Employee Benefits Account Executive at Starkweather & Shepley

S&S is looking to add new business account executives to our team. Are you an experienced professional who thrives in a new business insurance sales environment? If so, we want to connect with you.

Who Your Are:

You are a strong Employee Benefits Account Executive with a passion for providing customer-centric care. You are outward facing and excel in New Business Sales, with a proven track record for exceeding your goals. You are adaptable and are a Trusted Advisor for your clients. You have a minimum of 5 or more years of insurance experience and working knowledge and commitment for the doing the best for your clients. Our position is designed to locate and source new business for the organization. This role will be seeking new business opportunities, while also maintaining relationships with existing clients. The Account Executive will be primarily responsible for prospecting, networking, and producing new property and casualty business insurance policies and accounts as well as the renewal retention of existing accounts.

This person will work with other members of the Employee Benefits team to create and present presentations on the services offered. This position is responsible for overseeing the marketing of all lines of coverage for the prospects, providing direction to Client Service Administrators. The Account Executive uses discretion and judgement in determining coverage needs for clients and in carrier and client negotiations.

Who We Are:

Starkweather is a 144-year-old company with the reputation of being one of the Best Places to Work in our territory. We are owned by a Trust, run by the Trustees along with a Board of Directors whose mission is to provide stability and security for our clients and our employees. We offer a competitive compensation package including base salary, annual bonus, 401 (k) match and generous profit-sharing plan. We also afford the opportunity to participate in Quarterly Sales Contests, attractive commission structure and annual Leader's Trip.

Our benefit package is equally as robust including, Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA and HRA plans. We offer an open-ended performance driven vacation and sick policy, as well as a relaxed dress code. Also offered are Life, LTD, voluntary opportunities for Supplemental Life, Supplemental LTD, Pet Insurance, Accident and Critical Care, and Legal services.

Duties include -

1. Identifies appropriate prospects for employee benefits services.
2. Creates scheduled prospect outreach via email, outbound phone calls, LinkedIn, and other avenues. Executes regular follow up contacts to maintain interest.
3. Creates and maintains working prospect lists with contact information, renewal dates and other pertinent information.
4. Identifies key Employee Benefits and Property and Casualty team members to include at meetings as a resource for team selling when applicable.
5. Identifies, cultivates, and maintains a robust external roster of Centers of Influence as a source for referrals.
6. Works closely with and guides the Employee Benefits support team to provide excellent and responsive service to prospects and clients.
7. Markets new business on a timely basis, along with Client Service Administrators, by communicating with the prospects and the carriers during the initial sales process.
8. Secures Broker of Record letters for external new business for all lines of employee benefits coverage.
9. Once BOR is obtained, markets renewals on a timely basis, along with Client Service Administrator by communicating with clients and carriers during the renewal process.
10. Establishes working relationships with clients, carrier, and other vendors.
11. Responds to client inquiries in a timely fashion by initiating changes requested, providing coverage information and documentation as needed, ensuring client requests are handled by carriers and acting to maintain accounts in the event of a request for cancellation.
12. Provides support to prospects and clients concerning technology, HR and compliance issues.
13. Supports prospect and client's open enrollment meetings as requested.
14. Develop and lead presentations for prospects, clients, and employee base as required.
15. Maintain relationships with carrier/providers while monitoring market for new products and/or trends.
16. Provide referrals to other departments.
17. Negotiate renewals to achieve best possible coverage for clients.
18. Serve as technical resource for Client Service Administrators.
19. Maintain knowledge of company requirements, policy provisions and any changes to laws as applicable.
20. Participate in/direct any special projects and/training at management's request.
21. Any and all responsibilities outlined in the Professional Procedure Manual.
22. Performs additional duties as assigned.

Starkweather & Shepley provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee, and are not intended to be a complete list of responsibilities and duties. These statements do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the organization.

Requirements

Skills, Abilities and Experience requirements include :

1. Superior written and verbal communications skills required.
2. Superior customer service skills.
3. Ability to identify external product and obtain Broker of Record letters.
4. Ability to develop and deliver presentations to C Suite and in group settings.
5. Ability to build trust based relationships with prospects and clients.
6. Strong problem solving skills.
7. Ability to perform cost benefit analysis.
8. Must be able to work well in a team environment and demonstrate professional language and behavior.
9. Ability to multitask and operate in an ever changing environment is critical.
10. Ability to communicate at all levels of the organization.
11. Ability to travel to prospect and client meetings.
12. Fluency in MS Office products, intermediate Excel user.
13. Ability to communicate clearly, to work well with others, and to manage time effectively.
14. Producer license is Mandatory.
15. Willingness to continue education is essential.