Commercial Lines National Sales Agent - Direct Distribution

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Join our team and take advantage of our comprehensive 12-week training program, beginning on March 17th, 2025, designed to prepare you for your new sales role. You’ll follow a structured training schedule from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. After training, your permanent hours will fall anytime during the time frame of 8am-8pm EST, Monday-Friday (no Saturday's!). This position offers a base salary starting at $43,500, plus uncapped commission, and is fully remote. Embrace the opportunity to become part of the Nationwide family!

The ideal candidate will have the following skillset:

• Proficiency in sales techniques, with experience in selling commercial line insurance products.

• Strong ability to educate clients on insurance needs, perform risk assessments, and provide tailored solutions.

• Excellent verbal and interpersonal skills to effectively communicate and influence prospective customers.

• Competent in using insurance processing systems, rating plans, and personal computer hardware/software in a WINDOWS environment.

• Property & Casualty license is strongly preferred.

Compensation Band: E.SD45

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Job Description Summary

Whether working to sell new or retain existing business, we are customer-focused, positive, persistent and tenacious. Our products are designed to protect our customers, and we know that insurance coverage has the potential to make their worst day better. If you are technologically savvy, can connect and communicate in a fast-paced environment and adapt easily to changes, we want to know more about you!

As a National Sales Agent, you'll be responsible for the sale and retention of commercial line insurance through phone or internet contact with prospective customers in multiple states. We'll count on you to provide counseling on insurance needs and product availability, provide quotes, determine eligibility, and bind coverage after collecting all related underwriting data and information. You'll be trained in writing business property, business liability, worker's comp, business auto, commercial umbrella insurance and bonds.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Receives incoming calls/emails from commercial lines insurance prospects and uses multiple internal and external resources to consult with and educate clients about coverage needs by performing: front-end underwriting, risk assessment, financial analysis, and loss runs analysis in order to sell insurance. Offers additional Nationwide Insurance products to provide all applicable discounts and assist with future retention efforts. Makes follow-up calls and works to close the sale.

• Researches and prospects commercial insurance potential customers through the use of internal (telephone calls or internet leads) or external (outbound calls) leads. Solicits potential customers who did not purchase during initial inquiry to overcome objections and complete the sale.

• Writes quality risk policies based on underwriting requirements; makes decisions by interpreting and using appropriate classification systems, rating plans, tiers, and selection standards; utilizes training and sales techniques to close the sale.

• Answers questions, provides explanations and makes recommendations to applicants about appropriate coverage for commercial policies, limits, deductibles; considers customer needs as well as company guidelines. Determines and enters rating information into systems; provides quotation and binds coverage within prescribed limits.

• Completes necessary applications and forms; issues conditional contact/binder within authority. Follows up for necessary documents and collects payments to finalize sales. Educates customers on payment and audit process. Uses opportunities to refer personal lines opportunities.

• Ensures retention of commercial line accounts for the policy’s first renewal; maintains accountability for the policies written at least one year after the issuance date. Contacts customers with pending cancellations to collect payments to avoid lapses in coverage. Works with customers and retention team underwriters to ensure policyholder needs are being met. Follows up with customers to ensure policy adapts to customers’ businesses.

• Provides ongoing customer service and sales support. Services policies of members, including sending additional certificates, cross-selling additional products and amending policies. 

• Helps achieve the team's current quotas/goals by meeting individual quotas/goals.

• Maintains current understanding and proficiency in sales techniques and product offerings, keeps up-to-date with market conditions and competitors, and system improvements. Cross-trains on other products and lines of business.

• Makes outbound calls to retain current business. 

• Forwards potential customers to other Nationwide channels as appropriate.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to the Direct Sales Supervisor. No direct or indirect reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education: High school diploma or equivalent; undergraduate studies preferred. Prefer participation in professional insurance coursework.

License/Certification/Designation: State licensing as required for property/casualty products. Continuing education as required by state(s). Associates must acquire the required state licenses within the time period designated by the business unit. If an associate fails to obtain required licenses/registrations within the designated time period, the associate will be ineligible to continue in the position.

Experience: Three or more years of related work experience in sales and insurance. Prefer exposure to multiple product property/casualty insurance consultation. Previous insurance industry experience may be considered in leu of sales experience.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Advanced knowledge of sales techniques, property/casualty commercial insurance products, insurance processing systems and procedures, practices, state regulations and customer service practices. Possesses strong verbal and interpersonal skills to communicate technical insurance information to prospective customers and influence prospective customers to select Nationwide products. Ability to operate personal computer and related business software.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility: Nonexempt (Eligible)

Working Conditions: Requires the ability and availability to work in a call center environment including extended periods of sitting at a personal computer, use of a headset, non-standard work hours/shifts in a 24/7 environment including shifts, weekends and overtime as assigned. 

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities within this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 01/28/2025. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.
For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdfNationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range.The national salary range for Commercial Lines National Sales Agent - Direct Distribution : $42,315.00-$67,500.00The expected starting salary range for Commercial Lines National Sales Agent - Direct Distribution : $42,315.00 - $54,000.00