Associate Manager, ABDS - National

About the Role

Associate Manager, ABDS, leads a national team responsible for driving Small Commercial growth and strengthening agency partnerships across assigned territories. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the ABDS function, ensuring consistent execution of business development objectives, production goals, and agency engagement strategies. The manager is accountable for team performance, talent development, and alignment with broader Business Development initiatives while serving as a key partner to underwriting, product, and distribution leaders. This individual will help shape the future direction of the ABDS program by driving innovation, standardization, and growth-focused execution across the organization. This position is based in Denver, CO and requires periodic travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage new business production plans and budgets, establishing retail growth targets aligned to agency call cycles and organizational objectives.
• Create and execute Small Commercial business development strategies that maximize the effectiveness, alignment, and impact of the ABDS team.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for employee and agency-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and positive business outcomes.
• Identify market opportunities, business challenges, and emerging trends; develop targeted marketing strategies, resources, and action plans to support growth initiatives.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, develop, and retain a high-performing team of 4–8 Associate Business Development Specialists through coaching, performance management, mentorship, and skills development.
• Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs), production results, and performance trends to drive accountability, continuous improvement, and achievement of business objectives.
• Represent Markel Specialty in the marketplace and at industry events, consistently demonstrating the Markel Style and strengthening relationships with agency partners and industry stakeholders.
• Partner closely with Business Development Directors, Product, Underwriting, and other cross-functional leaders to ensure consistent execution of business development strategies, metrics, processes, and systems across territories and regions.
• Drive adoption of best practices, operational efficiencies, and standardized approaches that enhance the effectiveness of the Business Development organization.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, engagement, and accountability while supporting the professional growth and development of team members.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of business development/marketing/underwriting experience working with Markel’s admitted agent population.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and leading people in a fast-paced sales environment.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills.
• First-hand understanding of team-based decision making.
• Strong relationship development and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of Property & Casualty underwriting and claims.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, deal with ambiguity, and adapt to change.
• Proven experience working effectively in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to travel when appropriate.
• US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Pay

The base salary offered for the successful candidate will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, geographic location, and other factors. The national average salary range for the Associate Manager, ABDS - National is $78,000 - $107,250 with 25% incentive.

Benefits

We offer competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees’ needs at all stages of life. All full-time employees have the option to select from multiple health, dental, and vision insurance plan options and optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance. We also offer a 401(k) with employer match contributions, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, PTO, corporate holidays and floating holidays, and parental leave.

About Markel

Markel Group (NYSE – MKL), a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world. Our values: We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better | We enjoy the everyday | We think further.