As one of the leading writers of Federal Crop Insurance, AgriSompo North America combines industry experience, resources, capital and talent to deliver both traditional and innovative crop insurance and productivity tools to farmers, ranchers, insurers and agribusinesses in the United States. Our organization operates within a culture rooted in ethics, integrity and a belief that accountability, collaboration and agility are crucial to long-term success.
AgriSompo North America is a part of AgriSompo, Sompo International’s global agriculture platform. This platform is an integrated underwriting, technology and distribution platform delivering innovate insurance and reinsurance solutions to agriculture partners worldwide. Sompo International, AgriSompo’s parent company, is a global organization driven by its core values, a carrier that holds promise, trust and the commitment to protect. Through operating subsidiaries, Sompo International writes agriculture, casualty and other specialty, professional lines, property, marine/energy and aviation lines of insurance and catastrophe, property, casualty, professional lines and specialty lines of reinsurance.
As a leading provider of crop insurance and other agricultural risk management tools, we recognize that our success is derived directly from those whose contributions matter most: our people. AgriSompo North America has major offices in Lenexa, Kansas and Des Moines, Iowa as well as regional offices around the country. A shared commitment to integrity, accountability, collaboration and agility define our culture, and we strive to create exceptional value for our clients and shareholders and maintain AgriSompo North America as a desirable place to work.
Job Description
Position Summary
The Business Development Representative achieves insurance sales by establishing and maintaining working relationships with independent insurance agents within a specified region. In addition to serving as the primary point of contact for agents, the Business Development Representative is responsible for servicing a book of business which meets growth, maintenance, and profitability goals year over year. By upholding the below responsibilities, the Business Development Representative will support the company’s profitable market share approach. Successful candidates will be self-starters with strong analytical, organizational, and commutation skills who are passionate about agriculture.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Job Responsibilities
This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive nor imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent in this job. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed or may perform related duties as assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Assist in forging relationships with new and existing crop insurance agents with the goal of both maintaining and attracting profitable business.
- Work with peers and agents as a primary resource by helping interpret government regulations associated with the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
- Work as part of a larger team which may span across territories and/or regions to ensure all customers are trained adequately on all business processes and platforms, including web-based, mobile, and mapping tools. You will also attend and/or present at company trainings and meetings.
- Execute established training programs to both peers and agents to provide appropriate feedback the training department on agent training needs.
- Research agent concerns and provide timely, professional follow-up resolutions.
- Assist in the development and implementation of strategic marketing plans and forecasts to achieve corporate objectives for products and services.
- Assist in reviewing and analyzing of agents’ business, production and results. Implement and recommend appropriate corrective measures, including modification of agreements or cancellation of agency appointments.
- Evaluate market research and adjust marketing strategies to meet changing marketing and competitive conditions. This includes but is not limited to making appropriate recommendations based upon competitive landscape, such as company products and services, innovative ideas, and education.
- Monitor and collect required agent/agency compliance documents.
- Responsible for building and maintaining effective business relationships with internal and external customers and coworkers in order to attract and retain profitable business. Customers include but are not limited to industry groups such as grower groups, commodity groups, trade associations, legislators, etc.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements
Education
Required - High school diploma or equivalent, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Preferred – Bachelor’s degree in agriculture or business related field.
Experience
Required – 2 years of agriculture experience.
Preferred – 4 years of agriculture and crop insurance experience.
License/Certification
Required – Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of sales and agriculture
- Professional knowledge of farm economics, grain marketing and risk management tools (futures, options, crop insurance)
- Strong computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Effective interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with the ability to interact with all levels of people within and outside the organization.
- Demonstrate an understanding of regulatory and operational processes.
- Strong decision making, negotiation, and conflict management skills.
- Strong coaching and teaching skills.
- Strong time management and prioritization skills, with the ability to remain flexible to changing priorities.
- Ability to perform sales job responsibilities face to face.
- Ability to quickly learn and promote company products and services.
- Ability to work effectively both autonomously and within a team environment.
- Ability to develop new skills, learn new techniques, and software while ensuring assigned customer base receives excellent services.
Travel is required up to 80%.
Physical Requirements & Work Conditions
- Ability to lift/push/pull up to 30 lbs. occasionally; including ladders, bushels, ramps for off road vehicles.
- Ability to walk in agricultural fields, up to 3 miles.
- Ability to climb agricultural storage bins, up to 75 feet.
- Ability to climb, crawl, stoop, kneel and balance.
- Ability to climb ladders and perform work at significant heights.
- Ability to perform work in confined spaces.
- Ability to work outside in extreme weather conditions.
- Ability to work in an environment with high dust levels around grain and other bulk products.
- Ability to meet requirement of and utilize all applicable PPE, when applicable.
- Ability to work extended hours, weekend, holidays and/or as needed.
- Uses peripheral vision and depth perception for tasks being performed.
Environmental Conditions
The work environment described here are meant to be representative of those an employee would normally encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.
The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions. Frequently required to use personal protective equipment.
Travel, up to 80% travel required; most travel is within 2-4 hours driving distance of the assigned home office. Some out-of-town travel may be required for trainings/meetings
Actual compensation for this role will depend on several factors including the cost of living associated with your work location, your qualifications, skills, competencies, and relevant experience.
At Sompo International, we recognize that the talent, skills, and commitment of our employees drive our success. This is why we offer competitive, high-quality compensation and benefit programs to eligible employees.
Our compensation program is built on a foundation that promotes a pay-for-performance culture, resulting in higher incentive awards, on average, when the Company does well and lower incentive awards when the Company underperforms. The total compensation opportunity for all regular, full-time employees is a combination of base salary and incentives that gets adjusted upfront based on overall Company performance with final awards based on individual performance.
We continuously evaluate and update our benefit programs to ensure that our plans remain competitive and meet the needs of our employees and their dependents. Below is a summary of our current comprehensive U.S. benefit programs:
- Two medical plans to choose from, including a Traditional PPO & a Consumer Driven Health Plan with a Health Savings account providing a competitive employer contribution.
- Pharmacy benefits with mail order options.
- Dental benefits including orthodontia benefits for adults and children.
- Vision benefits.
- Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Company-paid Life & AD&D benefits, including the option to purchase Supplemental life coverage for employee, spouse & children.
- Company-paid Disability benefits with very competitive salary continuation payments.
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with competitive employer contributions.
- Competitive paid-time-off programs, including company-paid holidays.
- Competitive Parental Leave Benefits & Adoption Assistance program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Tax-Free Commuter Benefit
- Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Qualification benefits.
Sompo International is an equal-opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. M/F/D/V