Job Details

West Des Moines, IADescription

Marketing Strategy and Execution

Develop and execute a holistic marketing and communications strategy that aligns with the company’s growth objectives, business priorities, and brand promise.
Act as a thought partner to the President and other executives, providing insights and recommendations that influence business decisions and drive innovation.
Conduct and analyze surety market trends in relation to consumer trends, competitive positioning and new business development opportunities.
Work collaboratively with underwriting in leading where the company should have a presence and assesses investment decisions of new locations. Develops strategy to drive the organization to the future market positions and geographic locations.
Build relationships with key customers to identify issues and opportunities. Works with Underwriting to identify and develop potential new agency relationships.
Network with industry professionals to build relationships with key business resources, including SFAA, NASBP and Insurance Marketers of America.
Collaborate with Underwriting in creating metrics to measure the effectiveness and ROI of marketing and sales efforts. Utilizes robust reporting capability that can use customer, market and performance information for goal setting, planning and tracking of marketing efforts.
Lead research efforts with agency partners and customers to gather strategic feedback and insights.
Work closely with Underwriting to help the teams develop, implement and follow up on their production goals and plans. Consults with underwriters to personalize their marketing approach and materials to agents and agencies nationwide. Partners with Underwriters on marketing trips to increase their marketing capabilities and production.
Works closely with Underwriting to create effective incentive programs.
Identifies and leads appropriate sales training and contracts with vendors to customize content to be most relevant for underwriting staff.
Interviews Underwriter candidates and makes recommendations for hire. Works with underwriting department on on-boarding processes and educating new hires.

Brand Management and Marketing Direction

Design, plan, and execute effective marketing campaigns, programs, and key events.
Set and maintain standards for the company’s brand, ensuring all touchpoints reflect first-class experiences and the brand promise.
Oversee advertising strategies, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards in collaboration with Compliance.
Develop and maintain an inventory of marketing tools, including gift items, to enhance brand visibility and engagement.
Serve as a cultural steward for the organization, ensuring the marketing department exemplifies our values of trust, collaboration, and excellence

Communications

Lead public, industry, and media relations, serving as the company’s spokesperson as needed.
Develop and execute strategic plans for the company’s public website, social media presence, and content marketing strategies.
Champion Merchants’ reputation through risk mitigation, crisis communications, and business continuity strategies.
Advise on internal communications, including intranet updates, company announcements, and employee engagement initiatives.

Foundation Leadership

Serve as Vice President of Merchants Bonding Company Foundation. Cultivates quarterly communications for the Board reporting on activities of the Foundation.
Work closely with the COC in advising on annual initiatives. In conjunction with the Foundation’s Sr. Vice President, oversees mission and vision, and ensures the COC charter is being adhered to.
Assist in identifying what organizations, and activities align to Merchants Bonding Company Foundation’s mission and purpose and advises on organizations and initiatives to support. Assists in defining the approval process for reviewing outside organizations and programs the Company may be considering to support.
Assess and refine programs that support the foundation (e.g. Shining star, VTO, matching gift). Develops fresh approaches to current and new programs to keep the foundation flourishing and Associates’ engagement high.

Team Development and Leadership

Develop and track KPIs for marketing and communication plans and department. Leads, mentors, and inspires a team fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and professional growth.
Recruit, coach and evaluate marketing department staff. Coordinates workloads, Associates’ assignments and projects, and coordinates with other department leaders for additional internal resources.
Provide career paths and development for the team. Reward and recognizes team, and makes decisions on merit increases and promotion.
Collaborate with Underwriting to personalize marketing approaches and materials, providing ongoing sales and marketing training to enhance team effectiveness.
Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of Underwriting team members, ensuring alignment with company values and goals.
Oversee the identification and management of third-party marketing partners and vendors, negotiating contracts and evaluating the relationships.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications or related degree required. Plus 15+ years of progressive marketing and communications leadership experience. Marketing leadership role in insurance, financial services or B2B sectors preferred.

Proven track record of driving growth, managing brand evolution, and leading digital transformation.
Expertise in B2B marketing strategies, customer segmentation, lifecycle marketing, and channel management.
Strong understanding of modern martech platforms, CRM systems, and data analytics tools.
Strategic mindset with a hands-on approach to execution.

Competencies: Associate in this role will excel in Strategic Messaging, effectively communicating key initiatives and organizational goals to inspire and engage stakeholders. They will demonstrate Vision and Innovation, driving forward-thinking strategies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. With a strong emphasis on Cultivating Organizational Empathy, they will build inclusive environments that prioritize collaboration and employee well-being. The candidate will be instrumental in Creating Top Talent, implementing talent development strategies that attract, retain, and grow high-performing individuals. As a Change Leader, they will navigate complex transformations with agility and resilience. They will adeptly Balance Stakeholders, managing diverse perspectives to achieve alignment and business success. Lastly, they will bring Business Insight, leveraging data-driven decision-making and industry knowledge to contribute to the organization’s long-term growth and sustainability.

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Chief Marketing & Communications Officer