Head of Operations Southern Europe

Markel; Madrid; Presencial; EUR 70.000 - 95.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

An international insurance company is seeking a Head of Operations for Southern Europe based in Madrid. This pivotal role involves leading operations in several countries while optimizing processes and driving business growth. Ideal candidates have a degree in a relevant field, possess strong leadership skills, and are fluent in Spanish and English. The position comes with a competitive salary, annual bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package, including 27 days of paid holiday.

Servicios

A great starting salary plus annual bonus

27 days paid holiday plus bank holidays

Company pension scheme

Private medical and dental cover

Opportunities to learn new skills

Formación

• Strong knowledge of the Southern European insurance market.
• Experience in commercial lines and broker-driven distribution required.
• The legal right to live and work in Spain.

Responsabilidades

• Leading and managing Operations across Southern Europe.
• Driving operational excellence through process optimization.
• Partnering with various departments to enable business growth.

Conocimientos

Fluent in Spanish

Fluent in English

Strong analytical skills

Leadership experience

Ability to manage change

Excellent communication skills

Educación

Completed degree in Business Informatics, Mathematics, IT, Business Administration, or Economics

Descripción del empleo

Head of Operations Southern Europe

Looking for a role that will have a significant impact on Operations in Europe?

Come and progress your career in our Operations team at Markel.

Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Operations Southern Europe, based in Madrid.

This role will shape, align, and deliver Markel’s operational agenda across Southern Europe. It ensures 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.

Additionally, the role aligns local operational execution with Markel’s evolving IT landscape, supports the rollout of centralized platforms, leverages the European Data Lake for analytics and governance, and coordinates with regional and local IT teams for system integration and readiness.

The Operations Leader also represents Markel’s European and international vision within the region and beyond, taking ownership of European and international projects and fostering strong connections between national Operations Leads and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• 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

Qualifications

• 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) is a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.

Benefits

• A great starting salary plus annual bonus and a strong benefits package
• 27 days paid holiday plus bank holidays
• Company pension scheme, private medical and dental cover, life assurance
• Modern office environment based at the Torre de Cristal, Madrid
• Opportunities to learn new skills and develop your career with ongoing support

Apply

Choose ‘Apply Now’ to submit your short application.

We celebrate diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Individuals with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and interview process and to perform essential job functions.