Business Development Associate (Chicago)

Who is Cover Whale?

Cover Whale improves road safety by combining the insurance products we sell with our data-driven driver coaching and safety program. Our safety program is proven to save lives while delivering better insurance for our drivers. Cover Whale offers easy, industry-leading insurance for commercial auto and trucking, aiding struggling drivers facing rising costs.

Join us in the mission!

The Role

We are rapidly expanding and looking to build a dynamic team of Business Development professionals, and are looking for a Business Development Associate located in the Central Region (Chicago preferred)

Reporting to the Retail Distribution Lead, the Business Development Associate will support strategies aimed at increasing premium production in their region. This role involves managing smaller, established partners and newly onboarded partners, ensuring their successful integration and growth. The Associate will also develop strategies for these partner cohorts and provide key insights on their portfolio's makeup during quarterly reviews.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with underwriting, marketing, and development teams to develop, manage, and drive distribution and partner premium generation.
• Oversee a portfolio of emerging and lower-volume partners, with accountability for fostering relationships, identifying growth potential, and ensuring consistent performance.
• Provide pipeline support by researching target markets, potential partners, and competitive intelligence.
• Represent Cover Whale in meetings with distribution partners.
• Identify and execute opportunities to further engage with current partners.
• Establish, track, and report on KPIs while routinely meeting or exceeding goals.
• Assist in the constant improvement of business development, partner management, and onboarding processes.
• Drive a better brand image amongst our current trading partners and prospects with continuous outreach.
• Support event and field presence efforts within the assigned region, including preparing partner materials and assisting with logistics for retail-focused engagements.
• Monitor partner performance trends and flag opportunities or risks to the Business Development Manager or Leader.
• Maintain CRM accuracy by updating partner interactions, notes, and performance data promptly.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, or similar
• 3+ years in fast-paced project management or consulting roles, preferably in the insurance industry.
• Experience in onboarding and guiding new customers to realize and repeat value.
• Strong phone and video skills, maintaining professionalism under pressure.
• Ability to manage a portfolio with strong prioritization and multitasking.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, able to discuss technical and business topics seamlessly.
• Proven in communicating, presenting, and influencing at all organizational levels, including executives.

Benefits

At Cover Whale, we believe in transparent and equitable compensation practices. The expected base pay for this role has a range of $61,000 to $91,000. Final base pay is determined based on several factors, including skills and experience, and is aligned to state-specific zones. Base pay is only part of our total compensation package, which also includes:

• Annual discretionary bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) company match up to 4 %
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.

Cover Whale works to maintain the best possible environment for our employees, where individuals can learn and grow with the company. We strive to provide a collaborative environment where each person feels encouraged to contribute to their processes, decisions, planning, and culture.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.