At NerdWallet, we are on a mission to bring clarity to all of life's financial decisions. Every great mission needs exceptional Nerds. We have built an inclusive, flexible and candid culture where you are empowered to grow, take smart risks, and be unapologetically yourself (cape optional). Whether you work remotely or in our offices, we support how you thrive best. We invest in your well-being, development, and ability to make an impact because when one Nerd levels up, we all do.

The Business Development Lead supports assigned insurance verticals and plays a critical role in shaping and elevating NerdWallet’s partner ecosystem within the insurance business. You will own and evolve a portfolio of external partners, helping define partnership strategy while driving a defensible and sustainable partner value proposition. This client-facing role blends strategic thinking, operational excellence, and effective relationship management.

As an individual contributor, you will collaborate closely with teammates who oversee partner relationships and program operations. You will also work directly with the Category General Manager, Business Development Manager and Product teams to align on strategy and execute high-impact initiatives. This role is well suited for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys solving complex problems and brings forward balanced, innovative solutions.

Where You Can Make an Impact:

In this role, you will directly influence the future of NerdWallet’s Insurance business through strategic partnership development, operational excellence, and revenue optimization. Your work will include:

• Grow and strengthen high-impact partnerships by cultivating deep, trust-based relationships with existing insurance clients to achieve revenue and performance goals.

• Drive revenue growth by identifying, socializing, and executing short- and long-term opportunities through pricing wins, UX improvements, marketplace optimization, and new monetization models.

• Shape the partnership strategy by contributing to a sustainable and differentiated value proposition across assigned verticals.

• Champion new business initiatives and collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate vertical-specific trends, develop business cases, and operationalize strategic ideas.

• Elevate partner operations by defining and implementing standards and processes that improve efficiency, predictability, and effectiveness.

• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented environment that inspires both internal partners and external stakeholders.

Your Experience:

You’re a strategic, analytical, and relationship-driven operator who thrives in ambiguity and enjoys building. You bring both the rigor needed to influence financial outcomes and the creativity required to design new solutions. The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Results orientation & analytical strength — You know how to identify business drivers, structure insights, and track progress toward meaningful goals.

• Strategic + methodical thinking — You can zoom out to understand the full landscape and zoom in to focus on what matters most.

• High productivity in fast-moving environments — You manage partner needs across multiple products while keeping stakeholders aligned.

• Exceptional communication & influence — You craft compelling messages for partners, internal teams, collaborators, and executives.

• Creativity & resourcefulness — You leverage past learnings to uncover growth opportunities and navigate complexity.

• Strong organization & prioritization — You balance competing priorities with clarity and calm.

• Entrepreneurial drive — You enjoy building new things, solving ambiguous problems, and driving toward outcomes.

• 6+ years of experience in strategic and B2B partnership roles with a proven track record of developing, nurturing, and executing partnership strategies.

• Insurance or digital acquisition expertise—Experience in Auto and/or Home DTC insurance, affiliate or online-based business models, or distribution through clicks, leads, or calls is highly valuable.

• A demonstrated record of delivering and exceeding business results through partnership management, negotiation, and strategic execution.

• Curiosity & growth mindset—You are eager to become a category expert and continually learn.

Where:

• <