Business Development Vice President, American Equity

At American Equity we offer leading annuity products that help empower our clients to fulfill their needs and wants in retirement. Our success comes from hiring high-energy individuals who embody the beliefs that drive our unique culture. We currently fund over half a million retirements nationwide, and have been headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, for over twenty-five years with satellite offices in Charlotte, NC and New York, NY.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:    

The BDVP is responsible for driving sales from inactive producers located all over the country. This includes accountability for working closely with their assigned Internal Wholesaler to leverage appropriate business plans to maximize sales and meet or exceed sales goals.  The BDVP works with agents and Independent Marketing Organizations to educate them on our products, support their business initiatives, and enhance our brand visibility; as well as monitors competitors’ marketing strategies and performance.   

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops and maintains relationships with new sales agents with the goal to create and enhance producer loyalty.
• Functions as the leader of the mission to gain new producers and manages resources accordingly and effectively.
• Consistently expands the producer base by engaging both new and lost producers.
• Increase sales through field activity such as face-to-face meetings, training meetings, point-of-sales, and American Equity hosted events.
• Prospects consistently uses an outcomes-based sales process, and maintains sales velocity.
• Identifies and executes opportunities to use American Equity product line & strategies to help agents and marketing firms grow their business.
• Leverages internal and external networks to achieve organizational goals, share information, offer advice, maintain competitive advantage or provide benchmarking.
• Applies product expertise to efficiently win and effectively execute opportunities.
• Manages time and productivity, creates operating efficiencies, and leverages existing systems.
• Addresses issues from agents and IMO marketers, working with internal partners to deescalate and resolve issues.
• Researches the market, identifies the competition and determines optimal strategies and approaches to maintain/expand business and market share. Shares and discusses ideas with manager; finalizes and implements action plans.
• Receives and makes inbound/outbound calls to distribution partners and prospects to increase sales and maintain customer base by applying outstanding customer service standards.
• Manages own travel planning, with help from the Internal Wholesaler
• Prepares and submits a variety of reports to Head of National Sales on plans, outcomes, trends and expenses.
• Corresponds with distribution partners through letters, calls, and emails.
• Manages training of distribution partners that are currently inactive.
• Regularly travels to various events which may include public speaking appearances.
• Performs other related work as assigned. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Direct Reports: 0 

General Description of Indirect Reports (2 and 3-downs):  0 

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:   

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or other related field of study; plus a minimum of six (5) years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Experience working in the life insurance industry.
• Experience as an Internal Wholesaler or sales within a territory
• Prior experience with traveling upwards of 25%

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and be insurable.
• Life Insurance License is required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  

• Goal and achievement oriented; highly motivated to succeed.
• Outstanding customer service orientation.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.
• Ability to effectively build and maintain relationships.
• Effective negotiation skills.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with ability to effectively prioritize and multitask.
• Math skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills with ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw accurate conclusions on complex problems in a timely manner.
• Ability to work cooperatively and successfully with employees, customers, and other outside third parties.
• Ability to successfully handle pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents from regulatory agencies, and other members of the business community.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel 60% to 80% of the time.