Head of Business Development

Title:  Head of Business Development – Spinnaker

Location: Bedminster, NJ / Austin, TX / Dallas, TX 

Reporting to: CEO - Spinnaker 

About Spinnaker:

Spinnaker is a national property and casualty insurance company rated A- VIII by A.M., that is a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Hippo Insurance. With the capability to offer admitted and surplus lines insurance products in 50 states and jurisdictions, Spinnaker partners with program administrators and managing general agents to offer strategic insurance solutions. We target innovative product market leaders across both personal and commercial lines, specialty lines, and traditional and non-standard fronting opportunities.

About the Role:

Spinnaker is looking for a Head of Business Development to lead all aspects of business development, revenue growth and new partnerships for the company. This leadership position will be a member of the senior leadership team at Spinnaker and will be accountable for growing top line premium at the company and play an integral role in running the company. The primary objective of the role is to identify, evaluate, and pursue new business opportunities, to build strong relationships with prospects, clients, and brokers, and to contribute to the overall success, growth, and profitability of the organization.

In this role you will be responsible for setting annual targets and goals which will include strategies and tactics for premium growth and profitability, advising the CEO on company strategy, and partnering across the executive team on all aspects of running the company. Externally, you will act as Spinnakers primary interface and partner to the program insurance market helping to build our brand offering.

About You:

You have deep insurance industry experience and have broad business development and/or underwriting expertise across personal and commercial lines and might have worked as an insurance broker. You have a wide set of industry contacts that you can leverage to solicit new program opportunities. You are both strategic and hands-on and willing to roll up your sleeves with a strong sense of ownership and a focus on impactful results.

What You’ll Do:

Business Development:

• Identify and target potential clients and market segments for program insurance products
• Develop and implement strategies to generate new program leads and opportunities
  Conduct market research/analysis to identify trends, competitive landscape, and growth areas
• Attend industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to promote the organization, build relationships with MGA’s and Brokers and select and attract new program opportunities
• Build and manage the Spinnaker Business Development process and integrate the process seamlessly with the underwriting process to ensure smooth onboarding of new programs

Broker Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, fostering a collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership
• Act as a point of contact for brokers, addressing inquiries, providing support, and identifying new program opportunities
• Understand brokers’ needs and requirements and propose tailored program insurance solutions to their clients / prospect
• Conduct regular meetings and reviews with brokers to ensure their satisfaction to identify opportunities for business growth

Broker Network Expansion:

• Identify and target potential brokers for partnership and inclusion in the organization’s network for business development process
• Develop and implement strategies to attract and onboard new brokers, ensuring alignment with the organization’s values and goals
• Conduct due diligence on potential brokers, evaluating their expertise, capabilities, and reputation

Leadership:

• As a senior member of the Spinnaker leadership team, you will provide guidance, counsel and support to the CEO, the leadership team, and the organization at-large
• You will be an integral part of running the company and will contribute to strategic planning, goal setting and the daily operations of the company as needed

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Collaborate with internal teams, including underwriting, claims, and operations, to ensure seamless delivery of program insurance products and services to brokers and their clients
• Collaborate closely with the underwriting team to assess risks and develop pricing strategies for broker-led business
• Provide feedback and insights from brokers to help shape product development and enhancements
  Collaborate with the claims team to ensure efficient and effective claims setup for broker-led business

Onboarding New Programs:

• Serve as a co-manager for onboarding new program insurance initiatives alongside the Underwriting department
• Collaborate with internal teams, including underwriting, claims, finance, and operations, to ensure a smooth and efficient onboarding process
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and deliverables for each new program
• Coordinate and communicate with all stakeholders involved in the onboarding process, ensuring clear expectations and timely execution
• Monitor progress, identify, and mitigate risks, and address any issues or roadblocks that may arise during the onboarding process

Training, Support and Marketing Materials:

• Provide training and support as necessary to the clients on program insurance products, coverages, and Spinnaker underwriting guidelines
• Collaborate with the underwriting team to develop broker-focused materials, such as sales presentations and marketing materials
• Act as a resource for brokers, addressing their questions, concerns, and providing guidance on program insurance opportunities including Spinnaker Underwriting Appetite

Must Haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or related field. MBA preferred
• A minimum of 10 years of Property and Casualty Insurance experience in a leadership role as a broker, in underwriting and/or product management
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in business development within the insurance industry, preferably in program insurance
• Experience across personal and commercial lines as well as admitted and E&S business
• Strong knowledge of program insurance products, coverages, and underwriting principles
• Proven record of generating new business and achieving sales targets
• Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and brokers
• Strong negotiation and presentation skills
• Analytical mindset with the ability to analyze market data and identify business opportunities
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with the ability to work independently

Benefits and Perks:

Hippo treats its team members with the same level of dedication and care as we do our customers, which is why we’re fortunate to provide all of our Hippos with:

• Healthy Hippos Benefits – Multiple medical plans to choose from and 100% employer covered dental & vision plans for our team members and their families. We also offer a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Equity -This position is eligible for equity compensation 
• Training and Career Growth – Training and internal career growth opportunities
• Flexible Time Off - You know when and how you should recharge
• Little Hippos Program - We offer 12 weeks of parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers

Hippo is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Hippo’s applicants are considered solely based on their qualifications, without regard to an applicant’s disability or need for accommodation. Any Hippo applicant who requires reasonable accommodations during the application process should contact the Hippo’s People Team to make the need for an accommodation known