Business Development Specialist - Surety

Risk Placement Services, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Career development opportunities

Global reach with local impact

Job summary

Risk Placement Services, Inc. (RPS) is seeking a Business Development Specialist to grow agency partnerships in the Northeast by connecting retail agents with underwriting resources and top-rated carriers.

This remote role requires travel within your assigned territory and ongoing proactive outreach. You will open doors, re-energize partnerships, and work with internal underwriters to prioritize opportunities and move deals from first contact to close.

Qualifications

• 1–3+ years of experience in sales, business development, or relationship management.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Surety experience is not required.
• Willingness to travel for in-person meetings and events.

Responsibilities

• Drive new agency relationships by high‑volume outreach to position RPS as a go‑to surety resource.
• Reignite inactive partnerships, uncover opportunities, and accelerate momentum.
• Collaborate with internal underwriters to prioritize opportunities and move deals to close.
• Represent RPS at local insurance and industry events to build regional visibility.

Skills

Cold calling

Outbound outreach

Relationship building

Communication skills

Sales experience

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Introduction

At RPS, we don’t just embrace bold ideas, we make them happen. We're a team of entrepreneurs, big-picture thinkers, and passionate experts who thrive on possibility. Every day, we collaborate across teams, challenge convention, and push boundaries to design innovative solutions for our clients. With access to top-rated carriers and a dynamic marketplace, we bring strategy and creativity together to deliver what others might call impossible. Here, every voice counts, every perspective matters, and every challenge is an opportunity to grow. You’ll be supported by a culture that celebrates ownership, curiosity, and high performance, where you’re trusted to do your best work and encouraged to keep learning along the way.

Overview

At RPS , we specialize in solving hard-to-place risks for retail agents. As a Business Development Specialist, you'll help agencies tackle challenging accounts by connecting them with the right underwriting resources. This role is all about building relationships, staying visible in the market, and creating opportunities. In this role, you'll be the driving force behind agency growth in the Northeast. You'll open doors, re-energize partnerships, and connect retail agents with our underwriting teams. By staying proactive and visible, you'll ensure RPS is seen as a trusted, resource-first partner. Whether you're reaching out to new agencies, re-engaging quiet ones, or attending local events, your work will create real momentum and lasting relationships. Surety experience is not required.

This is a remote role that will require travel through your assigned territory.

How you'll make an impact

• Drive new agency relationships by leading consistent, high‑volume outreach that opens doors and introduces RPS as a go‑to surety resource.
• Reignite inactive partnerships by proactively re‑engaging agencies, uncovering new opportunities, and bringing fresh momentum to dormant relationships.
• Collaborate closely with internal underwriters to strategically prioritize opportunities, align on solutions, and keep deals moving from first conversation to close.
• Be the face of RPS in the market by attending local insurance and industry events, increasing visibility, strengthening relationships, and building a strong regional presence.

About You

• Demonstrated confidence in cold calling, outbound email outreach, and proactive prospecting; surety experience is not required.
• Ability to clearly explain complex concepts in simple, compelling terms and build credibility quickly with prospects and clients.
• Willingness to travel and attend in-person meetings and industry events to develop a strong market presence.
• 1–3+ years of experience in sales, business development, or relationship management.
• Bachelor’s degree required, with at least one year of related experience.
• Strong understanding of prospective clients and the insurance brokerage industry is preferred.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate information, make sound decisions, and resolve issues.
• Ability to effectively plan, prioritize, and manage workload while responding to multiple competing demands.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Compensation and benefits

At Gallagher, we believe supporting our colleagues goes far beyond the role itself.For more information, visit our Benefits page.

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits programs designed to support your well-being
• Career development opportunities and ongoing learning
• A collaborative, people-first culture with accessible leadership
• The opportunity to do meaningful work with global reach and local impact

At Gallagher, we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to join our Talent Community to stay connected to additional career opportunities. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles.

Gallagher is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)