Now Hiring - EquiTrust Life Insurance Company - Assistant Vice President, Sales in West Des Moines, IA

The Assistant Vice President, Sales leads, manages and directs the Regional Vice Presidents, Internal Wholesalers, and Sales Desk team with the ultimate goal of achieving company-wide strategic goals and business objectives. The Assistant Vice President will partner with senior leaders to execute on annual sales goals and deliverables and to create and execute business plans to achieve said goals. The Assistant Vice President, Sales acts as an advisor, coach and mentor to the team and carries out their duties and responsibilities in a manner that is consistent with EquiTrust’s Company Values of Integrity, Leadership, Accountability, Teamwork and Passion. As a senior leader within the organization, the Assistant Vice President, Sales works collaboratively across all departments to put plans, initiatives, processes, and systems in place to accomplish organizational objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leads a team of sales professionals, including but not limited to the following activities: makes recommendations and decisions for hiring, termination, promotion, and transfers, assessing and completing performance appraisals, responsibility/workload allocations and task completion, employee engagement, succession planning and talent development, problem identification and resolution and other day-to-day people management and leadership responsibilities.

• Provides leadership and management to the EquiTrust Sales team, which includes the Sales Desk, Internal Wholesalers and Regional Vice Presidents. Leads the team in maintaining and growing EquiTrust’s sales operations.
• Partners with senior leadership to develop and execute a sales strategy that will accelerate the overall growth and positioning of our organization in a competitive marketplace.
• Serves as the face of the EquiTrust Sales organization to promote and grow existing relationships with Independent Marketing Organizations (IMO’s), key customers, and leverage industry expertise to cultivate and build new strategic relationships.
• Works to strategically build, develop, and maintain the independent distribution channel and support through wholesaling efforts.
• Develops and owns the distribution compensation module which includes marketing organization compensation and bonus along with agent compensation and bonus with support from Vice President Sales and Marketing and Product Development team.
• Develops and executes sales initiatives and technology strategies aligned with corporate goals.
• Prepares budgets and revenue forecast with support from other teams.
• Responsible for the motivation, resource allocation, and achievement of the sales team to achieve sales targets established by the company.
• Monitors the competitor/competitive landscape for products and activities to provide suggestions to the Product Development team.
• Serves as the primary liaison and consultant to Administration, IT and Compliance functions in developing support structures and procedures for distribution of EquiTrust’s portfolio of products.
• Serves on company-wide committees and task forces as assigned.
• Works as Sales and Marketing team member to drive and stimulate the overall consumer & agent activity, as well as motivate and maintain IMO partnerships.
• Engages and partners with applicable stakeholder groups (Marketing, Product Development, Administration, etc.) to determine appropriate sales positioning and needs.
• Responds to and resolves requests according to EquiTrust policies in a prompt, efficient and courteous manner for external customers, departmental staff, and other EquiTrust personnel always.
• Supports the Sales and Marketing team and/or other departments on an as needed basis.
• Willingly takes on additional responsibilities as requested to accomplish department and Company objectives.
• Actively participates and contributes to the goals and objectives of the Company by working collaboratively and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced and in-depth knowledge and understanding of annuity market and competitive products.
• Advanced and in-depth knowledge of selling strategies and methods, as well as employee motivation techniques.
• Ability to learn and maintain knowledge of the company’s products, competitive position, and market.
• Advanced leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to demonstrate character, values and choices of the company leadership and follows the guidance from Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
• Intermediate to advance ability to think “outside the lines” through broad based industry experience in sales management, marketing, and operations.
• Advanced judgement and decision-making skills that drive accountable outcomes within inside/outside sales channels, distribution, and staff interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere and support accepted company practices and business guidelines.
• Possess and model the following behaviors:
  • Leadership
  • Trust
  • Integrity
  • Accountability for self and the sales organization
• Advanced leadership and collaboration skills. Ability to lead and influence with all areas of the team and Sales and Marketing organization.

Training and Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of sales experience in roles of increasing responsibility required.
• Minimum 2 years of external wholesaler experience required.
• Prior experience developing and successfully executing on sales plans and strategies required.
• Minimum 5 years of life or annuity industry experience required.
• Experience in leading and developing a team preferred.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Marketing preferred.
• Master’s in Business Administration preferred.

License(s) or Certifications:

• Maintain Life & Health Insurance License in resident state required.
• Continued professional development by attending or completing educational courses pertinent to the position required.

Working Conditions:

• On-Site Location: West Des Moines, Iowa.
• Business Travel: Frequent travel (more than 20% of the time).