Insurance Officer - Business Development

Job Summary

**Incumbent can work in either the Detroit Lakes or Fergus Falls, MN office**

We are seeking a Financial Officer - Business Development for a sales focused role responsible for marketing and promoting all of the Associations’ core products to an assigned producer customer segment. The incumbent will be highly organized and develop an in-depth understanding of each customer and prospect's current financial position and operational plan in order to provide innovative and workable product and service alternatives and meet established sales goals.

This role is responsible for bringing in new customers and building relationships with a focus on expanding a small portfolio of larger, more complex operations. This role covers a regional territory and is driven by uncovering new possibilities and achieving results. As a trusted advisor, the Financial Officer Business Development anticipates customer needs and puts new business on the books.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Sales –

• Serve as the primary agent for crop insurance policies providing comprehensive servicing to Hail Policies and Supplemental Insurance Products, and achieving aggressive sales production goals established in conjunction with their leader for assigned marketing areas. Responsible for selling Multi-Peril (MPCI), Margin Protection (MP), Crop Hail, Pasture, Rangeland, Forage (PRF), Livestock, and Supplemental insurance products to customer and non-customer prospects, communicating options to customers, utilizing website tools, policy provisions, and other resources to help customers make risk management decisions, and preparing and presenting quotes for Livestock and/or other applicable insurance products in the region.
• Develop and execute a personal marketing plan that identifies customer needs and risk tolerance, cross-sells all products and services, and contributes to the business and product depth goals. Build an active sales pipeline through individual and joint sales calls, prepare proposals for one-on-one sales calls with customers or prospects, and utilize the Associations' sales tools, techniques, and technology to complete, track, and document sales and customer activities.
• Share expertise by delivering sales presentations, offer comprehensive product and sales guidance individually or to groups, drawing upon in-depth knowledge of the crop insurance industry. Represent the Associations at industry and agricultural events in the region, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders. Proactively provide referrals to other teammates, identifying opportunities for collaboration and cross-selling.
• Develop and maintain a working relationship with insurance company representatives to resolve policies issues, understand product offerings and drive sales results. Make business placement decisions based upon AIP products and offerings.
• Assist with organizing and coordinating insurance campaigns and strategies within assigned marketing areas.

Service and Processing –

• Provide service and processing support by processing insurance forms from multiple insurance vendors for MPCI, MP, Crop Hail, and Supplemental products, analyzing and entering applications online, verifying underwriting and actuarial calculations, and serving as the point of contact for policy changes.
• Collect acreage information and process it directly online with the AIP system, if appropriate, and report claims for the assigned portfolio. Leverage customer's precision farming data to gather acreage and production reporting information, and partner with the Insurance Specialist as needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Cont.

Business Development - Independently prepare and present quotes to larger, full-time, more complex producers.

Serve as subject matter expert and make sales presentations at insurance sales seminars as needed. Fluent in all aspects of the processes with exception of most complex situation. May sit in on renewals for less experienced teammates. Provide some training and mentorship to less experienced teammates. Sell Livestock and/or other insurance products where applicable to customers and prospects in the region. Possesses sound risk management skills with the ability appropriately structure insurance plans and proposals (presenting creative solutions and multiple options based on customer’s needs). Has thorough knowledge of customer needs and product offerings. Demonstrates agricultural expertise including established knowledge of multiple agricultural industries. Consistently demonstrates results in the top 20% of Insurance Services Officers serving this customer segment.

New acre goal determined by leadership to achieve Association's business plan.

Travel Time

Travel will be 50-70% for this role, primarily during the day meeting with customers outside of the office.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Preferred in Agriculture, Finance, or Business

Years of Experience

8 + years of Experience as a licensed crop insurance agent or insurance company representative and experience in servicing a large complex book of business and a proven record of growing a book of business along with experience in relationship management and/or sales. A current valid license in crop insurance is required.

Certification and Technical Requirements

• Ability to use Insurance Company websites, Government websites, Insurance Company quoting and processing software in addition to internal software such as SharePoint, AgentPro, and digital tools.
• Proficient in Windows environment using Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Internet Explorer.