Commercial Lines Sales Manager
Field Leadership Opportunity
Territory Location Based in either Columbus, OH or Chicago, IL metro areas
Eligible for Variable Compensation Bonus Plan
Lead a Team. Grow a Region. Shape the Future.
At Utica National, strong agency partnerships and disciplined growth are at the core of our success. Were seeking a dynamic and strategic Commercial Lines Sales Manager to lead a team of Field Sales Representatives while driving profitable growth across an assigned region.
This role combines leadership, business development, sales execution, and agency management. Youll be responsible for translating corporate distribution strategies into actionable field plans, coaching and developing sales talent, strengthening agency relationships, and ensuring your region achieves growth, profitability, and retention objectives.
If youre an experienced insurance leader who enjoys developing people, influencing strategy, and driving results, wed love to hear from you.
What Youll Do
As Commercial Lines Sales Manager, you will:
Lead and Develop High-Performing Sales Talent
- Coach, mentor, and develop a team of Commercial Lines Field Sales Representatives.
- Establish clear expectations for performance, accountability, and professional growth.
- Conduct field visits, ride-alongs, agency meetings, and territory reviews to support development and execution.
- Recruit, onboard, and retain top sales talent aligned with Utica Nationals values and performance standards.
- Foster a culture focused on collaboration, growth, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Drive Territory Performance and Profitable Growth
- Lead execution of regional sales strategies designed to achieve profitable growth objectives.
- Monitor performance against key measures including premium growth, retention, profitability, and agency production.
- Guide agency segmentation and territory planning efforts to maximize market opportunities.
- Help sales representatives identify and capitalize on growth opportunities within existing and prospective agency relationships.
- Ensure field activities align with underwriting appetite, target markets, and strategic objectives.
Execute Distribution Strategy
- Translate corporate sales and distribution strategies into practical field execution plans.
- Drive consistent value proposition messaging across agency partners and prospective agencies.
- Support strategic growth initiatives, new programs, and market expansion efforts.
- Ensure sales efforts prioritize profitable growth rather than volume alone.
Manage Performance and Accountability
Monitor and analyze key regional performance indicators, including:
New business growth
Submission quality and pipeline activity
Hit ratios and close rates
Retention performance
Regional profitability
Agency production trends
Identify performance opportunities and implement action plans to improve results.
Hold team members accountable for activity standards, execution, and business outcomes.
Strengthen Agency Partnerships
- Provide executive-level engagement with key agency relationships and strategic accounts.
- Support the management of complex agency situations and high-impact business opportunities.
- Develop agency engagement strategies that increase loyalty, profitability, and share of wallet.
- Oversee agency incentive investments while maintaining expense discipline and budget accountability.
Collaborate Across the Business
- Partner closely with underwriting leadership, claims, operations, product teams, and specialty business units.
- Support alignment between field sales activity and underwriting discipline.
- Elevate opportunities and challenges impacting growth, service, and competitiveness.
- Help ensure a seamless experience for agency partners and policyholders.
Deliver Market Intelligence
Provide leadership with real-time insights on:
Competitive market activity
Pricing trends
Coverage and product opportunities
Agency sentiment
Emerging market risks
Use marketplace intelligence to help shape future business and distribution strategies.
What Makes You Successful
Were seeking a strong commercial insurance leader who combines business development expertise with a passion for coaching and team leadership.
You may be a great fit if you have:
- 7+ years of progressive property and casualty insurance experience, including leadership responsibilities.
- Experience leading sales, marketing, underwriting, agency management, or distribution teams.
- Strong knowledge of commercial insurance products, agency operations, and distribution strategies.
- Proven ability to drive profitable growth through agency partnerships and talent development.
- Experience managing performance through data, metrics, and business planning.
- Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Bachelors degree or equivalent business experience.
- Professional insurance designations such as CPCU, AU, INS, CIC, or a commitment to continued insurance education.
Why Utica National?
For more than a century, Utica National has earned a reputation for financial strength, exceptional service, and trusted agency partnerships. We are committed to developing leaders who make a meaningful impact while helping our employees grow both personally and professionally.
When you join our team, youll find:
- A collaborative and supportive leadership culture
- Opportunity to influence regional strategy and business performance
- Strong agency relationships and market presence
- Career growth and professional development opportunities
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits
- Performance-based incentive opportunities
Compensation
Commercial Lines Sales Manager
$155,000 - $195,300
This position is eligible for participation in the Companys Variable Compensation Bonus Plan.
Final compensation is determined based on experience, geographic location, education, professional designations, scope of responsibilities, and overall qualifications.
Benefits:
We believe strongly that talented people are core to our success and are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages, career advancement and challenging work opportunities. We offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan for full time employees that include the following:
- Medical and Prescription Drug Benefit
- Dental Benefit
- Vision Benefit
- Life Insurance and Disability Benefits
- 401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan (Includes annual Company financial contribution and discretionary Profit Sharing contribution based upon annual company financial results)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Tuition Assistance, Training, and Professional Designations
- Company-Paid Family Leave
- Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance Benefit
- Voluntary Benefits - Group Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Legal, ID Theft Protection, Pet Insurance
- Student Loan Refinancing Services
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Matching Gifts program
- Paid Volunteer Day
- Employee Referral Award Program
- Wellness programs
- Personal Insurance Discount
Additional Information:
This position is a full time salaried, exempt (non overtime eligible) position.
Utica National is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Apply now and find out what it's like to be a part of an amazing team, thrive in an exciting environment and work for a company you can be proud of. Once you complete your application, you can monitor your status in the hiring process by logging into your profile. A representative from our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch regarding any change in your candidacy.
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