Independent Agent Development Specialist

Auto Club Group • Portage, MI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Auto Club Group is seeking prospective IA Development Specialist who can serve as a business consultant and partner by providing tactical and strategic support to Independent Agents (IA) in the assigned geography Operate as a subject matter expert by becoming well versed on all components of the Connected Member Vision and product/sales knowledge. Assist assigned IAs in the development and implementation of agency business goals. Own and be accountable for agency success/retention and agent productivity and growth goals. Support the acquisition of profitable new business, influencing and motivating agents, driving growth, providing business insight and recommendations, ensuring agent and business retention, compliance, and reporting. Build trust and maintain strong relationships with assigned IAs and internal and external business partners. Source and refer local IA candidates to centralized recruiting. Participate in the interview and selection processes. Successfully complete installation and on-boarding processes when opening and establishing new agencies. Assist new agencies with critical business development activities post launch. Collaborate with centralized training and IA support teams to ensure that agents are trained and aware of all operations, systems and marketing processes and requirements. Participate in training assessment and the development and disbursement of product/marketing/service information. Evaluate effectiveness of training programs. Validate awareness and deep understanding of the full array of ACG product offerings. Provide additional training and consulting as necessary. Communicate potential sales incentive programs, compensation outcomes, as well as contractual bonus opportunities. Monitor agency business activities and prepare reports to summarize data. Conduct site visits, cash flow analysis and needs assessments/diagnostics to track progress, recognize best-in-class point-of-sale behavior, understand current IA segment and identify issues and opportunities for improvements. Research and analyze sales markets. Work with IA to create cultivation plans and means to address issues. Consult with IA making strategic/tactical recommendations as appropriate. Ensure adherence to corporate policies, practice and state regulations by auditing agent activity. Advise leadership on agent progress and report on non-compliant activity. When necessary, recommend and activate probationary processes or recommendations for termination. Complete accurate written call notes for all calls completed. Support various product and membership promotional campaigns to ensure meeting sales goals. Initiate, develop, execute and monitor projects. Provide updates to management. Collaborate with peers to guarantee the utilization of uniform, highly efficient processes across the corporate footprint

Requirements

• Possession of a valid State Driver’s License
• Currently hold or able to attain and maintain appropriate State Property & Casualty licenses within timeframe designated by ACG leadership
• May be required to attain appropriate State Life Sales licenses within timeframe designated by ACG leadership
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Two years of experience in insurance sales leadership and/or agent development to include coaching, mentoring, challenging and enabling others to successfully meet goals
• Experience to include some or all the following: Motivating growth or rehabilitation of existing agency, Developing plans to increase growth, Building business relationships within a sales environment, Demonstrating strong organizational, planning, time management and administrative skills, Gathering, researching and analyzing data and making recommendations, Conducting needs assessments and process improvement reviews, Writing business plans/proposals, Preparing reports and presentations and recommendations to all levels of management, Modeling and monitoring financial projections for region, Operating PC software applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.)
• In-depth Knowledge of: Best-in-class techniques used to: Influence and persuade others, Develop and coach others, Motivate and reward a successful sales team, Insurance products, services & regulations, Sales techniques and delivery systems, Independent contractor distribution channels, Techniques used to coordinate and control major projects, Comparative raters and management systems, Business drivers, marketing concepts, managing P&L, operational processes (i.e., in-bound/out-bound call strategy) and compensation plan design
• Ability to: Influence, persuade and motivate non-employee agents, Identify agent strengths, weaknesses and model skills needed to facilitate agency rehabilitation in various areas including product knowledge, prospecting, professionalism, closing techniques, etc., Create and interpret sales models, results and return on investment reporting, Demonstrate creativity and innovation in developing business, marketing and sales plans to meet the unique needs of assigned locations, Demonstrate effective leadership/coaching skills to include motivating and influencing captive and/or non-captive agents and staff, Possess written communication skills including the preparation of proposals, reports and technical writing
• Willingness and ability to extensively travel
• Willingness to relocate

Responsibilities

• Serve as a business consultant and partner by providing tactical and strategic support to Independent Agents (IA) in the assigned geography
• Operate as a subject matter expert by becoming well versed on all components of the Connected Member Vision and product/sales knowledge.
• Assist assigned IAs in the development and implementation of agency business goals.
• Own and be accountable for agency success/retention and agent productivity and growth goals.
• Support the acquisition of profitable new business, influencing and motivating agents, driving growth, providing business insight and recommendations, ensuring agent and business retention, compliance, and reporting.
• Build trust and maintain strong relationships with assigned IAs and internal and external business partners.
• Source and refer local IA candidates to centralized recruiting. Participate in the interview and selection processes.
• Successfully complete installation and on-boarding processes when opening and establishing new agencies. Assist new agencies with critical business development activities post launch.
• Collaborate with centralized training and IA support teams to ensure that agents are trained and aware of all operations, systems and marketing processes and requirements.
• Participate in training assessment and the development and disbursement of product/marketing/service information. Evaluate effectiveness of training programs. Validate awareness and deep understanding of the full array of ACG product offerings. Provide additional training and consulting as necessary.
• Communicate potential sales incentive programs, compensation outcomes, as well as contractual bonus opportunities.
• Monitor agency business activities and prepare reports to summarize data.
• Conduct site visits, cash flow analysis and needs assessments/diagnostics to track progress, recognize best-in-class point-of-sale behavior, understand current IA segment and identify issues and opportunities for improvements.
• Research and analyze sales markets. Work with IA to create cultivation plans and means to address issues. Consult with IA making strategic/tactical recommendations as appropriate.
• Ensure adherence to corporate policies, practice and state regulations by auditing agent activity. Advise leadership on agent progress and report on non-compliant activity. When necessary, recommend and activate probationary processes or recommendations for termination.
• Complete accurate written call notes for all calls completed.
• Support various product and membership promotional campaigns to ensure meeting sales goals. Initiate, develop, execute and monitor projects. Provide updates to management. Collaborate with peers to guarantee the utilization of uniform, highly efficient processes across the corporate footprint

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• 401k Match
• Paid parental leave and adoption assistance
• Paid Time Off (PTO), company paid holidays, CEO days, and floating holidays
• Paid volunteer day annually
• Tuition assistance program, professional certification reimbursement program and other professional development opportunities
• AAA Membership Discounts, perks, and rewards and much more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees