Agency Ownership Development Strategist - Naperville, IL

Job Summary This unique position is built for licensed insurance professionals who want to build on existing sales and leadership experience to develop and implement skills essential for eventually running their own business. Successful candidates will be budding entrepreneurs who want an opportunity to learn processes and leverage technology that can help them take advantage of future opportunities to build a successful business of their own, while having the opportunity to make strategic decisions from day one on various aspects of insurance industry sales, operational and planning processes. To inform and refine business development strategies, the employee will leverage their experience to uncover customer needs, offer tailored insurance solutions, and close sales across multiple lines of businesses. Employees in this role can select and develop their own professional development paths, lead sources, lines of business focus, sales approaches, customer engagement strategies, and business operation and growth plans. Like the future business owners they aspire to be, these employees will need to balance the demands of direct and field marketing, centers of influence development, rapport building, and technical policy analysis with strategic and operational business planning. To succeed in this role, an employee must exercise independent judgment with respect to determining business development priorities, selecting growth strategies, allocating marketing resources, networking with external centers of influence, evaluating resources and systems, and developing operational plans that materially impact revenue growth, customer acquisition, and long term portfolio performance. Essential Job Functions Develops and executes an individualized business development strategy to achieve revenue, growth, and portfolio objectives aligned with organizational goals. Evaluates available lead sources, develops additional lead sources through external centers of influence and business networking groups, assesses market opportunities, identifies target customer segments and determines how to prioritize time, follow-up efforts, and outreach strategies. Actively contacts prospects to establish rapport, uncover coverage needs through probing questions, and convert quotes into active policies. Sells and cross-sells insurance products, including auto, home, life, specialty and/or commercial policies. Conducts thorough discovery and customer coverage reviews to understand customer needs and offer applicable coverages and limits based on underwriting guidelines. Assesses risk exposures and long-term insurance requirements. Provides customers with strategic insurance insights and service support, including responding to written and telephone inquiries and resolving routine and complex service requests through collaboration with appropriate personnel. Establishes daily, weekly, and monthly activity strategies based on market opportunity and business strategy analysis. Identifies target customer segments and tailors prospecting and sales approaches accordingly. Expands relationships with target customers, referral contacts, and other stakeholders. Determines how to independently manage time and how to build and manage an individual book of business. Completes professional development milestones that include assigned and self-selected activities to customize their own development path, obtains a Life and Health license (if not already in place), stays current on product knowledge and industry trends through internal training and external seminars to build advanced subject matter knowledge. Achieves program production, strategy and development requirements within required timeframes. Maintains accurate records in tracking systems to enable reporting and performance analysis. Performs other duties as assigned. Physical Actions Job is performed in-person at a Farmers office or virtually at an approved alternative work location. The physical work environment is indoors and climate-controlled with adequate lighting and ventilation. Normal and customary distractions include background noise produced by office equipment and chatter among people, as well as interruptions. Frequently sits for prolonged periods of time, up to a full shift. Occasionally moves about the workplace including, navigating stairs, ramps, and level or uneven surfaces. Occasionally moves, pushes, pulls, lifts, carries, and/or places objects or materials weighing up to 25 pounds without assistance. Frequently uses shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers to manipulate equipment, tools, and objects necessary to perform job duties. Frequently performs fine motor tasks such as typing, mousing, or writing, up to a full shift. Rarely performs movements such as bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, twisting, and reaching overhead or below the knees. Possesses clear vision, with or without correction, to visually read and verify information. Relies on depth perception and peripheral vision to navigate the work environment visually by identifying barriers, changes in terrain and locating objects. Possesses adequate hearing, with or without correction, to communicate with co‑workers, respond promptly to auditory signals or alarms, and discern sounds essential for maintaining safety and productivity in the workplace. Jobs in this category require rare, if any, travel. Education Requirements High School Diploma or equivalent required. Property and Casualty license required upon hire. Life and Health license upon hire preferred. Experience Requirements Minimum one year of sales and customer experience required. Additional Qualification Strong verbal communication and listening skills. Possesses strong technical aptitude. Self‑motivated with a proactive, results‑driven mindset and positive attitude. Compensation Salary commensurate with experience, qualifications and location. CA Only: $70,304 - $80,300 CO Only: $57,784 - $69,630 HI/IL/MN/VT Only: $44,625 - $74,250 MA Only: $44,625 - $74,250 Medical Vision Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts Equal Opportunity Employer Farmers is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in any employer/employee relations based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military and veteran's status, or any other basis protected by applicable discrimination laws. Legal Notice Farmers will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance or other applicable law. Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1033, Farmers is prohibited from employing any individual who has been convicted of any criminal felony involving dishonesty or a breach of trust without prior written consent from the state Department of Insurance. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. #J-18808-Ljbffr