Director, Distribution Wholesale Brokerage

If you're passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide's Property and Casualty team could be the place for you At Nationwide, "on your side" goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This role will be focused on executing our distribution strategy for our Construction vertical.

Job Description Summary

Are you a critical thinker who can analyze complex risks and find insurance solutions that balance customer needs with business goals? If you can take initiative, use both your analytical and creative abilities to make sound decisions and have a desire to help people solve real challenges, we want to hear from you

Our Excess & Surplus/Specialty (E&S/S) lines allow us to provide insurance that other carriers may not offer. It's a fast-paced environment in a collaborative, team-oriented culture, working in an always-changing, growing industry

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive a structured and strategic broker engagement process with key distribution partners, prioritizing firms that are essential to our growth in Construction and/or Specialty Casualty.
• Prepare and lead high-value broker meetings focused on unlocking specific opportunities that support our preferred portfolio profile by geography, industry class, and attachment point.
• Ensure meetings are data-informed and action-oriented, with content focused on surfacing new opportunities that meet our appetite, reclaiming lost renewals, and reviving past submissions.
• Collaborate with marketing and underwriting to equip brokers with insights and differentiators that position us as the go-to partner for the right risks. Strengthen long-term broker relationships and deepen alignment with key firms that are best positioned to deliver sustained profitable growth.
• Lead the identification, tracking, and execution of strategic new business opportunities that align with our desired portfolio mix.
• Partner closely with underwriting to ensure we are actively pursuing accounts that represent a strong technical fit and support profitable growth objectives within the vertical.
• Use centralized pipeline tracking to spotlight high-value opportunities and coordinate proactive follow-up on deals that advance our portfolio objectives and underwriting strategy. Maintain visibility into broker-specific submission flow to help surface gaps, target accounts, and cross-sell potential, while reinforcing focus on submissions that come from our highest-priority partners
• In close partnership with underwriting, develop and manage a dynamic broker segmentation model that prioritizes individual brokers based on their ability to deliver profitable growth aligned with our portfolio objectives.
• Through ongoing collaboration, continuously evaluate broker books to identify those best positioned to support underwriting goals, whether through geographic concentration, industry specialization, or consistent preferred tower positioning
• Leverage data-driven insights provided by our distribution partners to refine our broker focus and ensure we are targeting those with the highest potential to deliver aligned, profitable business. Use these insights to guide where and how we engage, ensuring that distribution efforts are focused, differentiated, and tightly aligned with the vertical's underwriting strategy.
• Serve as a key connector between distribution and underwriting, ensuring close alignment on appetite, execution strategy, and go-to-market priorities for the vertical. Actively partner with vertical underwriting leads and cross-functional teams to surface market feedback, coordinate broker strategies, and support the successful rollout of new initiatives.
• Represent vertical-specific distribution needs in broader forums and champion cross-functional collaboration that promotes cross-selling and strengthens relationships across the wholesale brokerage platform. In settings where multiple underwriting verticals are engaged, be equipped to accurately and confidently represent the distribution strategy and priorities of peer verticals such as Construction, Specialty Casualty, or Property. Bring back key takeaways, opportunities, and action items to the appropriate internal partners, ensuring connectivity and execution across the broader distribution team
• Monitor and analyze trends across the wholesale E&S market—including competitor appetite shifts, pricing dynamics, brokerage consolidation, and emerging risk trends—to inform where we should play and how we can win. Conduct win/loss reviews to better understand where we're succeeding (and why), and where we're missing opportunities to write business that fits our portfolio objectives. Deliver strategic insights to leadership and underwriting that help refine targeting efforts and increase our conversion into the right accounts with the right brokers
• Support enterprise and team-level initiatives that elevate the impact of distribution, including the development of tools, reports, and processes that help us win the right business. Contribute to special projects tied to long-term strategic planning, performance visibility, and new capability development across the wholesale brokerage distribution platform.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to AVP, Brokerage Business Development. This is an individual contributor job and may have opportunity to manage a team

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Risk Management & Insurance, Economics, Marketing, or a related field is preferred. Advanced coursework or continuing education in insurance or leadership development is a plus

License/Certification/Designation: CPCU designation preferred; other relevant industry designations (e.g., ARM, CIC) considered a plus.

Experience: Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in E&S wholesale brokerage distribution, relationship management, or brokerage casualty underwriting, with all experience rooted in the E&S wholesale market. Proven track record of successfully managing complex wholesale broker relationships, including experience engaging with senior leadership at national and regional wholesale brokerage firms. Demonstrated ability to drive profitable growth by aligning distribution strategies with underwriting appetite and portfolio goals. Experience in collaborating cross-functionally with underwriting, claims, actuarial, marketing, and product teams to develop integrated broker engagement strategies. Familiarity with industry trends affecting wholesale brokerage and E&S markets, including consolidation, M&A, and evolving risk exposures. Experience utilizing broker and market data analytics to inform segmentation, prioritization, and targeted engagement. Strong understanding of E&S market dynamics, regulatory environment, and key distribution channels. Prior success in leading initiatives that improve wholesale broker engagement, pipeline development, and conversion metrics. Existing robust network within the E&S wholesale broker community and proven ability to cultivate new relationships are a must.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing at all levels of broker and internal teams. Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market insights and data into actionable distribution plans that advance profitable growth. Strong communication skills, including the ability to present complex concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences. Proven aptitude for negotiating and managing strategic broker agreements and partnerships. High degree of business acumen with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, particularly in assessing broker portfolios and market opportunities. Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. Demonstrated leadership presence and managerial courage to advocate for organizational priorities and foster collaborative teamwork. Proficiency with CRM platforms, data visualization tools, and Microsoft Office suite to support effective reporting and engagement tracking. Entrepreneurial mindset with resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to overcoming challenges. Strong ethical standards and commitment to compliance with regulatory and company guidelines.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager's leader and Human Resource Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. 25-50% travel with extensive national overnight travel. Alternative work environment may include working from home.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 01/08/2026. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 )

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.The national salary range for Director, Distribution Wholesale Brokerage - E&S Specialty : $128,000.00-$227,000.00The expected starting salary range for Director, Distribution Wholesale Brokerage - E&S Specialty : $128, $192,000.00