Business Development Manager, Midwest
Cover Whale, Iowa, LA, United States
The Role
The Business Development Manager (BDM) – Retail, Midwest will report to the Retail Distribution Lead and will be responsible for managing a defined portfolio of retail distribution partners across the South‑Central United States. The BDM will execute strategies to increase premium production, deepen engagement with existing Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners, and identify new high‑potential relationships within the region.
This role requires maintaining approximately 50% of time in‑field travel across the Midwest, including but not limited to partners in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The BDM will balance in‑person engagement with strategic account management, ensuring that partner relationships are actively nurtured and aligned with Cover Whale’s growth objectives.
Responsibilities
Work with underwriting, marketing, and development teams to manage and drive distribution and partner premium generation
Cultivate and expand agency partnerships to achieve revenue targets within your territory
Represent Cover Whale in meetings with distribution partners, seminars, trade shows, and networking events
Prospect new distribution partners and agents
Identify and execute opportunities to further engage with current partners
Establish, track, and report on KPIs, while routinely meeting or exceeding goals
Help improve business development, partner management, and onboarding processes
Establish a positive distribution team culture
Carry out market trend research and competitor analysis to discover customers’ needs
Produce strategic development goals to increase revenue growth with our trading partners
Research, plan, and implement prospective accounts in target markets
Continuously outreach to current and prospective partners to improve brand image
Other duties as assigned
Requirements
At least a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus a minimum of 4 to 6 years of business development or account management experience
A minimum of 2 years of experience in commercial insurance is a must
At least 1 year of experience working for a carrier, wholesaler, or MGA is preferred
Proven ability to drive significant revenue generation results from distribution partners
Experience successfully developing and managing retail and wholesale commercial lines brokers/agents, MGAs, MGUs, and other strategic partners
Demonstrated level of comfort and effectiveness in cold calling agency partners
Experience in prospecting and negotiating with distribution partners
Thorough understanding of insurance business financials
Ability to negotiate and navigate complex business situations
Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, and influencing skills
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
Deep aptitude for numbers, passion for accuracy, and exceptional attention to detail
Superb communication and presentation skills
Ability to adapt quickly to change and complexity
Compensation At Cover Whale, we believe in transparent and equitable compensation practices. The expected base pay for this role ranges from $90,000 to $135,000. Final base pay is determined based on several factors, including skills, experience, and geographic location.
Benefits
Annual discretionary bonus opportunity
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) company match up to 4 %
Generous paid time off and company holidays
Cover Whale works to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where individuals can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to their processes, decisions, planning, and culture.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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This role requires maintaining approximately 50% of time in‑field travel across the Midwest, including but not limited to partners in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The BDM will balance in‑person engagement with strategic account management, ensuring that partner relationships are actively nurtured and aligned with Cover Whale’s growth objectives.
Responsibilities
Work with underwriting, marketing, and development teams to manage and drive distribution and partner premium generation
Cultivate and expand agency partnerships to achieve revenue targets within your territory
Represent Cover Whale in meetings with distribution partners, seminars, trade shows, and networking events
Prospect new distribution partners and agents
Identify and execute opportunities to further engage with current partners
Establish, track, and report on KPIs, while routinely meeting or exceeding goals
Help improve business development, partner management, and onboarding processes
Establish a positive distribution team culture
Carry out market trend research and competitor analysis to discover customers’ needs
Produce strategic development goals to increase revenue growth with our trading partners
Research, plan, and implement prospective accounts in target markets
Continuously outreach to current and prospective partners to improve brand image
Other duties as assigned
Requirements
At least a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus a minimum of 4 to 6 years of business development or account management experience
A minimum of 2 years of experience in commercial insurance is a must
At least 1 year of experience working for a carrier, wholesaler, or MGA is preferred
Proven ability to drive significant revenue generation results from distribution partners
Experience successfully developing and managing retail and wholesale commercial lines brokers/agents, MGAs, MGUs, and other strategic partners
Demonstrated level of comfort and effectiveness in cold calling agency partners
Experience in prospecting and negotiating with distribution partners
Thorough understanding of insurance business financials
Ability to negotiate and navigate complex business situations
Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal, and influencing skills
Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
Deep aptitude for numbers, passion for accuracy, and exceptional attention to detail
Superb communication and presentation skills
Ability to adapt quickly to change and complexity
Compensation At Cover Whale, we believe in transparent and equitable compensation practices. The expected base pay for this role ranges from $90,000 to $135,000. Final base pay is determined based on several factors, including skills, experience, and geographic location.
Benefits
Annual discretionary bonus opportunity
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) company match up to 4 %
Generous paid time off and company holidays
Cover Whale works to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where individuals can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to their processes, decisions, planning, and culture.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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