National Partners Distribution Lead (New York, Hybrid)

Who is Cover Whale?

Cover Whale is the nation’s leading commercial trucking insurtech. We improve road safety by combining the insurance products we sell with our telematics-based, data-driven driver coaching and safety program known as DriveSmart. Our program is proven to save lives while delivering better insurance for our drivers. For more information, please visit www.coverwhale.com.  Join us in the mission!

The Role:

Location: New York, NY (Hybrid)

The National Partners Distribution Lead (NPDL) will develop and execute strategies to drive premium growth through Cover Whale’s largest distribution partners—top-tier brokerages and agencies such as Gallagher, HUB, USI, and Lockton. This includes identifying key transportation-writing offices, understanding competitor access, and mapping decision-makers to build strong relationships from the ground up.

The role will oversee a Business Development Associate (BDA) and collaborate closely on performance tracking, data analysis, and execution of both strategic and tactical engagement plans. The NPDL will spend 30–40% of their time traveling to meet partner leadership and key offices nationwide to strengthen relationships and uncover long-term growth opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Drive growth and profitability with assigned national strategic partners, ensuring alignment with Cover Whale’s goals.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships and expand into new markets or geographies.
• Lead performance reviews, analyzing premium production, submission quality, and partner effectiveness.
• Collaborate with underwriting, marketing, and product teams to deliver partner-specific initiatives.
• Supervise and develop the National Partners BDA, providing guidance, feedback, and growth opportunities.
• Represent Cover Whale at industry and partner events, building brand visibility and strategic relationships.
• Track KPIs and monitor partner performance to ensure accountability and achieve growth objectives.
• Stay ahead of market trends, competitive activity, and shifts in the large-broker/aggregator space.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in commercial insurance with a strong track record in retail distribution channels.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus 6–8 years of business development, account management, or sales leadership experience.
• 2+ years of experience at a carrier, wholesaler, or MGA preferred.
• Proven ability to drive significant revenue growth through distribution partners, consistently meeting or exceeding premium targets.
• Experience developing and managing high-value retail and wholesale commercial lines brokers/agents, MGAs, MGUs, or other strategic partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor business development teams, balancing tactical execution with strategic growth.
• Skilled in prospecting, negotiating, and managing complex partner relationships.
• Strong understanding of insurance financials, market dynamics, and partner economics.
• Exceptional business acumen, leadership, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to gain buy-in across stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable representing the company at industry events and executive meetings.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities, market shifts, and competitive landscapes.

Benefits

At Cover Whale, we believe in transparent and equitable compensation practices. The expected base pay for this role has a range of $107,000 to $155,000. Final base pay is determined based on several factors, including skills, experience, and geographic location. 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.