Employee Benefits Sales Executive

Description
You spend more than half of your waking hours working. Make these precious, fleeting moments matter by working for an organization and a cause you can believe in.
Western Growers exists for one reason only: to ensure the future viability of its members - the hard-working, salt-of-the-earth farmers who grow the fruits, vegetables and tree nuts that feed our nation and nourish our bodies.
Our members depend on us to help them remain competitive and profitable as they face challenges that make it increasingly difficult and expensive to do business. Our goal is to fight for them- heart and soul -every single day. We passionately advocate, facilitate technological advancements and provide insurance for our members. We do all of this, and more, from a position of leadership in the agriculture industry. This mission requires a team of intelligent, inquisitive and innovative individuals connected for our common purpose.
The core company philosophy that strengthens our mission is that everything starts with people. Every employee of the organization has access to research-based training to encourage and support Outward Inclusion philosophy and our DEI initiatives. As an element of this training, employees are encouraged to recognize that there isn't a work life and a home life, there is one life. This recognition throughout the organization emphasizes the value of finding a healthy and happy balance in every employee's life. One way that is realized for employees of Western Growers is flexible work arrangements with work-from-home, in-office or hybrid options.
At Western Growers, we recognize and welcome the many qualities you can bring to the team.
Grow with us.
Our producers all enjoy a market-competitive incentive compensation program. Starting compensation depends on experience, historical performance and controlled revenue and ranges from $75,000 to $200,000.
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY
The Benefits Advisor (BA) reports to the Vice President, Employee Benefits for Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS). The Benefits Advisor is responsible for brokering Employee Benefit (EB) insurance products to a new or existing customer base. The Benefits Advisor is expected to partner with production, service, and resource professionals working towards expanding Western Growers Insurance Services (WGIS) group benefit offerings.
Qualifications

• BS/BA degree preferred and five (5) years of prior successful business to business new sales experience, required.
• Ability to receive the appropriate States' Department of Insurance license(s) within 60 days of hire.
• The appropriate States' Department of Insurance license(s).
• Advanced understanding of how insurance products are presented, described, financed, purchased, and delivered.
• Proven ability to influence company decision makers, ie. principals/owners, chief executives, chief financial officers, human resources management etc. to close the sale.
• Strong skills in end-user MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Salesforce, and other systems containing prospect and client information.
• Working knowledge of how organizations (e.g., employers, purchasing coalitions, etc.) purchase EB products and services.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills to communicate complex insurance concepts.
• Agriculture or related industry experience a plus.
• Ability to plan work strategically by locating and pursuing new business opportunities.
• Verifiable clean DMV record and the ability to travel to locations throughout the U.S. (mainly California and Arizona) up to 70% of the time.

Duties And Responsibilities
Sales

• Achieve the annual sales goals through effective planning, analyzing data on past performance, and projecting future performance.
• Prospect and assess client need to secure Employee Benefits Sales.
• Seek out new customers by developing opportunities through networking, cold calling, and seminars to generate "warm-leads" or prospects.
• Design competitive health-care coverage plans that provide employees with the features and options they want and are affordable for both the company and the employee.
• Manage the process of insurance companies placing bids to provide health care insurance for a company.
• Work with carriers and markets to determine the best product for the customer's interest/needs.
• Evaluate proposals and work with the client to make decisions.
• Interface regularly with Western Growers (WG) resources by providing accurate prospect information and to ascertain best customer rates and/or products.
• Lead presentations to C-level audiences.
• Meet minimum call, appointment, and presentation frequency expectations as outlined in annual goals.
• Establish and maintain long term networking relationships and centers of influence through active involvement and participation in business, social, community and political arenas, boards or activities.
• Understand, articulate, and own the Western Growers story and WGIS sales process.
• Cross-sell other WG products and services.

Client Retention

• Develop and maintain C-Suite and decision maker relationships within accounts.
• Provide proactive ongoing advice and consultation to clients.
• Educate clients on new issues and outcomes.
• Orchestrate strategic and tactical execution of account planning and development.
• Execute the WGIS renewal strategy to ensure retention goals are met.
• Expose client accounts to all WGIS offerings.

Communication & Reporting

• Listen carefully, deliver articulate responses, and follow up to ensure understanding by both internal and external parties.
• Demonstrate superior communication skills.
• Consistently produce clear, concise and professional emails/written documents.
• Demonstrate clarity and diplomacy in challenging and highly complex communication situations.
• Transmit marketing and sales intelligence relating to competition and changes in the marketplace.
• Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and business roles for utilizing the relationship management systems.
• Maintain awareness of competitive activities and opportunities.

Other

• Utilize all capabilities to satisfy one mission - to enhance the competitiveness and profitability of our members. Do everything possible to help members succeed by being curious and striving to understand what others are trying to achieve, planning, and executing work helpfully and collaboratively. Be willing to adjust efforts to ensure that work and attitude are helpful to others, being self-accountable, creating a positive impact, and being diligent in delivering results.
• Maintain a valid Life and Health License for the appropriate state.
• Maintain a clean DMV record and the ability to travel to locations throughout the U.S. (mainly California and Arizona) up to 70% of the time.
• All other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands/Work Environment
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate with others. The employee frequently is required to travel to both indoor and outdoor areas that can vary in exposure and temperature. The employee is frequently required to operate a motor vehicle, use objects, tools, or controls, and/or required to lift up to 50lbs. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Western Growers has made every effort to provide a reasonable pay range for this commission-based position; however, the pay range for any commission-based position can be impacted by various unknown factors that are out of our control, such as individual initiative, fluctuation in the insurance market and viability/availability of individual account(s),