Head of Strategic Relations

Job description

Location: United States (California Preferred, Remote OK) Type: Full-Time | Senior Executive | Competitive Salary + Equity About COVU COVU is on the mission of reimagining insurance through building the AI-native infrastructure for the insurance industry —transforming how agencies, carriers, and customers interact with risk. With $30M+ raised and six agencies already acquired, we are rolling out a new operating system for insurance distribution, combining intelligent customer management, embedded product access, and scalable partnerships. We’re scaling fast—and we need a proven insurance operator and strategic builder to help us expand our external ecosystem of carriers, aggregators, brokerages, and agency partners. The Role We’re seeking a Head of Strategic Relations —a senior insurance leader who knows how to build , not just manage. You’ll lead our national partnership efforts, launching and scaling initiatives that sit at the heart of COVU’s growth: from carrier alliances and aggregator plays to embedded agency clusters and multi-state rollups. This is not a BD role. It’s a foundational operating role for someone who has built, scaled, or sold brokerages, agencies, or platforms—and is ready to do it again inside a high-growth tech company. You’ll report directly to the CEO and work closely with the executive team to drive outcomes that grow revenue, expand influence, and cement COVU’s market leadership. What You’ll Do Build & Lead Strategic Partnerships : Design, structure, and scale COVU’s relationships with carriers, MGAs, aggregators, franchise networks, and agency groups. Stand Up Market Access Functionality : Launch our agency-facing market access and product distribution ecosystem. Own Partner Strategy : Develop strategic relationships with decision-makers at carriers and large brokerages—helping COVU secure appointments, programs, and joint ventures. Launch Growth Channels : Identify and own strategic GTM initiatives that create leverage—e.g., white-label partnerships, MGA launches, cluster integrations, etc. Act Like a CEO : Operate independently, make strategic calls, and build your function from the ground up—while staying hands-on with deals, operations, and execution. Represent COVU : Externally as a trusted, respected partner and internally as a key leader helping shape our business model. You Might Be a Fit If You: Have 10–20+ years of insurance leadership experience with P&L responsibility Were a CEO, President, or Founder of a successful brokerage, agency group, cluster, or insurtech Know how to build a business from scratch , create structure out of chaos, and lead by example Have a deep network of carrier, MGA, and aggregator relationships across the U.S. Have a track record of closing complex strategic deals and delivering results Are just as comfortable in a boardroom with a CEO as you are in the field with producers Bonus: Have experience in insurtech, AI, embedded distribution, or underwriting modernization You want to build something that redefines how insurance works Cultural Traits We’re Looking For Entrepreneurial Operator – You don’t wait for permission. You identify what’s needed and make it happen. Low Ego, High Output – You’re about results, not status. Builder, Not Bureaucrat – You’d rather build a revenue engine than write a deck about it. Industry Credibility with a Modern Mindset – You know the old way, but you’re building the new way. Compensation & Structure Competitive base salary Substantial equity package Benefits + performance incentives Title flexibility (SVP, Head of, or C-level depending on background) Location & Travel California-based preferred (LA or SF access ideal), but remote for the right candidate Some travel expected for carrier and partner meetings, events, and leadership offsites Why Join Us? COVU is not just another insurtech. We’re building a vertically integrated, AI-native risk platform —and we’re serious about doing it the right way: with execution, industry grounding, and visionary leadership. If you’re a legacy builder looking to help shape the next great platform in insurance, let’s talk.