State Government Relations Manager

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) is a member service association located in Kansas City, MO representing approximately 700 member firms dedicated to the wholesale insurance distribution system. WSIA provides support to member firms and their employees, including tens of thousands of individual surplus lines brokers, underwriters and insurance company professionals. 

POSITION SUMMARY

WSIA helps members build profitable business relationships with unparalleled networking opportunities, education programs, talent recruitment initiatives, legislative and regulatory advocacy and promotion of the value of the wholesale insurance distribution channel.

WSIA is seeking a State Government Relations Manager to serve a variety of roles within the association. Often called the “safety valve” of the insurance industry, surplus lines insurers fill the need for coverage in the marketplace by insuring risks that are declined by the standard insurance market. It’s the job of the WSIA government relations team to preserve this framework so that our members can continue to meet the needs of their customers. WSIA is seeking a candidate that has experience managing lobbying contracts and has demonstrated success in the legislative and regulatory space. The candidate will manage government relations in all states but with particular emphasis in California. Candidates must be detail-oriented self-starters with an understanding of state legislative and regulatory processes and the ability to analyze complex insurance laws and regulations.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of insurance legislative and regulatory environment.
• Experience in advocacy and lobbying state regulatory and legislative bodies and/or managing lobbyists.
• Experience in executing the government relations goals of a membership organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multiple internal and external stakeholders to represent priorities, goals and needs of a constituency.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Five years’ experience advocating for legislative and regulatory issues in California and managing volunteer legislative/regulatory committee of a membership organization.
• Knowledge of insurance issues, particularly issues related to P&C insurance, surplus lines insurance or insurance producers.
• Broad knowledge of state-based insurance regulatory landscape and familiarity with the NAIC and/or NCOIL.
• Experience managing a political action committee and distributing funds to maximize strategic legislative initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science or other related field.
• Preferably located in California.
• Successful candidates will demonstrate a passion for member service and a willingness to learn in a flexible/hybrid work environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist WSIA government relations team on state insurance activities with primary focus on California and other jurisdictions with significant surplus lines insurance premium.
• Serve as WSIA liaison to the California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA) Legislative Committee. Employee will arrange and lead meetings for the purpose of setting California public policy priorities for the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance industry and determine course of action for a contract lobbyist in achieving those priorities.
• Provide leadership and management of a contract lobbyist in coordination with CIWA and WSIA government relations staff to achieve California legislative and regulatory priorities.
• Provide analysis to the Director of Government Relations and General Counsel/Director of Policy on legislative and regulatory proposals in California and other key states and recommend strategies to achieve desired outcomes.
• Establish means of distributing Political Action Committee (PAC) dollars to California elected officials either through the WSIA PAC or a state PAC connected to CIWA for the purpose of achieving public policy priorities.
• Assist WSIA government relations team with management of strategic public policy priorities and lobbying resources in other key states.
• Travel to National Association of Insurance Commissioners and National Council of Insurance Legislators tri-annual meetings as necessary to establish and maintain relationships with insurance regulators and legislators in key states.
• Travel to other meetings throughout the year including but not necessarily limited to WSIA membership events, WSIA employee meetings, state association annual meetings, and surplus lines law group meetings.
• Assist WSIA government relations staff with additional tasks including but not limited to, analysis of state legislative and regulatory initiatives and actions, management of the WSIA PAC, maintenance and expansion of WSIA compliance resources, compilation and analysis of state surplus lines data, etc.

LOCATION

WSIA is based in Kansas City, MO, has a hybrid work environment and recognizes the importance of flexibility for our team members. If a successful candidate is based in our locality/commuting distance, some days in the office will be required on a regular basis. For successful candidates outside of commuting distance, limited travel to the WSIA’s office for full team meetings or events may be expected approximately three times per year.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

WSIA strives to promote a professional, friendly, and inclusive work environment where employees can successfully meet performance expectations and fully demonstrate our Guiding Principles. For this position, ideal candidates will be located in California. WSIA requires adherence to the Employee Handbook policies and enforces a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation in the workplace.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this role is $125,000 to $175,000 annually. The pay range for each job posting reflects a minimum and maximum range of pay that we reasonably expect to pay across all U.S. locations and may span more than one career level. We carefully consider multiple business-related factors when determining compensation, including job-related skills, work experience, geographic work location, education, relevant training and certifications, business needs and market demands.

In addition to your competitive salary, WSIA offers generous benefits in accordance with WSIA policies, including:

• Paid time off for vacation, sickness, holiday and bereavement;
• Medical, dental and vision plans, health savings account, flexible spending account;
• 100% company-paid life insurance, longer-term disability and short-term disability insurance;
• Confidential access to an Employee Assistance Program and an Enhanced Employee Assistance Program;
• 401k matching up to 10% of employee salary, and
• Performance bonus and merit pay increases, as determined by WSIA’s sole discretion.

This information is intended to be a general overview and may be modified by WSIA due to business-related factors.

WSIA employees will be subject to a background check.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) is a world-class member service organization representing the entirety of the wholesale, specialty, and surplus lines industry. The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association was formed in 2017 through the merger of the American Association of Managing General Agents (AAMGA) and the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO).

WSIA members strive to build profitable business relationships in the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance industry. WSIA is dedicated to developing and strengthening the industry and provides members with unparalleled:

• Networking
• Education
• Talent recruitment and development initiatives
• Regulatory and legislative advocacy
• Promotion of wholesale value

WSIA’s membership consists of approximately 700-member ?rms, including U.S. Wholesale, U.S. Insurance Market, and Associate and Service members, representing tens of thousands of individual brokers, insurance company professionals, underwriters, and other insurance professionals worldwide conducting business in the U.S. surplus lines market.

WSIA members of all shapes and sizes gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace through active participation in the only association dedicated specifically to the wholesale, specialty and surplus lines insurance industry.

WSIA is an equal employment opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, caregiver status, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. All employment decisions at WSIA are based solely on the applicant’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

EQUAL EMPLOYEMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

WSIA is an equal employment opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, caregiver status, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. All employment decisions at WSIA are based solely on the applicant’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

To apply please send a cover letter and resume to john@wsia.org.

About Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association

About WSIA The Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) is a member service association representing approximately 700 member firms dedicated to the wholesale insurance distribution system. WSIA provides support to member firms and their employees, including tens of thousands of surplus lines brokers, underwriters and insurance company professionals. WSIA helps members build profitable business relationships with unparalleled networking opportunities, education programs, talent recruitment initiatives, legislative and regulatory advocacy and promotion of the value of the wholesale insurance distribution channel.

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