Business Development Manager

As a Business Development Manager at Ladder, your primary responsibilities include defining and executing the partnership strategy with financial institutions, managing relationships with banks and wealth management platforms, and collaborating across teams to enhance internal efficiencies. You will lead the partnership management playbook, build long-term relationships, and analyze performance metrics to drive further success.

To qualify for the Business Development Manager role at Ladder, you should have a BA/BS degree combined with at least 4 years of experience in consulting, business development, or account management. A strong network in the financial institution space and experience in managing relationships with external partners are highly advantageous.

Ladder supports its Business Development Manager by providing a collaborative work environment, marketing resources, performance data, and coaching to optimize partnerships. You'll also have access to a healthy pipeline on Day One, allowing for immediate engagement with existing opportunities.

At Ladder, Business Development Managers can expect a highly collaborative and fun work environment, whether working from our beautiful office in Palo Alto or remotely. We emphasize flexibility, well-being, and team cohesion through various events and perks like healthcare benefits, stock options, and a comprehensive remote work stipend.

The essential skills for a successful Business Development Manager at Ladder include strong communication and interpersonal abilities, analytical skills to provide high-impact insights, and the capability to work across different teams in a fast-paced environment. Being a self-starter with a proactive approach and a robust network is also vital.

To effectively answer this question, highlight specific instances where you successfully initiated or maintained partnerships with financial institutions. Share details about your networking strategies and how these relationships enhanced business outcomes.

In your response, emphasize an analytical approach by discussing specific tools or methods you've utilized to track performance metrics. Consider mentioning examples of how you've used data-driven insights to improve partnerships.

Share experiences that illustrate your teamwork abilities. Address any challenges you've faced while collaborating with engineering, marketing, or legal teams, and how you overcame those to ensure successful partnership launches.

Discuss your proactive approach to prospecting and identifying new opportunities. Mention techniques such as market research, networking events, or leveraging existing relationships to uncover potential leads.

Respond with a situation where you successfully navigated ambiguity. Focus on how you assessed the situation, made informed decisions, and communicated effectively with your team or partners to achieve clarity.

Highlight how you leverage technology, such as CRM tools or data analytics platforms, to streamline processes and enhance partnership management. Provide examples of how technology has improved your effectiveness in business development roles.

Explain your time management strategies, such as using prioritization frameworks or scheduling techniques. Discuss how you balance the demands of maintaining existing relationships while prospecting for new opportunities.

Reflect on your passion for building relationships, driving successful partnerships, and the satisfaction that comes from seeing tangible results from your efforts. This is also a great moment to align your values with Ladder's mission.

Address this by sharing techniques you use to cope with rejection, such as maintaining resilience and learning from feedback. Provide an example of how a setback ultimately led to a stronger strategy or opportunity.

Convey your enthusiasm for Ladder’s mission to innovate in the life insurance industry. Discuss specific qualities about the company culture or your alignment with their values that make you eager to contribute to their team.