Director, National Partner Operations

The Director, National Partner Operations is a key, strategic member of the complex and highly visible NAM team, a group responsible for managing >40% of the total premium within the IA Distribution channel (~$7B). This role plays a critical part in enabling sustained, profitable growth for some of our largest national partners by leading key strategic initiatives, supporting executive relationship management, and enabling operational excellence across personal and commercial lines.

The person in this role must thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment, and be willing to tackle both granular tasks as well as big-picture problem solving. As part of a scrappy, agile team, this person will often wear multiple hats and drive results by rolling up their sleeves as well as influencing stakeholders, ensuring alignment across functions, and elevating agency performance through both operational excellence and strategic thought leadership.

Responsibilities

At least 75% of time is spent on the following responsibilities:

1. Manages a portfolio of initiatives to include those considered complex in nature with function-wide and/or SBU-wide impact, related to National Agency Management (NAM) partners and/or across IA Distribution (e.g. strategically important, technical in nature, large budget, 12-month timeframe, etc).  Adeptly builds consensus and gains buy-in among stakeholders across the organization, and acts as the main point of contact/advocate/SME for NAM across IAD.
2. Manages the execution of national agency management practices, campaigns, and overall strategy to drive profitable premium growth. Develops strategies and drives execution of key initiatives to ensure effective national agency partnerships in order to attract, develop, and retain profitable business and manage agency performance through national and local execution.
3. Develops and executes upon strategies for enhanced Region & NAM collaboration, including in-person meeting facilitation, NAM Best Practices Team, NAM newsletters, etc. Partners with Regional SME’s (i.e. FOC’s, MC’s, ROM’s, etc.) to deepen Field engagement & collaboration.
4. Manages distribution of NAM communications through appropriate channels to ensure Field, Product, Underwriting, and aligned stakeholders have access to key information related to NAM models, initiatives, etc. Similarly, prepares and consolidates key organizational updates to ensure National Relationship Executives (NRE’s) are apprised of key initiatives, product changes, etc. Facilitates special handling as required for national partners as it relates to compensation programs, program roll-outs, campaign offerings, etc.
5. Manages execution of partner-level, model-level, and/or NAM-enterprise initiatives & analyses, which may include independent analytical research & data compilation. Builds and executes strategies to maximize profitable growth with our national partners. Ensures key business partners are consulted or informed to elevate NAM’s profile across the organization.
6. Supports NAM leadership in the development of partner-level, model-level, and/or NAM enterprise strategies, including opportunity identification, tactical planning, development, and results monitoring. Facilitates meaningful team meeting planning & execution, including annual USRM representation within CIAB conferences, Presidents Award, National Sales Meetings, internal team meetings, etc.
7. Manages national agency compensation strategy, including agency profit sharing, promotions and commissions, managing results vs. plan, etc. Works with IAD’s largest national groups to ensure Field alignment with national distribution organization and with cross-functional areas such as underwriting, USRM Product, and Insights & Solutions.
8. Provides mentoring to less experienced staff.
9. Leads model-specific and partner-specific initiatives in conjunction with NAM NREs to optimize agency footprint, including agency plant expansion, profitability deep dives, and targeted initiatives. Provides partner-facing/external support and engagement to our national partners as needed related to these initiatives.
10. Provides consultative advice, direction and support to the national leadership team on marketing programs and techniques, agency management practices, and agency automation to drive distribution execution & excellence.

• Expert-level ability in managing all aspects of the project management life cycle for multiple initiatives at one time to include those complex in nature
• Strong ability to adapt and address unique challenges in collaborative and creative ways
• Displays advanced communication, organizational, analytical, critical thinking, and team building skills as well as advanced presentation, influencing, and relationship management skills
• Advanced business operations knowledge to include understanding the function`s value chain and market conditions strongly preferred
• Competencies typically acquired through a Bachelor`s degree or equivalent experience
• Advanced degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience to include project management work
• Experience working in or with USRM IAD organization, as well as experience in Commercial Lines and Personal Lines, strongly preferred