Business Development Associate

SUMMARY

Responsible for developing and managing a strong sales pipeline of new leads to achieve sales initiatives and targets. Identifies and helps develop strategic relationships with producers and/or prospects. Researches, qualifies and tracks current and future business opportunities. Collaborates with producers to implement strategic business development initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Responsible for driving sales growth and building a consistently managed pipeline for Producers, ensuring producers’ top tier prospects are effectively engaged through a collaborative, strategic process.
•    Collaborate with producers to create and implement creative strategies to develop a strong pipeline of new leads through direct or indirect contact, prospecting, and cultivation or nurturing of existing relationships.
•    Tracks prospects and engagement outcomes in Client Relationship Management system; maintains disposition of each prospect as either being moved forward in the sales pipeline to a close, or qualified out/lost.
•    Generates new business opportunities for Producers by qualifying leads and prospecting - making cold calls, sending emails, and leveraging social media strategies (i.e. Linked-in, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and leading targeted/strategic discovery calls with prospective buyers and booking new business appointments.
•    Promotes and acts as subject matter expert of Alliant’s Employee Benefits practice service offerings and industry thought leadership.
•    Engages prospects with Alliant’s Employee Benefits Practice through our toolkit such as: First/Diligence, Difference Card/Gap Card, Pharmacy Practice, M&A Practice, Private Equity Practice, Differentiate/Highlight to demonstrate Alliant’s Employee Benefits value proposition and capabilities.
•    Researches key market competitors and their product portfolios to ensure competitiveness.
•    Complies with agency management system data standards and data integrity (enters and maintains complete and accurate information).
•    Achieves annual sales goals and provides regular feedback to the sales manager on progress toward those goals;
•    Maintains a professional demeanor and actively supports and promotes a positive public image for the agency;
•    Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
Four (4) or more years of related work experience with life and health insurance policy administration
Insurance industry experience preferred
Valid insurance license.
Must continue to meet Continuing Education requirements for license renewal

SKILLS

Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent planning, organizational and prioritization skills 
Strong organizational and analytical skills
Strong leadership ability
Advance influencing skills
Ability to work within a team and to foster teamwork 
Proficient in Microsoft Office products