At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative projects that drive real business change and innovation.
- Company: Join Markel, a people-first insurance company with a strong culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus opportunities, generous holiday, and professional development.
- Other info: Hybrid working in Leeds with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a visible impact on strategic initiatives and work with top executives.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in project management with strong collaboration and governance skills.
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
You'll lead a diverse portfolio of strategic business change initiatives, including:
- 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
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- Minimum 10 years' Project Management experience
- 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
- 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.
You'll have experience working across both Waterfall and 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, and 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:In return, we offer:
- 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.
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. Apply today and become part of Markel's next chapter of growth and transformation.
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 rec@markel.com 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.
Senior Business Change Project Manager in Leeds employer: Markel Corporation
Markel Corporation is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With a competitive salary, annual bonuses, and comprehensive benefits, employees are supported in their professional journey while working in a collaborative environment that values innovation and teamwork.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business Change Project Manager in Leeds
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Change Project Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Markel Corporation. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Markel Corporation
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
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As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
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We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Markel Corporation. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
