Business Development Leader - Hybrid or Remote Opportunity

GuideOne Insurance; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary + incentives

401(K) with company match up to 6%

Life and AD&D, disability coverage

Medical, dental, vision plans

Wellness incentives

Generous paid time off

Flexible work schedules; hybrid/remote

Job summary

GuideOne Insurance seeks a Business Development Leader to drive growth, retention, and profitability through distribution partnerships. You will shape geographic distribution plans, collaborate with Underwriting and Territory Managers, engage brokers, and build a robust business pipeline.

You will lead efforts to recruit new producers, manage partnerships, and influence strategic initiatives across national and regional brokers, with a focus on growth and profitability targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education / work experience.
• Professional designations (CIC, CPCU, ARM, P&C Producers License) highly desired.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of commercial insurance territory management experience plus underwriting experience preferred.
• Ability to build and develop new partnerships and deeper relationships for GuideOne.
• Demonstrable expertise with a variety of sales and insurance concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Documented relationships and experience developing and selling to large independent agencies, brokers, aggregators, and wholesalers.
• Broad understanding of and connectivity to territories distribution marketplace with strong relationship building skills at peer group level.
• Advanced ability to segment distribution partnerships and create engagement strategies using marketplace knowledge.
• Ability to build distribution in new geographical areas.
• Experience in working with underwriting personnel.
• Knowledge of commercial insurance - preferably in the non-profit human services / education, religious institutions, and small business niches.
• Established record of meeting new and renewal business and profitability goals.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Well-versed in client management and detailed knowledge of large and complex national and regional broker structures and their local operations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with distribution partners, peers, and senior executives without executive authority.
• Strong negotiation and overcoming objection skills.
• Ability to negotiate best position and manage through conflicting priorities.
• Solid experience with Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Must be able to prepare and interpret reports, spreadsheets, budgets, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Knowledgeable in analysis and presentation of data.
• Ability to work remotely, utilizing independent judgement and creativity.
• Strong degree of self-motivation, organizational, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to accept change and lead within a change-oriented environment.
• Frequent overnight travel required to be visible with distribution partners to develop and maintain peer level relationships.
• Experience with CRM programs.

Responsibilities

• Grow and strengthen key national trading partnerships with marketing, sales and regional leaders.
• Cultivate existing distribution partnerships and recruit new producers that create strategic value and drive scalable partnerships.
• Develop and execute the business development strategy for the focus niche.
• Drive financial performance of planned premium and profitability goals.
• Be the business advocate for new business opportunities and renewals with senior distribution partners.
• Coordinate distribution engagement to align with goals.
• Lead regular engagement meetings with carrier liaisons and territory teams to drive strategy.
• Position the company as a lead carrier for opportunities aligned to underwriting appetite.

Skills

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Communication

Remote work capability

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education/work experience

Professional designations (CIC, CPCU, ARM, P&C Producer license) desirable

Tools

CRM

MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

As the Business Development Leader (BDL), you will lead strategic planning and execution within your assigned area. You are responsible for driving growth, retention, and profitability through the development and management of key distribution partnerships. In alignment with GuideOne's distribution strategy, you will collaborate closely with Underwriting Managers and Territory Managers to shape geographic distribution plans, guide production strategies, engage brokers, and build a robust business pipeline.

Accountabilities

• Growth and strengthen key national trading partnerships focusing on developing mutually beneficial relationships with marketing, sales and regional leaders.
• Cultivate existing distribution partnerships and recruit new producers that create strategic value and drive highly scalable partnerships.
• Develop and execute the business development strategy for the focus niche.
• Drive financial performance of planned premium and profitability goals.
• Be the business advocate for new business opportunities, key renewals, and outstanding issues with senior management of distribution partners.
• Consistent approach to distribution and line of business engagement, communication, and collaboration to ensure strategies and activities align with goals.
• Schedule and lead regular engagement meetings with carrier liaisons, practice leaders, and territory marketing representatives to effectively drive a top-down strategy.
• Work to position the company as a lead carrier for business that fits underwriting appetite in company's core niches to increase size of wallet in line with growth, retention, and profitability targets.
• Approval of appointments and cancellations of distribution partners as needed.
• Utilize market knowledge to identify panels, programs, master policies, and portfolio transfer opportunities.

Skills & Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent education / work experience.
• Professional designations (CIC, CPCU, ARM, P&C Producers License) highly desired.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of commercial insurance territory management experience plus underwriting experience preferred.
• Ability to build and develop new partnerships and deeper relationships for GuideOne.
• Demonstrable expertise with a variety of sales and insurance concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Documented relationships and experience developing and selling to large independent agencies, brokers, aggregators, and wholesalers.
• Broad understanding of and connectivity to territories distribution marketplace with strong relationship building skills at peer group level.
• Advanced ability to segment distribution partnerships and create engagement strategies using marketplace knowledge.
• Ability to build distribution in new geographical areas.
• Experience in working with underwriting personnel.
• Knowledge of commercial insurance - preferably in the non-profit human services / education, religious institutions, and small business niches.
• Established record of meeting new and renewal business and profitability goals.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Well-versed in client management and detailed knowledge of large and complex national and regional broker structures and their local operations.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with distribution partners, peers, and senior executives without executive authority.
• Strong negotiation and overcoming objection skills.
• Ability to negotiate best position and manage through conflicting priorities.
• Solid experience with Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Must be able to prepare and interpret reports, spreadsheets, budgets, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Knowledgeable in analysis and presentation of data.
• Ability to work remotely, utilizing independent judgement and creativity.
• Strong degree of self-motivation, organizational, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to accept change and lead within a change-oriented environment.
• Frequent overnight travel required to be visible with distribution partners to develop and maintain peer level relationships.
• Experience with CRM programs.

Compensation

$120,000 - $160,000 commensurate with experience, plus bonus eligibility

Benefits

We are proud to offer a robust benefits suite that includes :

• Competitive base salary plus incentive plans for eligible team members401(K) retirement plan that includes a company match of up to 6% of your eligible salary
• Free basic life and AD&D, long-term disability and short-term disability insurance
• Medical, dental and vision plans to meet your unique healthcare needs
• Wellness incentives
• Generous time off program that includes personal, holiday and volunteer paid time off
• Flexible work schedules and hybrid / remote options for eligible positions
• Educational assistance#TMG.