Buildings On the Road Assessor (Cape Town)

As a Claims Assessor for OUTsurance's building division, you will play a crucial role in the claims handling process. Based in Cape Town, this position involves the thorough assessment, validation, and finalisation of both personal and business claims related to buildings. Your day-to-day activities will centre on ensuring that all incidents are accurately understood and that claims are processed efficiently and in line with OUTsurance's high standards.

About the Role

This is a hands-on role that requires you to be on the ground, interacting directly with clients and assessing damage firsthand. You will be the primary point of contact for policyholders experiencing building-related incidents, guiding them through the claims process. A significant part of your responsibility will involve conducting site visits to validate incidents, gathering necessary evidence, and making informed decisions about claim validity and settlement.

Beyond the assessment itself, you will be responsible for the comprehensive administration that accompanies each claim. This includes compiling detailed reports, scanning relevant documentation, and capturing photographs to support your findings. Effective communication and collaboration with various service providers, such as builders and contractors, will be essential to ensure smooth repairs and timely claim resolution. You will also handle all administrative tasks and telephonic queries that arise from the claims process, addressing any concerns or problems raised by clients and service providers with professionalism and efficiency.

Your responsibilities will encompass a range of critical functions within the claims assessment cycle:

• **Incident Validation:** Meticulously investigate and validate all reported incidents to ensure accuracy and compliance with policy terms.
• **Client Engagement:** Meet with clients and potentially witnesses to gather information and provide clarity on the claims process.
• **Report Finalisation:** Prepare and finalise all claim reports, ensuring they are comprehensive, accurate, and include all supporting documentation, such as photographs.
• **Service Provider Liaison:** Effectively communicate and coordinate with external service providers to facilitate repairs and manage expectations.
• **Decision Making & Administration:** Make sound decisions regarding claim settlements and manage all associated administrative tasks.
• **Query Resolution:** Proactively handle and resolve all queries and issues from both clients and service providers, aiming for satisfactory outcomes.
• **Quality Assurance:** Conduct all duties to meet and exceed the established performance and quality standards set by OUTsurance.

What They're Looking For

OUTsurance is seeking an individual with a strong investigative instinct, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to providing outstanding customer service. Key attributes and qualifications include:

• **Interpersonal Skills:** Exceptional verbal and written communication abilities are essential for effective client and stakeholder interaction.
• **Problem-Solving:** A natural inclination towards problem-solving and the ability to take initiative are highly valued.
• **Self-Discipline:** The capacity to work independently, manage your own workload, and remain self-motivated is crucial.
• **Analytical Thinking:** A sharp, analytical mind with an investigative mindset will enable you to assess claims thoroughly.
• **Resilience:** The ability to handle stress, remain tenacious, and demonstrate resilience in a deadline-driven environment is important.
• **Customer Focus:** A genuine orientation towards customer service, ensuring policyholders feel supported during challenging times.
• **Attention to Detail:** Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of report writing, administration, and assessment.
• **Adaptability:** The flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and manage various claim scenarios.
• **Values Alignment:** An enthusiasm for working with people, particularly in stressful situations, and an alignment with OUTsurance's core values of Awesome Service, Passionate, Honest, Human, Dynamic, and Recognition.
• **Qualifications:**
• Matriculation certificate is essential.
• A valid driver's license is a requirement for local travel.
• Experience within the building industry and/or a relevant tertiary qualification in construction or the built environment (NQF 6 or above) is highly desirable.
• Previous experience in construction, building, plumbing, or electrical fields is beneficial.
• Demonstrated experience in face-to-face client services, investigation, and assessing, particularly within the short-term insurance sector, is preferred.

OUTsurance is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from designated groups. The role requires a willingness to travel locally as needed.

In South Africa, roles like a Buildings Claims Assessor often offer a competitive salary, typically ranging from R25,000 to R40,000 per month depending on experience and qualifications. Major insurance companies, including OUTsurance, MMI Holdings, Discovery Insure, and Santam, are common employers. Career progression within this field can lead to senior assessor roles, claims management positions, or specialisation in complex claims investigations.

Qualifications

Essential 

• Matric
• A valid driver’s license
•  Building industry experience and/or tertiary qualification or significant progress towards obtaining any construction or built environment related qualification (NQF 6 or above)

Experience

• Construction or building related experience
• Building/ Construction/ Plumbing or Electrical/Electronic related experience
• Face to Face Client services experience
• Investigation/Assessing experience, especially in a short-term insurance industry. Preferably Buildings Assessing experience

Advantageous

• A tertiary qualification or significant progress towards obtaining any construction or built environment related qualification would be highly beneficial