimate accuracy and compliance with state laws and regulations. The appraiser delivers member service through clear expectations, proactive communication, advice, and empathy. The role handles highly complex auto physical damage claims using digital tools and works with members, claimants, internal claims adjusters, repair facilities, vendors, and other stakeholders. It includes documenting claims, identifying possible subrogation and fraud indicators, managing repair plans and supplements, and partnering with internal and external parties to resolve complex claims. The appraiser may represent the company on disputed claims or trials and provide guidance to team members on escalated routine issues. The position may support catastrophe response operations, including mandatory on-call dates, evening, weekend, or holiday work, and deployment travel with minimal notice. It may also involve work outside normal duties as needed. The role requires compliance with business risk and regulatory policies and may involve operating a company vehicle and inspecting damaged vehicles outdoors or in body shop and salvage yard environments.

Requirements

High school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma.
At least 2 years of auto appraising experience.
Proficient knowledge of P&C insurance policy contracts and coverages, auto parts distribution, and claim appraisal processes and procedures.
Advanced working knowledge of estimating losses using CCC or similar estimating platforms.
Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills for working with members, claimants, repair facilities, and internal and external stakeholders.
Acquire and maintain an insurance adjuster license within 90 days and within 3 attempts.
May need to meet USAA safe-driving requirements, including driving-record verification through MVR and possession of a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

I-CAR ProLevel 3 (Platinum) certification or actively pursuing ProLevel 3.
Experience as a Field Auto Appraiser with a Property & Casualty insurance carrier.
Experience and ability to prepare estimates and evaluations using the CCC estimating platform.
Experience and ability to balance accurate collision repair estimates in virtual and field environments.
Ability to deploy for catastrophe response when needed.
US military experience gained through military service or as a military spouse or domestic partner.

Responsibilities

Evaluate and appraise highly complex auto physical damage claims using digital tools and in accordance with contracts, company guidelines, and applicable laws and regulations.
Investigate claim damages by communicating with insureds, internal claims adjusters, and third parties or vendors; conduct face-to-face interactions when needed.
Review loss facts and vehicle damage to identify potential subrogation opportunities and ensure supporting documentation is in the claim file.
Apply advanced knowledge of P&C insurance products, services, contracts, and processes to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and policy provisions.
Review claims and suppliers for fraud indicators and refer applicable matters to the Special Investigations Unit.
Maintain accurate, current documentation for complex claims.
Manage desk workload, follow up in a timely manner, and accurately map repair plans and timelines to support prompt claims adjudication.
Review additional damage reported by repair facilities, complete supplements, or route the matter to a field provider for inspection.
Represent the company as a subject matter expert on disputed claims or trials and support team members with routine escalated issues.
Partner with vendors and internal business partners to resolve the most complex claims, including coordinating with external regulators when needed.
Provide policyholders with information about coverage, repair estimates or total-loss valuations, and the claims and repair process while setting appropriate expectations.
Support workload surges and catastrophe response operations, including required on-call dates and potential evening, weekend, holiday, or travel commitments.
Handle claims of varying types and complexity and perform additional work outside normal duties as assigned.
Identify, measure, monitor, and control risks associated with business activities in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.