Associate Manager, ABDS - National

Markel; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 78,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

PTO and holidays

Parental leave

Health, dental and vision insurance

Job summary

Markel in Denver, CO is seeking an Associate Manager, ABDS to lead a national team driving Small Commercial growth and strengthening agency partnerships. You will shape growth strategies, coach a 4-8 person team, and work closely with underwriting, product, and distribution leaders.

This role provides strategic and operational leadership to execute business development objectives, manage budgets, monitor KPIs, and represent Markel Specialty at industry events. Travel is periodic.

Qualifications

• 2+ years in business development/marketing/underwriting with Markel’s admitted agent population
• Experience mentoring and leading people in a fast-paced sales environment
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills
• Understanding of team-based decision making in a matrixed environment
• Strong relationship development and negotiation skills
• Understanding of Property & Casualty underwriting and claims
• Ability to travel when appropriate

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage new business production plans and budgets, establishing retail growth targets aligned to agency call cycles and organizational objectives.
• Create and execute Small Commercial business development strategies that maximize effectiveness and alignment of the ABDS team.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for employee and agency-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and positive business outcomes.
• Identify market opportunities, business challenges, and emerging trends; develop targeted marketing strategies, resources, and action plans to support growth initiatives.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, and retain a high-performing team of 4-8 Associate Business Development Specialists through coaching, performance management, mentorship, and skills development.
• Analyze KPIs, production results, and performance trends to drive accountability, continuous improvement, and achievement of business objectives.
• Represent Markel Specialty in the marketplace and at industry events, strengthening relationships with agency partners and industry stakeholders.
• Partner with Business Development Directors, Product, Underwriting, and other cross-functional leaders to ensure consistent execution of business development strategies, metrics, processes, and systems across territories and regions.
• Drive adoption of best practices, operational efficiencies, and standardized approaches that enhance the effectiveness of the Business Development organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and accountability while supporting the professional growth and development of team members.

Skills

Business development

Marketing

Underwriting

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Adaptability

Team-based decision making

Job description

What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it.

The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special! Associate Manager, ABDS, leads a national team responsible for driving Small Commercial growth and strengthening agency partnerships across assigned territories. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the ABDS function, ensuring consistent execution of business development objectives, production goals, and agency engagement strategies. The manager is accountable for team performance, talent development, and alignment with broader Business Development initiatives while serving as a key partner to underwriting, product, and distribution leaders. This individual will help shape the future direction of the ABDS program by driving innovation, standardization, and growth-focused execution across the organization. This position is based in Denver, CO and requires periodic travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage new business production plans and budgets, establishing retail growth targets aligned to agency call cycles and organizational objectives.
• Create and execute Small Commercial business development strategies that maximize the effectiveness, alignment, and impact of the ABDS team.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for employee and agency-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and positive business outcomes.
• Identify market opportunities, business challenges, and emerging trends; develop targeted marketing strategies, resources, and action plans to support growth initiatives.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, and retain a high-performing team of 4-8 Associate Business Development Specialists through coaching, performance management, mentorship, and skills development.
• Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), production results, and performance trends to drive accountability, continuous improvement, and achievement of business objectives.
• Represent Markel Specialty in the marketplace and at industry events, consistently demonstrating the Markel Style and strengthening relationships with agency partners and industry stakeholders.
• Partner closely with Business Development Directors, Product, Underwriting, and other cross-functional leaders to ensure consistent execution of business development strategies, metrics, processes, and systems across territories and regions.
• Drive adoption of best practices, operational efficiencies, and standardized approaches that enhance the effectiveness of the Business Development organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and accountability while supporting the professional growth and development of team members.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of business development/marketing/underwriting experience working with Markel’s admitted agent population
• Experience managing, mentoring, and leadiing people in a fast-paced sales environment
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills required;
• First‑hand understanding of team‑based decision making in
• Strong relationship development and negotiation skills required;
• Understanding of Property & Casualty underwriting and claims;
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, deal with ambiguity and adapt to change;
• Proven experience to work effectively in a matrixed environment required;
• Ability to travel when appropriate.

US Work Authorization

US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Pay Information

The base salary offered for the successful candidate will be based on compensable factors such as job‑relevant education, job‑relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, geographic location, and other factors. The national average salary range for the Associate Manager, ABDS - National is $78,000 - $107,250 with 25% incentive.

Who We Are

Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory and investment operations around the world.

We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better

We enjoy the everyday | We think further

What’s In It For You

In keeping with the values of the Markel Style, we strive to support our employees in living their lives to the fullest at home and at work.

• We offer competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees’ needs at all stages of life.
• All full-time employees have the option to select from multiple health, dental and vision insurance plan options and optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance.
• We also offer a 401(k) with employer match contributions, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, PTO, corporate holidays and floating holidays, parental leave.

Markel is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic. This includes race; color; sex; religion; creed; national origin or place of birth; ancestry; age; disability; affectional or sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; genetic information, sickle cell trait, or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait; refusal to submit to genetic tests or make genetic test results available; medical condition; citizenship status; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, or family responsibilities; military or veteran status, including unfavorable discharge from military service; personal appearance, height, or weight; matriculation or political affiliation; expunged juvenile records; arrest and court records where prohibited by applicable law; status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence; public assistance status; order of protection status; status as a smoker or nonsmoker; membership or activity in local commissions; the use or nonuse of lawful products off employer premises during non-work hours; declining to attend meetings or participate in communications about religious or political matters; or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Should you require any accommodation through the application process, please send an e‑mail to the [e-mail].