Berkley Agribusiness is a provider of property and casualty insurance solutions for select commercial agribusiness and food accounts and is a subsidiary of the W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company recognized as one of the most respected names in the property casualty insurance industry.

About W. R. Berkley Corporation
W. R. Berkley Corporation, founded in 1967, is one of the nation’s premier commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. Each of the operating units in the Berkley group participates in a niche market requiring specialized knowledge about a territory or product. Our competitive advantage lies in our long-term strategy of decentralized operations, allowing each of our units to identify and respond quickly and effectively.

The Business Development Specialist is accountable for providing direction and leadership for their assigned territory.  Partners with management team to ensure effective marketing, planning and execution resulting in retention, growth and profitability of business.  Leads and influences agencies through creation and execution of sales strategies that drive an effective pipeline of new clients, profit and retention.  Identifies new distribution opportunities and recommends agency appointments, while increasing relevancy in existing agencies.

•  Serves as primary relationship, sales and business development leader for the territory. Travels to enhance relationships with agencies and clients resulting in business retention and new business opportunities. 
• Collaborates with agencies and leadership in establishing new customer relationships and to identify, research, and develop pipeline opportunities.  Drives the sales processes including prospect prioritization, initial contact and pursuit strategy, identification of opportunity, due diligence and overall management of new customer acquisition. 
• Works with Underwriting and Underwriting Management to manage the territory book of business and identifies market opportunities by analyzing competitor intelligence, market and industry research, loss ratios, mix of business, policy count, premium growth, hit ratios and business retention.
• Develops, maintains and enhances client relationship related to profit improvement and Risk Control compliance. Uses resources available to build pipeline of new customer leads in conjunction with key agency partners. Maximizes the agency segmentation process and associated resource commitments.
• Ensures that tools, training and support are in place to positively impact success for the agencies and territory.  Identified and communicates training needs and opportunities.  Participates in program and product orientation meetings in conjunction with internal business partners including but is not limited to Underwriting, Risk Control, Actuary, Business Development, and Claims.
• Participates in the company’s distribution and operational planning process where current-year objectives are reviewed and future-years' objectives are developed.  Aligns territory business objectives to support organizational goals of optimized profitability, managed growth and competitive advantage. 
• Collaborates with Underwriting Management to establish and manage budgets and resources including explaining variances and related reporting.

Key Objectives:

• Field facing role, engaged with Agents and Clients to scale our distribution partners and client portfolio
• Full Letter of Authority
• Client Pipelining
• Cross-functional Territory Team Leadership
• Portfolio and Agency Performance management
• Loss Sensitive Evolution:
  • Strategic partnership with cross-functional loss sensitive resources
  • Formalize the go-to-market strategy on a national level
  • Support distribution growth of identified Loss Sensitive broker partners
  • Execute an effective sales cycle and build a loss sensitive client pipeline

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree; minimum five years industry experience in agency facing and/or leadership roles and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  Middle market underwriting experience is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Account relationship management skills
• Works effectively with all levels and can easily build new relationships.
• Must be action oriented and have strong drive for results
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of middle market insurance products and coverages
• Demonstrated critical thinking, problem analysis, and problem resolution skills at both a strategic and functional level
• Marketing experience
• Experience negotiating price, terms, and requirements
• Experience growing a business or portfolio of clients
• Demonstrated ability to lead people and influence others to achieve results
• Ability to think ahead and plan over a 2-3 year time span
• Effective organizational, multi-tasking, and prioritizing skills
• Experience attracting, coaching and developing talent
• Able to consistently demonstrate commitment to company values and guiding principles
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
• Ability to work outside normal work schedule to fulfill responsibilities
• Travel will be required (up to 60%).   

Licenses/Certifications/Designations

A valid driver’s license with safe driving record are required.  Completion of or working toward CIC, AIM, CPCU or similar designation.