Business Development Trainee - 2025 Graduate Development Program

National Interstate is a member of Great American Insurance Group. As one of the leading commercial transportation insurers in the nation, we offer risk financing solutions in all 50 states tailored to meet the needs of a wide variety of transportation classes. Our offerings include traditional insurance and innovative alternative risk transfer (ART) programs, including more than a dozen group captive programs catering to niche wheels markets. We are proud to be a multiple NorthCoast 99 winner and Cleveland Plain Dealer Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio. It is because of our talented and dedicated team that we are able to live out our company values of integrity, transparency, fairness, accountability, empowerment and collaboration with each transaction we make. If you are ready to join an engaging and driven team such as ours, we would love to hear from you!

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

• Develops skill and knowledge in initiating contact with current and prospective new business partners.
  • Learns to market the company's products/services through interaction (correspondence, phone, in person, digital media, etc.) with agencies, brokers, or clients. 
  • Tracks statistics on prospect lists, hit ratios, business retention, and new business production.
  • Learns to develop and employ innovative, creative, and resourceful methods for achieving new business development.
• Learns to work collaboratively with management to develop, monitor, and adapt a business/marketing plan for area of responsibility and to support division goals.
  • Develops knowledge in skill in the developing agency business goals. 
  • Learns to support underwriting in fact gathering, underwriting, and pricing of renewals.
  • Learns to prepare reports to analyze and develop existing business profile/mix and the quality and quantity of new business.
• Develops knowledge and skill in building strategic relationships with business partners (clients, agents, brokers, producers) to achieve targeted profit goals of the division.
  • Regularly corresponds and visits with clients, agencies and brokers.  Monitors the delivery of excellent customer service and follows-up on any customer concerns that need to be addressed.
  • May learn to assist with coordinating/transferring books of business and ongoing contract management. 
  • Learns to identify issues/potential issues and triages to appropriate staff to resolve.
  • Develops knowledge and skill in providing continuing education and support to assigned agents regarding company products, programs, eligibility guidelines, risk, and pricing philosophy.
  • May participate in preparing/distributing promotional correspondence (newsletters, pamphlets, et.) and/or marketing collateral to existing and potential agents and/or customers.
  • Learns to plan and host both internal and external events to achieve area/regional marketing initiatives. 
• Learns to maintain familiarity with competitors and market conditions.  May learn to gather, analyze, and maintain competitive information. May assist with maintaining a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database to improve services or target marketing efforts.
• Develops knowledge and skill in collaborating with Underwriting, Product Development, Product Management, and Corporate Communications to develop marketing initiatives, new products, and the supporting marketing materials.  May participate with other business units on cross-marketing efforts.
• May attend industry and association events.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

National Interstate and Vanliner’s Graduate Development Program, Ignition 

During the program you will:

• Participate in instructor led, self-paced and on-the-job training, gaining a true understanding of what National Interstate does and how your role fits in the big picture.
• Become immersed in our company by learning our business model and value proposition.
• Gain exposure to other areas of the business outside of your discipline through interactive presentations from industry experts.
• Sharpen professional skills through weekly personal development trainings.
• Develop your professional network with leaders and fellow participants through weekly teambuilding and social activities.

The program is taking place in June 2025. The role will be expected to work in the Richfield, Ohio office.

Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Field of Study: Liberal Arts, Business or a related discipline.

Experience: Typically, part of a formal training program.  0 to 6 months of experience.

Scope of Job: Performs work under close supervision and technical direction. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job.  Develops working knowledge of business systems and processes used to perform the functions of the job.  Works on assignments of low complexity.  Position may require frequent day and overnight travel (10-20%) to visit agents, brokers, or clients. May learn to position prospects and solicit new agents or clients; typically has no or limited underwriting authority.  Uses communication skills to build effective customer relationships and to explain/promote products and services.