Senior District Sales Manager

Accountabilities: Recruit and develop independent agents: Identify, recruit, hire, train, and develop agents, helping them build the skills and capabilities needed to grow their businesses and serve customers effectively. Drive sales performance: Coach and motivate agents throughout the sales process, promote effective selling practices, and hold agency partners accountable for agreed performance goals and business outcomes. Manage agency performance and profitability: Work with agents to develop short- and long-term business plans, establish measurable objectives, and implement strategies that improve growth, profitability, and operational effectiveness. Oversee underwriting and compliance: Conduct individual performance reviews covering underwriting, re-underwriting, profitability, and compliance results. Identify areas for improvement and partner with agents on corrective action plans when necessary. Provide expert guidance and problem-solving support: Serve as a subject matter expert and knowledge resource for independent agents and their teams, helping them address sales, marketing, agency management, underwriting, and customer service challenges. Strengthen customer and policyholder relationships: Represent the organization professionally, support positive policyholder experiences, and help agents resolve complaints and service issues effectively. Act as a liaison between agents and internal teams: Communicate organizational updates, clarify policy and process changes, and coordinate solutions to sales, underwriting, and customer service concerns. Promote sales initiatives and best practices: Implement effective sales strategies, support promotional campaigns and sales contests, share proven practices, and help agents respond to changing market conditions. Represent the organization externally: Participate in community activities, industry events, and other professional engagements to strengthen relationships and maintain a positive market presence. Monitor industry developments: Maintain current knowledge of insurance industry trends, products, market opportunities, and emerging practices to provide relevant advice and support to agency partners. Collaborate on regional strategy: Work with branch leadership to assess agency results, identify performance trends, and prioritize initiatives that support regional business objectives. Maintain effective field operations: Manage a territory-based schedule that includes extensive local travel and occasional overnight stays, while maintaining reliable attendance and consistent communication with agents and internal stakeholders. Requirements Education: Bachelor’s degree required, or the equivalent of four years of experience in sales, underwriting, claims, or marketing. An MBA is preferred. Relevant experience: At least six years of experience in sales, underwriting, claims, or marketing, or four years of relevant experience combined with participation in a District Sales Manager training program. Insurance and agency knowledge: Understanding of insurance sales, underwriting, re-underwriting, profitability, agency operations, customer service, and independent agent relationships. Leadership and coaching: Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, mentor, and motivate professionals, manage performance, and help others achieve measurable business objectives. Sales and business planning: Strong commercial judgment and the ability to develop business plans, identify growth opportunities, influence sales behavior, and improve agency performance. Analytical and decision-making skills: Ability to evaluate business results, identify performance trends, assess risk, recommend corrective actions, and make sound decisions based on available information. Customer focus: Commitment to service excellence, strong policyholder relationships, and a customer-oriented approach to solving business problems. Communication and collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate changes, explain complex information, build trust, and collaborate effectively with agents, branch leaders, and internal teams. Adaptability and continuous learning: Willingness to learn, develop professionally, adopt effective practices, and respond constructively to changing business needs. Technical proficiency: Working knowledge of spreadsheet, word-processing, and email applications. Professional development requirements: Completion of required LOMA testing. Relevant industry designations, such as CIC, CPCU, or CLU, are preferred. Driving requirements: Valid driver's license and a good driving record. Territory residency: Must reside within the assigned territory unless an alternative arrangement is approved. The preferred location is Hornell, Corning, New York, or the surrounding areas. Travel availability: Willingness to undertake extensive local travel, including overnight stays, as required by the role. Physical requirements: Ability to perform regular driving and computer-based work, occasional lifting and moving of materials, and infrequent activities involving access to heights. Assistance equipment may be used when moving heavier items. Service mindset: Commitment to delivering excellent service, building trusted relationships, demonstrating accountability, and supporting an inclusive, collaborative working environment. Benefits Annual salary range: $93,127–$148,762, depending on the level of the position, responsibilities, experience, qualifications, location, and other relevant factors. Annual incentive opportunity: The position may be eligible for an annual bonus. Health insurance: Medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage for employees and eligible dependents, with coverage beginning on the first day of employment. Affordable healthcare contributions: The employer currently pays up to 97% of employees’ monthly medical and prescription premium costs. Retirement benefits: Traditional pension plan, with full-time employees generally becoming vested after five years of service. 401(k) plan: Retirement savings plan with an employer contribution match of up to 4%, in addition to the pension plan. Paid leave: Paid vacation, personal days, sick leave, bereavement leave, and parental leave. Insurance protection: Company-paid basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage. Additional family benefits: Orthodontic coverage for children and adults, adoption assistance, and fertility and infertility coverage. Well-being support: Programs designed to support employee health and overall well-being. Professional development: Tuition reimbursement for higher education and relevant professional industry designations. Community involvement: Paid volunteer hours and annual dollar-for-dollar matching of eligible charitable donations. Remote work arrangement: Work from home within the assigned territory. Field resources: Company-provided vehicle and equipment to support working from home and carrying out territory responsibilities.