National Director

Fantastic career opportunity for a well-rounded business leader who is well-networked in the Canadian insurance sector. Ideally based in Southern Ontario or Greater Vancouver, but can potentially work remotely elsewhere in Ontario, BC, Alberta (perhaps Manitoba or Saskatchewan). Excellent opportunity for long-term career development based on performance and organizational growth. Candidates must have at least 10 years of progressive and relevant work experience.

Our client is a reputable and fast-growing independent professional membership body. The organization represents and supports business members across Canada, and these members are in the contracting/construction/restoration space (SWIM can provide more details). The association has passionate and capable industry veterans on the Ownership/Partnership/Executive team.
The organization is already successful and will have an even brighter future under the leadership of a great new National Director! There is a ton of exciting greenfield opportunity across the country.

The new National Director who will have two concurrent and equally important priorities:

• Developing new partnerships with National insurance carriers.
• Expanding the association’s membership across Canada.

The above will be the guiding North Star for the Director, and ongoing success with one of these priorities will help fuel success in the other. In addition to major insurance companies, the Director will seek out partnership opportunities in other relevant business sectors, such as property management, construction, REITS, and institutions (hotel and restaurant chains, health authorities, universities, etc.).
To support these goals, the Director will have to be strategic and big picture minded, as well as tactical and hands-on with their day-to-day tasks. The Director will be writing and distributing routinely scheduled and ad hoc reports (internal for the executive team and existing members, external for potential members), monitoring their budget, creating marketing plans, replying to RFPs, contributing to social media content and other external communications, etc.
The Director will the “face & voice” of this membership association and as one of the key ambassadors will travel around the country to attend relevant conferences and networking events, to meet with potential members and existing members, and to develop the business with insurance partners. SWIM will provide interested candidates with a full job description.

We are seeking someone self-motivated, resourceful, and driven. Excellent communication skills (written & verbal) are paramount. To be successful in this role, the Director will be able to strike the balance between very autonomous while still being happy to keep the executive team (who have other full-time jobs but are still very supportive & involved) in the loop on business development activities, successes, and areas of opportunity & risk.
Must have excellent business savvy, including the ability to manage a P&L, create & monitor a budget, build out business cases and annual plans, etc.
Relevant post-secondary education (MBA, PMP, etc.) is an asset.
Qualified candidates will have at least 10 years of progressive and relevant work experience, with a solid reputation for integrity, work ethic, and relationship building skills.
Ability and willingness to travel across Canada for a variety of business development opportunities and to meet with members & partners (existing & potential).
There are 3 potential areas that our successful candidate may come from:

• Internally with a large national insurance company, in a sales and/or strategic partnership role. Well-networked with decision makers such as insurance advisors, commercial insurance account managers, claims adjusters & claims handlers, insurance brokers, etc.
• Working in a senior business development capacity with a large company in a relevant sector such as construction (new build or renovation/retrofit) or restoration (flood, fire, extreme weather, etc.) Ideally with national presence and/or multi-site.
• Already working for a professional member body in a similar…