Amazing Opportunity

Excellent corporate career opportunity!  We are currently recruiting a highly motivated, B2B professional who is interested in a business development career in our Irvine, CA office.

Salary Pay Range

$116,028 - $141,812

The expected base salary for this position will vary depending on a number of factors, including relevant experience, skills and location.

Job Summary

The Strategic Partner Relationships Manager is responsible for driving profitable growth for AIS Insurance by sourcing, developing, and managing strategic partnerships that generate new customer acquisition and premium volume. This role blends strategy, sales, and relationship management, working closely with carrier partners, digital distribution partners, lead providers, agencies, and internal stakeholders across AIS and Mercury Insurance. The role requires periodic domestic travel, up to approximately 20% of the time, including overnight trips typically lasting 1–3 days, to support partner meetings, industry events, and conferences.

This role requires a strategic thinker with a hands-on operator mindset, comfortable owning a pipeline of opportunities from concept through execution while continually seeking ways to optimize performance.

Essential Job Functions: 

Partnership Strategy & Growth

•  Identify, evaluate, and prioritize new business opportunities (distribution partners, lead sources, affinity
• programs, agencies, AI-enabled partners and platforms and emerging channels) that align with AIS growth objectives.
• Build and maintain a robust opportunity pipeline, including initial outreach, qualification, business case development, and deal execution.
•  Develop and present business cases and proposals, including projected volume, conversion, ROI, and operational impacts.
• Negotiate and implement partnership agreements, working with Legal, Compliance, and Finance as needed.
• Ability to translate business needs into AI/analytics requirements, collaborating effectively with data, product, and technology teams.

Relationship & Account Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned partners and accounts, ensuring strong, long-term relationships.
• Conduct regular performance reviews with partners (volume, quality, conversion, revenue, customer experience) and drive joint action plans to improve results.
•  Coordinate marketing and campaign activity with partners and AIS Marketing to support acquisition goals.
•  Ability to translate business needs into AI/analytics requirements, collaborating effectively with data, product, and technology teams.
•   Represent AIS professionally at partner meetings, industry events, and conferences.

Performance Management & Analytics

•  Own financial and operational performance for assigned channels and accounts, including tracking results against volume, revenue, and profitability targets.
• Champion AIS and Mercury values and brands in all external interactions and internal collaborations.

Education:

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Insurance, Finance, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

Minimum

• 5+ years of experience in business development, partnerships, account management, or sales in insurance, financial services, or a closely related industry.
• Experience working with personal auto, homeowners, and/or commercial insurance products.

Preferred

• Experience managing geographically dispersed partners and coordinating cross-functional efforts in a remote or hybrid work environment.

Knowledge and Skills:

Minimum

• Strong financial acumen with the ability to understand P&L drivers, build simple business cases, and manage to ROI and profitability targets.
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strategic and analytical thinking – able to connect market opportunities to AIS strategy and make data-driven decisions.
• Relationship management – trusted partner who can influence without authority and navigate complex organizations.
• Execution & project management – takes ownership from idea through implementation, with strong follow-through.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills: Demonstrated ability to plan, prioritize, and execute across multiple partnerships, initiatives, and stakeholders simultaneously with minimal supervision.
• Ability to translate business needs into AI/analytics requirements, collaborating effectively with data, product, and technology teams.
• Attention to detail: Ability to manage complex agreements, timelines, and performance metrics while maintaining accuracy and follow-through.

Work-from-home requirements

• Designated workspace free from noise and other distractions.
• Remote office internet connection via Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Cable Modem.
• High-speed internet access required.

Why choose a career at AIS?

Auto Insurance Specialists has been offering quality insurance products to California residents for over 55 years and since 2006 has expanded its online sales and service capabilities across all 50 states. Our team will encourage you to grow, make time to have fun, and work together to make great things happen. We embrace the strengths and values of each team member. We believe in having diverse perspectives where everyone is included, to serve customers from all walks of life.

We care about our people, and we mean it. We reward our talented professionals with a competitive salary, and a variety of benefits to help our team members reach their health, retirement, and professional goals.

Learn more about us here: https://www.aisinsurance.com/jobs

AIS is an independently-operated and wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercury Casualty Company, a California corporation.  We are an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation
• Paid time off (vacation time, sick time, paid Company holidays, volunteer hours)
• Incentive bonus programs (potential for holiday bonus, referral bonus, and performance-based bonus)
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance
• 401 (k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Engaging work environment
• Promotional opportunities
• Education assistance
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Company recognition program
• Health and wellbeing resources, including free mental wellbeing therapy/coaching sessions, child and eldercare resources, and more

 Apply today for a career at AIS as a Manager of Strategic Partner Relationships!