Director of Business Development, Independent Agents

Root Insurance; United States; On-site; USD 156,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Director of Independent Agents to lead product and partnership strategies in the insurance sector. This role requires a proactive leader with a collaborative nature, capable of influencing without direct authority. You will work with independent agents and internal teams to develop impactful strategies, negotiate partnerships, and drive business growth. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are eager to make a significant impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in partner-facing roles, especially with independent agents.
• Skills in opportunity identification and strategy execution.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teams to develop strategies targeting independent agents.
• Initiate relationships with strategic insurance partners.

Skills

Partnership Development

Negotiation Skills

Strategy Execution

Opportunity Identification

Product Sensibility

Job description

CURRENT ROOT EMPLOYEES - Please apply using the career page in Workday. This career site is for external applicants only.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Director of Independent Agents to join our team. In this role, you will work with independent agents, comparative raters, the Emerging Technology and Data Partnerships team, and Root’s Research & Development Business Development team. Your focus will be to build product and partnership strategies from the ground up to address opportunities in Root’s core and future businesses, particularly in the independent agent channel. We seek someone with an entrepreneurial mindset, exceptional leadership skills, a collaborative and transparent nature, and the ability to influence without direct authority.

Root is a “work where it works best” company, supporting flexible locations across the US.

Salary Range: $156,000 - $195,000 (Bonus and LTI Eligible)

How You Will Make an Impact

1. Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to develop product and partnership strategies targeting the independent agent channel.
2. Initiate and build relationships with strategic insurance partners, negotiate and formalize agreements.
3. Create business cases and gain stakeholder consensus across various departments.
4. Identify opportunities to scale partnership models, influence product strategy, and operationalize partnerships.
5. Serve as a thought leader on independent agents within Root, and deepen understanding of the mobility industry and market segments.
6. Work with product management to define, validate, and prioritize partner-facing products and features.

What You Will Need to Succeed

1. 8+ years of experience in partner-facing roles, especially with independent agents, including structuring partnerships and negotiating contracts.
2. Skills in opportunity identification, strategy execution, consensus building, and partnership agreement development.
3. Strong product sensibility and ability to represent technical requirements in negotiations.
4. A holistic, solution-focused approach that values collaboration and mutual benefit.
5. Creativity in solutions and navigating regulatory environments.
6. A proactive, results-driven mindset suited to a fast-paced environment.

Don’t meet every requirement?

We encourage diverse applicants and believe that if you’re excited about this role, you should apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification.

Join us

At Root, we value merit and passion. If you’re eager to solve real problems and contribute meaningfully, we want to hear from you.

Who we are

We’re transforming insurance through technology, using machine learning and telematics to innovate in FinTech.

What draws people to Root

Our culture emphasizes autonomy, impact, collaboration, and talented people. Join us to challenge norms and make a difference.