Head of Operations Southern Europe

Head of Operations Southern EuropeLooking for a role that will have a significant impact on Operations in Europe? Come and progress your career in our Operations team at Markel Join us and play your part in something special What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. The opportunity: We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Operations Southern Europe , based in the beautiful city of Madrid. This role will be responsible for shaping, aligning, and delivering Markel’s operational agenda across the Southern European region. The role ensures that local operational needs are met while driving alignment with Markel’s European Operations strategy, delivering scalable processes, efficient systems, and excellent service to internal and external collaborators.The Operations Manager Southern Europe will also play a pivotal role in aligning local operational execution with Markel’s evolving IT landscape. This includes supporting the rollout of centralized platforms, leveraging the European Data Lake for analytics and governance, and coordinating with regional and local IT teams to ensure seamless system integration and operational readiness. The Operations Leader is also responsible for representing Markel’s European and international vision both within the region and beyond. This includes taking ownership of European and international projects as well as fostering strong connections between national Operations Leads and other stakeholders.  What you’ll be doing: Leading and managing Operations across Southern Europe in close collaboration with local country leadership and the European Operations team Driving operational excellence through process optimization, system implementation, and service quality improvements Partnering with Underwriting, Claims, Sales, and Finance, to ensure operational infrastructure enables business growth Translating local market requirements into operational and technological solutions in alignment with Markel’s European transformation agenda Building, leading and developing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement Representing Southern Europe within the European Operations community, ensuring transparency, alignment, and knowledge sharing across regions Our must-haves: Completed degree in Business Informatics, Mathematics, IT, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, Insurance background in a similar or related role and/or experience in management consulting for insurance companies Strong knowledge of the Southern European insurance market, preferably with experience in commercial lines and broker-driven distribution. Validated leadership experience within international or regional operations, IT, or process management functions Solid understanding of insurance processes (Policy Administration, Claims, Finance, Broker Services) and international IT platforms Ability to manage change, implement technology-enabled solutions, and deliver operational efficiency Strategic problem solver with strong analytical skills, keen business insight, and implementation focus Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across cultures and functions Fluent in Spanish and English; additional proficiency in Italian, French, or Portuguese preferred. Willingness to travel across the region A positive attitude and a collaborative work ethic The legal right to live and work in Spain Who we are: Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world. We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better | We enjoy the everyday | We think further What’s in it for you? A great starting salary plus annual bonus & strong benefits package 27 days paid holiday plus