Director of Business Development

Position Overview

The Business Development Director is a strategic leadership role focused on expanding and strengthening iscential Markets’ network of active, profitable distribution partners. This role is primarily external facing, engaging with the broader marketplace to recruit new partners while also driving production within our existing distribution network. As a key member of the iscential Markets team, this position is a W2 employee role within the states of Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania. 1099 opportunities considered in other states.

Key Responsibilities

1. Partner Recruitment & Expansion

• Proactively identify, solicit, and secure new distribution partners for the iscential Markets platform.
• Develop relationships with targeted agency groups, including:
• Former Nationwide exclusive agencies
• Other ex-captive exclusive agencies
• Agencies aligned with target carriers where iscential Markets offers a higher value proposition
• Lead lists and partner referrals
• Establish and maintain structured reporting and tracking of recruiting activities to measure success and optimize strategies.

2. Partner Activation & Revenue Growth

• Work closely with assigned platform partners to maximize their life and annuity production and drive revenue growth.
• Provide comprehensive training on:
• Prospecting and selling life insurance and annuity products
• Effective utilization of iscential Markets tools and resources
• Conduct regular sales pipeline meetings to review partner performance, identify opportunities, and enhance sales activity.
• Implement and reinforce iscential Markets’ sales processes across all distribution partners to ensure consistency and effectiveness.

3. General Platform Support

• Collaborate with internal teams to continuously enhance the iscential Markets platform.
• Ensure partners have the necessary tools, resources, and guidance to be successful.
• Maintain a proactive approach in identifying challenges and proposing solutions to improve partner engagement and production.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Candidates for the Business Development Director role should demonstrate the following:

• 10 years of experience in positioning and selling life insurance, with a deep understanding of industry best practices.
• Strong working knowledge of annuity products and their sales strategies.
• 10 years of experience with P&C distribution approaches, understanding different agency models and structures.
• Proven self-starter with a proactive and results-driven approach.
• Ability to work independently while also thriving in a collaborative environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills to effectively engage and grow the distribution network.