Position Mission:
The Company Relations Manager is responsible for developing and executing OIA’s company partner, sponsorship, and market access strategy to strengthen industry relationships, expand opportunities for independent agents, and drive non-dues revenue growth. This role serves as a strategic connector between OIA, company partners, and member agencies through executive-level relationship management, statewide engagement, industry leadership, and marketplace insights.  

Education and Experience: Four-year college degree. Background in Property & Casualty insurance (minimum of two years preferred). 

Required Certificates, Licenses and Registrations: Property & Casualty license preferred. If candidate does not have an Ohio P&C license, one must be attained in the first 90 days of employment. Insurance designations preferred. If candidate does not have any, a commitment to lifelong learning is expected. 

Mission-Critical Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

1.Carrier Sponsorship and Partnership Programs 

Accountable for growth, retention, and strategic engagement of OIA company sponsors and partners, ensuring sponsorship investments align with OIA priorities and deliver measurable value to members and company partners.  

Responsibilities:  

• Lead OIA company sponsorship and partner program  

• Retain and grow financial resources through the OIA Company Sponsorship Program  

• Develop and execute plan to meet annual sponsorship goals 

• Manage the recruitment, renewal and prospecting of current and potential company sponsors 

• Leverage Salesforce and other business tools to track engagement, monitor relationship activity, and provide strategic reporting and insights  

• Develop a scorecard for engagement with company sponsors and partners (direct carrier appointments for OIA member agencies, facilitate leadership meetings with company partners) 

2. Strategic Carrier Relationship Management 

Accountable for building and maintaining executive-level relationships that strengthen OIA’s influence within the insurance industry and create strategic opportunities that benefit independent agents and company partners.  

Responsibilities: 

• Create opportunities for OIA to partner with companies that support the growth of independent agents 

• Become an identified trusted resource for independent agents and company partners  

• Work with OIA board, CEO and senior staff on engagement opportunities with company partners 

3. Market Access Program 

Accountable for annual growth, sustainability, and strategic direction of OIA’s market access initiatives, including carrier participation, agency engagement, and program revenue.  

Responsibilities:  

• Responsible for the expansion of the OIA’s market access solution – Independent Market Solutions (IMS). Sets annuals for recruiting new agents and carrier partners in the program.  
• Responsible for the management and growth of the Big “I” Alliance Gold and Blue programs 
• Develop growth strategies that can identify and recruit new agencies and carriers 

4. Industry Thought Leadership 

Accountable for identifying emerging industry trends and providing actionable insights that position OIA as a trusted industry leader and strategic resource for member and company partners.  

Responsibilities:

• Staff Liaison for the OIA Carrier Relations Committee to develop principles for a successful partnership between agents and carriers and provide strategic oversight of the annual carrier survey 
• Execute the OIA Carrier Relations Survey 
• Provide unique insights on trends and the future of the insurance marketplace and impact on independent agents and company partners.  
• Develop and deliver quarterly marketplace intelligence reports, presentations, and education programs that provide strategic insight for OIA members and company partners.  

Essential Characteristics: 

• Passionate about the growth of the independent agency system and insurance industry  
• Pro-active, ambitious, competitive, growth mindset 
• Sales skills, relationship development focus, and demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain strategic business relationships 
• Inquisitive, curious and analytical – has a desire to establish oneself as a thought leader in insurance marketplace, independent agency system and company relations 
• Builds trust and credibility through positive, professional relationship management 
• Enjoys working closely with a team 

Other Skills and Qualifications: 

• Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs 
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout Ohio and occasionally overnight to support company partner engagement, member agency visits, industry events, and OIS programs 
• Public speaking and facilitation skills 
• Experience with Salesforce is preferred 
• Ability to read and understand documents such as policy manuals, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals 
• Ability to support marketplace research efforts 
• Ability to gather research, prepare surveys and analyze data with leading software programs – MS Forms and Excel 
• Ability to write routine insurance marketplace reports, presentations and correspondence 
• Ability to interpret a wide variety of instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram formats 

Core Values and Conduct:  Every member of OIA expects our staff to embrace and act in good faith to demonstrate Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Commitment.  We expect ourselves and our coworkers to contribute to our top Critical Cultural Outcomes by acknowledging them and working toward them every day: