Job Description

Job Summary:

Are you seeking a retail commercial insurance business development career move that can catapult your 5+ years of insurance industry underwriting/marketing experience to the next level? Desire to have the backing of an international, financially thriving Fortune 400 powerhouse AND use your entrepreneurial marketing prowess and regional retail insurance industry knowledge to showcase your talents? Markel Specialty, a global underwriting division of Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL: $1100+) is pursuing a Manager/Director of Business Development candidate for our Midwest Region headquartered in Chicago, IL.

Markel Specialty is a global underwriting division that operates through dividing underwriting responsibilities by size, complexity, and distribution channel. Complex, risk-managed retail accounts will be underwritten in one of three product lines—casualty, professional liability and property/marine – and this position will be serve as a primary business development conduit with our premier retail national brokers on a regional basis with the bottom line of increasing premium and market penetration. Your extraordinary marketing and sales proficiency will maximize regional broker/agent engagement, revenue and profitability by driving customer loyalty. You will coordinate your promotional efforts with Markel Specialty regional presidents, their underwriting and marketing teams as well as the corporate account executives to build brand awareness of Markel as a world-class insurance company.

Key components of this highly visible position will be:

Mid West Business Development Team Manager

Hire, manage train, coach and provide performance feedback for a team of business development professionals.
Work with the team to provide career development opportunities.
Conduct bi-annual performance evaluations.

Producer Liaison

Build and maintain relationships with Markel Specialty regional underwriters, management team and product line leaders.
Work in conjunction with Specialty’s national retail business development team.
Serve as liaison to facilitate exceptional communications and interaction between and among regional management, underwriters and assigned brokers.
Coordinate all assigned broker visits with the regional management team, marketing managers and underwriters to ensure an effective marketing presence.
Actively search for opportunities to develop business for existing and new products with assigned national producers.

Market Strategist

Create, coordinate and execute custom marketing strategies with the regional underwriters, marketing manager, and management team that will focus on achieving underwriting profit and growth
Provide consistent and effective communication to management regarding sales and marketing progress, forecasts and results
Research and analyze the needs and trends of the retail admitted marketplace to ensure our relevance within assigned national producers.
Increase visibility and brand awareness of Markel.
Promote cross marketing and renewal retention with assigned commercial retail producers.
Enjoy industry reconnaissance.

Qualifications

5+ years of business development/marketing experience working with the top large retail insurance brokers on Fortune 500 accounts in the Midwest Region required. 
5+ years of direct management of a team required
Superior communication and interpersonal skills required.
First hand understanding of team based decision making in an entrepreneurial environment required.
Strong relationship development and negotiation skills required.
Understanding of Property & Casualty underwriting and claims, with actual underwriting experience preferred.
BA / BS Degree in Business, Risk & insurance, or Marketing desired.
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 75%.