As the premier trade association for independent agents in Ohio, Ohio Insurance Agents (OIA) has championed independent agents, since 1897. Serving as their trusted advisor and advocate we are dedicated to promoting, progressing, and protecting the professional expertise that only the independent agent can provide.

The Board of Directors of OIA is pleased to announce the commencement of an executive search for the position of CEO. This role is critical to advancing our mission and ensuring the continued success of our organization.

Today OIA serves approximately 900 member agencies across the state. We are seeking a leader who can help the organization and its members navigate a rapidly evolving future including private equity investment, mergers and acquisitions, InsurTech integration, and changing carrier demands/relationships.

The Search Committee has a goal to name a new CEO with a start date in mid 2026. The plan includes a year of onboarding, mentorship and transition with the current CEO who will exit at the end of 2027. The person hired will serve as the Deputy CEO/Executive Director until the transition.

We are committed to conducting a thorough, inclusive, and national search process. Applications will remain open until January 15. After that time the Committee will review applications and begin the first round interview process.

Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Flexible Schedule

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

Parental Leave

Hands on Training

Mon-Fri Schedule

Retirement Plan

Education and Experience: Undergraduate degree, plus 4 years related experience and/or training, and 10 years related management experience in insurance, advocacy, or association management, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Certificates, Licenses & Registrations: None required. P&C agent license preferred, Certified Association Executive (CAE) preferred.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

Financial Stewardship - Experience managing a budget of $2+ Million while identifying opportunities for investment and growth.

Strategic/Entrepreneurial Leadership - Proven track record of identifying member needs, launching tech/innovation, or digital transformation project and driving new streams of revenue.

Cultural Leadership - Ability to build a culture of inclusion, engagement, and retention.

Relationship Management - Lead with a collaborative, data driven, member first style. Ability to advocate for members with carrier partners and state and federal legislatures.

Position Mission: Serves as the chief staff executive for the organization. Responsible for overall strategic management, tactical administration and operation of association and all staff.

Mission-Critical Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Vision and Direction of the Association

• Lead strategic planning for board and volunteer leaders that ensures member problems and needs are the focus of the Association’s strategic vision.

• Lead and champion transformational initiatives across the independent agent community, driving the adoption of new technologies, operational models, and strategies to significantly enhance efficiency, customer experience, and market competitiveness for the Association.

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight in the development, piloting, and scaling of innovative business solutions tailored for OIA membership, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and Association growth.

• Mentor and empower teams to cultivate a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and deep understanding of agency needs, translating complex challenges into actionable, high-impact business solutions for the members.

Chief Executive Officer of the Association

• Serve as key partner in management and relations across business lines, government, and industry.

• Lead / Participate in internal staff management meetings.

• Develop department budgets and overall association fiscal plan, including strategies for all related corporations.

• Approve all hires, compensation, training, performance, and succession planning of association staff.

• Oversee flow of funds to ensure steady progress toward goals.

• Responsible for overall fiscal health and growth of Association.

• Responsible for building and maintaining a productive work culture that clearly promotes the mission, vision, and values of OIA as a strong and healthy work culture focused on retention of valued employees.

Board of Directors, Volunteer, Committee Governance and Leadership

• Responsible for volunteer recruitment, future leader list & committee development

• Work with Board to plan and ensure effective, efficient Committee structure and charges, and perpetuation of leadership.

• Recruit and involve OIA members to reach highest possible potential as Board members, utilizing resources such as ASAE and OSAP for leadership development.

• Keep abreast and inform Board of trends and best practices in strategy and Association management.

• Plan Board meetings with Chair and Vice Chair to help bring issues to light and communicate them through the organizational structure.

• Develop meeting agendas that ensure opportunity for the Board to fulfill all responsibilities effectively.

• Recommend policy adoption or revision.

• Serve as primary Association filter for government and industry organizations to determine relevant issues for Association staff to address.

• Determine and address issues which require immediate public relations response.

• Mentor staff to build, manage, and work productively with volunteers and members.

• Provide thought leadership on relevant advocacy, agency operations, trends, carrier relations and industry news.

• Visit agencies to ensure the Association has the pulse of the membership to both understand and address their concerns and solutions to solve their problems .

Supervisory Responsibilities :

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance, rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Other Skills and Qualifications:

• Ability to read, analyze, and understand the most complex documents

• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints

• Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style

• Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

• Ability to deal with nonverbal, logical or scientific symbolism such as formulas, scientific equations, and graphs.

• Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

• Considerable responsibility with regard to general assignments in planning time, method, manner and/or sequence of performance of own work; may also occasionally assist in the planning of work assignments performed by others within a limited area of operation.

• Performs work operations which permit frequent opportunity for decision-making of major importance which would have considerable effect on the final attainment of multiple major activities.

• Frequent contacts with business partners, members and governing bodies, including key stakeholders or other outside representatives, wherein the manner of handling these contacts has a bearing on the organization’s position and operation.

Core Values and Conduct :

All OIA staff members are expected to embody and act with our core values: Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, and Commitment. We are committed to fostering a culture where we actively work toward these principles daily:

• Team

• Passion and Care

• Fun and Creative

• Data Driven

• Positive Attitude

• Relationship Based

• Competitive

• Gritty

Ohio Insurance Agents Association (OIA) is the collective voice of 1,000 independent agencies that employ nearly 10,000 Ohioans. We promote, progress and protect the professional advice and guidance only independent insurance agents provide. Our purpose is to help our member agencies protect consumers and employers by offering them access to the best resources, tools and professional development programs available. OIA serves our members in four key areas: advocacy, professional development, business solutions and industry thought leadership.