Senior Business Change Project Manager

Markel International; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus 25%

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Private medical insurance

Pension contribution

Job summary

Markel International in Leeds is seeking an experienced Senior Business Change Project Manager to lead strategic change initiatives across the UK business.

You will partner with Executive Sponsors, technology teams and vendors to deliver complex programmes that drive growth, efficiency, and digital transformation. Hybrid in Leeds with in-office three days a week.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering complex business change projects.
• Experience managing governance, budgets, and executive stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in regulated environments is preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex business change projects from initiation through to implementation.
• Chair Project Working Groups and Steering Committees.
• Build relationships with Executive Sponsors and senior partners.
• Manage governance, RAID logs, and project controls; deliver on time and budget.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Governance

Budgeting & Forecasting

Vendor management

Communications & presentation

Education

PRINCE2 Practitioner

APM Qualification

PM Certification or equivalent

Job description

Leeds | Hybrid Working (3 Days in Office) | Permanent |

Lead Transformation. Influence Strategy. Deliver Real Business Change.

At Markel, we’re looking for an experienced Senior Business Change Project Manager to join our UK Business Change team and lead some of the most strategic, high-profile change initiatives across the business.

This is more than a project management role. You’ll be responsible for delivering complex business change programmes that directly support growth, operational excellence, new product development, digital transformation, automation, and international expansion.

You’ll work with Executive Sponsors, senior leaders, technology teams, and external vendors to turn ambitious ideas into successful business outcomes. If you’re someone who thrives in complex stakeholder environments, enjoys solving challenging business problems, and wants to make a visible impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Markel?

At Markel, insurance is more than a policy. It’s a promise to help people move forward with confidence, embrace opportunities, and recover when the unexpected happens. Our people-first culture, entrepreneurial outlook, and commitment to doing what’s right are what make us different.

Joining our UK Business Change team means you’ll:

• Deliver business-critical change across a growing organisation
• Work directly with Executive partners and decision-makers
• Lead projects that genuinely influence the future direction of the business
• Be part of a collaborative, supportive team with a strong culture and reputation for delivery
• Enjoy the autonomy and trust to own complex programmes from inception through to implementation

What You’ll Be Working On:

• New product launches and product development programmes
• Operational efficiency and process improvement projects
• Automation, AI and digital transformation initiatives
• Workflow and business process redesign
• Technology-enabled business change
• Claims and policy platform enhancements
• International business growth and expansion projects
• Vendor-led system implementation programmes

Typically, you’ll lead multiple concurrent projects, balancing delivery, governance, collaborator engagement, budget control, and business readiness activities.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the delivery of complex business change projects from initiation through to implementation
• Chair Project Working Groups and Steering Committees
• Build strong relationships with Executive Sponsors and senior partners
• Lead project governance, reporting, RAID logs, and project controls
• Create and maintain detailed project plans and delivery roadmaps
• Handle budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting
• Work closely with Business Analysts, SMEs, Technology teams, Solutions Architects, and external vendors
• Drive decision-making, challenge constructively, and ensure accountability across project teams
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for a confident and credible senior project professional who can operate effectively with partners at every level of the organisation.

Essential Experience

• Demonstrable success leading complex, business-critical change projects from initiation through implementation, including governance, budgets, executive stakeholder engagement, risk management and delivery in regulated environments
• Consistent record delivering complex business change projects
• Experience working in regulated environments
• Strong collaborator management skills, including Executive-level engagement
• Experience running project budgets, forecasting and financial reporting
• Vendor and third-party supplier management experience
• Strong governance, risk and issue management expertise
• Experience running Steering Committees and governance forums
• Demonstrable ability to influence decisions and drive outcomes

Ideally You’ll Come From

• Insurance
• Financial Services
• Banking
• Another highly regulated sector

Insurance experience would be highly advantageous but is not essential.

Qualifications

• PRINCE2 Practitioner (preferred)
• APM Qualification
• Or equivalent recognised Project Management certification.

Methodologies

You’ll have experience working across both:

• Waterfall
• Agile delivery environments

and understand how to apply the right approach for the project and participant landscape.

• Someone who consistently builds and nurtures positive relationships
• Comfortable challenging senior team members when needed
• A confident communicator and presenter
• Commercially aware and outcome-focused
• Highly organised and resilient
• Collaborative, approachable and team-oriented
• Someone who enjoys getting stuck in and helping colleagues succeed

Location & Hybrid Working

This role is based in Leeds, with hybrid working arrangements.

You’ll be expected to attend the Leeds office three days per week, including Thursdays, with some UK travel as required. We’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates already based within reasonable commuting distance of Leeds.

What You’ll Receive

• Great salary + 25% annual bonus opportunity
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Generous pension contribution
• Private medical insurance
• Dental cover
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Travel insurance
• Season ticket loan
• Hybrid working
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.

Ready to Help Shape What’s Next?

If you’re an experienced Senior Project Manager looking for a role where you can influence strategic decisions, deliver meaningful change, and work with dedicated people across a growing international business, we’d love to hear from you.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [e-mail] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.

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