Business Development Executive - Reinsurance (AVP or VP)

Descartes Underwriting•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

Descartes Underwriting is hiring a Business Development Executive to grow its reinsurance and retrocession business in the Americas. The role is designated AVP or VP depending on experience and reports to the SVP, Business Development – Reinsurance & Retrocession. The position focuses on originating and closing new reinsurance business, strengthening relationships with reinsurance brokers and cedents, and positioning Descartes’ parametric solutions within risk transfer programs. The role works closely with the SVP, the Americas business development team, and underwriting and modelling teams in the US and Paris. Regular travel is expected to meet with brokers, cedents, and partners. The successful candidate will bring reinsurance market credibility, technical knowledge of reinsurance structures and Nat Cat risk, and an entrepreneurial mindset suited to building a pipeline and winning business in a fast-growing company.

Requirements

At least five years of experience in reinsurance in a business development, broking, or underwriting capacity.
Proven track record of originating and closing reinsurance business with cedents and reinsurance brokers.
Strong understanding of treaty and facultative reinsurance structures and the renewal cycle.
Understanding of Nat Cat perils and catastrophe modelling concepts.
Established network among US reinsurance brokers, cedents, and reinsurers.
Consultative selling and negotiation skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder deals.
Strong analytical capabilities and financial acumen.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Nice To Haves

Experience with retrocession, ILS, or alternative risk transfer.
Expertise in the parametric risk space.
Experience in a scaling company, MGA, or insurtech environment.

Responsibilities

Originate, structure, and close new reinsurance and retrocession business, and secure renewals, in line with the sales plan.
Build and maintain a qualified pipeline across target cedents, segments, and perils; keep CRM records and forecasts up to date.
Lead deals through the full sales cycle, from prospecting and submission through negotiation and binding.
Contribute to reinsurance business planning and targets by identifying priority opportunities and markets.
Expand and deepen relationships with reinsurance brokers, cedents, and reinsurers across the Americas.
Promote Descartes’ parametric products as a complement to traditional indemnity reinsurance programs.
Represent Descartes at reinsurance renewals, industry meetings, and events, including occasional public speaking engagements.
Work with underwriting and modelling teams to translate cedent needs into tailored parametric structures and pricing.
Ensure submissions are complete and well-positioned, and that written business meets underwriting standards and guidelines.
Share broker and cedent feedback with product development to help expand the addressable market.
Monitor reinsurance market developments, renewal dynamics, and competitor activity; share insights with the SVP and wider team.
Collaborate with the Americas business development team and colleagues in other Hubs to pursue cross-channel and global opportunities.
Support knowledge sharing and, where relevant, mentor more junior team members.