Head of Business Development - Partnerships

Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific International Insurance is seeking a senior leader to own the Australian strategic business development pipeline, driving partnership-based premium growth and long-term value for the Group.

You will develop pitches, set commercial terms, and manage smooth transitions from BD to partnership delivery, collaborating with underwriting, finance and legal to close high-quality opportunities.

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in business development, sales or partnerships within general insurance.
• Deep knowledge in at least one target vertical: pet or travel insurance.
• Proven ability to build and manage a BD pipeline from cold prospecting to close.
• Excellent presentation, communication and negotiation skills with C-suite and senior decision-makers.
• Commercial acumen to assess and model financial potential of partnership opportunities.
• Strong network across insurance distribution, affinity or corporate partnership channels.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain an opportunity map of high-priority prospective partners across target verticals.
• Own and execute the strategic BD plan for corporate partnership acquisition and long-term growth.
• Be accountable for new business and premium targets for the partnerships portfolio.
• Prepare sales budgets, premium forecasts and BD activity plans.
• Lead development of pitch decks, presentations and commercial terms.
• Support tender responses and proposals with underwriting, finance and legal teams.
• Represent Pacific at industry events and maintain a visible professional presence.
• Develop relationships with professional bodies and external service providers.
• Provide market intelligence to product development and underwriting to inform positioning.
• Decide on product/service mix offered to key partners.
• Share leads and market insights with BD colleagues.

Skills

BD leadership

C-suite engagement

Negotiation

Presentation

Networking

Insurance domain

Education

Business/insurance degree

ANZIIF qualification

Tools

Binder knowledge

Job description

Head of Business Development - Partnerships

Pacific International Insurance is a specialist Australian and New Zealand general insurer built for partner-led white label and binder programs. With a growing footprint across pet, travel, property, motor, novated leasing, and specialist liability verticals, we are on a deliberate and ambitious growth path, with gross written premium targeted to double over the next five years. Our purpose to provide our world with Soft Landings runs through everything we do, from the products we design to the partnerships we build.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Pacific is looking for a commercially astute and well-networked Head of Business Development to join our team. Reporting to a C-Suite executive, you will own Pacific's Australian strategic BD pipeline across our target verticals, converting high-quality partnership opportunities into long-term premium growth for the Group.

This is a senior role that places you at the centre of Pacific's growth story. You will work alongside the executive team to position Pacific compellingly in the market, lead the development of pitches and commercial terms, hold accountability for agreed new business and premium targets, and manage the transition from BD to partnership delivery.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Build and maintain an opportunity map of high-priority prospective partners across our target verticals


• Own and execute Pacific's strategic BD plan for corporate partnership acquisition, contributing to the Group's sales strategy and long-term growth targets.


• Hold accountability for agreed new business and premium targets for the partnerships portfolio, including targets shared across the wider distribution team.


• Contribute to the preparation of sales budgets, premium forecasts, and annual BD activity plans for the partnerships portfolio.


• Lead the development of pitch decks, presentations, and commercial terms for prospective partners, clearly articulating Pacific's value proposition.


• Support tender responses and proposal submissions, collaborating with underwriting, finance, and legal to produce commercially sound bids.


• Represent Pacific at industry conferences and events, presenting and taking the lead at key industry moments, and maintaining a visible professional presence.


• Maintain and develop relationships with professional bodies, industry experts, and external service providers.


• Provide market intelligence and partner feedback to product development and underwriting to inform product design and positioning.


• Contribute to decisions on the mix of products and services offered to key partners.


• Collaborate across the Group, sharing leads, market insight, and account knowledge with business development colleagues.


• Monitor market conditions, competitor activity, and contract renewal cycles to ensure Pacific is positioned for inclusion in tender and consideration sets.


• Coordinate the CEO and executive team's involvement in relationship-building at appropriate pipeline stages.


• Manage the transition from BD to partnership onboarding, ensuring a smooth handover to account management and operational teams.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Several years' proven experience at a senior level in business development, sales, or partnership acquisition within the general insurance industry.


• Deep knowledge in at least one of Pacific's primary target verticals pet or travel insurance.


• Demonstrated ability to build and manage a BD pipeline from cold prospecting through to close, with a disciplined, activity-based approach.


• Excellent presentation, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage credibly with C-suite and senior decision-makers.


• Commercial acumen and the ability to assess and model the financial potential of partnership opportunities.


• An established network of industry relationships across insurance distribution, affinity, or corporate partnership channels.


• Relevant tertiary qualification in business, commerce, insurance, or a related field.

VALUABLE EXTRAS

• Experience in pet or travel insurance verticals, with knowledge of key market participants, distribution models, and commercial structures.


• Familiarity with delegated authority (binder) and corporate partnership models in Australian general insurance.


• Experience contributing to or leading tender and proposal processes in financial services or insurance.


• ANZIIF qualification or equivalent industry certification.


• Sound understanding of insurance pricing, underwriting principles, and portfolio performance metrics.

WHY JOIN US?

Pacific is a business that moves fast, thinks commercially, and backs its people. You will work directly with senior leaders, carry real accountability, and play a central role in shaping Pacific's distribution footprint as we scale. Our culture, built around the Soft Landings purpose means we care about doing right by our partners, our team, and the people we ultimately protect.

Pacific International Insurance has been helping Australians protect what is important to them for over 20 years.

This local heritage combined with the global backing of Badger International – an insurance organisation with international interests – enables us to deliver trusted, quality insurance products to our clients, with full international endorsement.

Our company’s business philosophy is to provide soft landings through all interactions with partners, customers, community, staff and the broader industry. This dedication is at the core of how we develop our quality, cost-effective insurance cover and deliver our thorough, thoughtful service.

Pacific International Insurance has been helping Australians protect what is important to them for over 20 years.

This local heritage combined with the global backing of Badger International – an insurance organisation with international interests – enables us to deliver trusted, quality insurance products to our clients, with full international endorsement.

Our company’s business philosophy is to provide soft landings through all interactions with partners, customers, community, staff and the broader industry. This dedication is at the core of how we develop our quality, cost-effective insurance cover and deliver our thorough, thoughtful service.

Sydney NSW