Senior Manager, Business Development

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Senior Manager, Business Development
Palo Alto / Hybrid
About Us
We saw a problem within the life insurance industry: getting covered took too long, involved too much paperwork, and required too many in-person meetings with sales agents. Having lost his father at a young age, our CEO, Jamie, was determined to make it easier for people to get the coverage they needed to provide for their families. So, we got to work. We developed a method of real-time underwriting leveraging AI and, in doing so, reduced the months-long process of applying for life insurance to minutes. Our digital experience is quick (instant decisions), loved by users (check out our Trustpilot or Google reviews) and prolific ($82 billion+ in coverage provided).

About The Role
Ladder's Business Development team is hiring a Senior Manager, Business Development to lead growth across our insurance and benefits distribution partnerships ("BINs") vertical. This role is responsible for sourcing and closing new enterprise-level partnerships—including P&C carriers, large agencies, and benefits or health platforms—while also leading the team focused on partner management and growth of new and existing partners.

You'll be a key player in expanding Ladder's footprint in insurance distribution, bringing Ladder's digital life insurance platform to new audiences through trusted industry partners. If you're a strategic hunter who thrives on building relationships, navigating complex organizations, and closing deals that create long-term value, we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities
Enterprise Hunting & Partnership Growth

• Identify, source, and close new enterprise-level distribution partnerships across the P&C, agency, and benefits/health ecosystems.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies for penetrating target verticals and partner networks.
• Lead high-impact business development meetings with executives at carriers, agencies, and benefit platforms.
• Negotiate partnership agreements and coordinate cross-functional execution through launch.
• Foster strong relationships with key stakeholders and clients to ensure long-term partnerships and repeat business.

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor a team of business development professionals, providing guidance and support to achieve individual and team sales targets.
• Set clear objectives, provide coaching, and ensure alignment with Ladder's BD goals and metrics.
• Partner closely with cross-functional partners, both within the BD team and across the Org, to ensure seamless onboarding and strong partner performance post-launch.
• Provide regular reports on sales performance, market trends, and business development activities to senior management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with Product, Engineering, Legal, Compliance, and Marketing to ensure partner needs are met and integration timelines are achieved.
• Serve as a thought partner to senior leadership on strategic direction, product-market fit, and emerging opportunities in the insurance and benefits landscape.

Market Strategy & Thought Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive business development strategy that aligns with our company's long-term goals and objectives.
• Stay current on industry dynamics, regulatory developments, and technology trends shaping insurance distribution.
• Represent Ladder at industry events and conferences, deepening relationships within the insurance and benefits community.

Requirements

• 5-7+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, or enterprise sales within insurance, benefits, or adjacent financial services (e.g., P&C, insurtech, benefits tech, or health platforms).
• Demonstrated success sourcing and closing enterprise-level deals and managing complex partner relationships.
• Strong understanding of insurance distribution models (carrier, agency, MGA, benefits platform) and ability to navigate multi-stakeholder decision processes.
• Excellent strategic, commercial, and relationship-building skills; ability to craft compelling partner narratives.
• Proven ability to lead small teams and collaborate effectively across functions.
• Analytical, organized, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or related advanced degree a plus.

What We Offer
Whether you work in our beautiful office in Palo Alto or remotely, Ladder is highly collaborative and fun. To support you in your role, we offer fantastic perks and benefits that reflect our mission of care and support, including:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage | We offer competitive healthcare and dental plans for you and your family.
• Flexible paid time off | Take the time that you need to rest and recharge, including our week-long winter holiday closure.
• Stock options | We offer competitive stock option packages to participate in the success of building Ladder.
• A rewarding 401k match program | We'll match up to 4% of your contributions as you save for your retirement goals.
• Commuter benefits | When you work from the office, you will receive pre-tax benefits for your commute and free parking.
• A stocked, beautiful new office | Located in downtown Palo Alto, our office was specifically designed to accommodate all working styles. We've invested in technology to support our hybrid team, plus we provide office snacks and catered lunches so that team members can work well and have fun together.
• Paid parental leave | We think it's crucial that new parents have time to adjust to their new lives without worrying about work, so we provide all parents inclusive of birthing, adoption, or fostering ten weeks of paid baby bonding.
• Work-from-home flexibility and support | We recognize that everyone's homelife is different and support remote and hybrid work. Upon joining, we provide a one-time $500 remote office stipend for all team members and then a monthly $150 stipend to cover WFH costs such as the internet.
• Fun company-wide events | Whether we work locally or remotely, we genuinely enjoy spending time together. That's why we plan fun virtual and in-person events to let loose and laugh.

The base pay range targeted for this position is
$$147, $207,000.00
per year. Base pay is determined by market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This role is eligible for equity and benefits as shared above.

Ladder is building a diverse team of talented and enthusiastic people. We are an equal opportunity workplace. At Ladder, differences are celebrated and supported to benefit our people, products, and community. Let us know why you're interested in this position and what unique contributions you can make to the Ladder team. We look forward to hearing from you.

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By clicking "Submit Application," you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Ladder Job Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice at Collection.