At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead European operations, enhancing customer journeys and driving growth in payments.
- Company: Join Marqeta, a leader in the payments ecosystem with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Fast-paced, international role with significant career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments in Europe while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in operations, strong leadership, and deep payments expertise required.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 150000 £ per year.
Requirements
- 15+ years of experience leading Solution Engineering, Delivery, Implementation, or Customer Operations teams in payments or financial services
- 10+ years scaling and leading large customer‑facing operational organisations in high‑growth environments
- Deep expertise across the payments ecosystem, including one or more of: issuer processing, program management, card networks, and BIN sponsorship models
- Strong background in process design, operational transformation, and customer journey improvement
- Demonstrated success reducing Time to Value and improving customer outcomes through structured operational programs
- Proven experience integrating teams or building unified operating models from multiple delivery organizations
- Track record of building and developing high-performance teams, including growing leaders and managers
- Ability to influence and build trust with senior internal stakeholders and external partners, including customers and card networks
- A strategic yet hands‑on leader—equally comfortable setting vision and rolling up their sleeves to drive execution
- Comfortable operating in a fast‑moving, international, matrixed organization
- Strong communicator who can bridge the gap between technical delivery teams and commercial leadership
- High ownership mentality with a bias toward simplification, clarity, and getting things done
What the job involves
Marqeta is looking for a Senior Director, Market Operations to lead our European go‑to‑market execution across Solution Engineering, Delivery, and Program Implementation. Reporting to the European Market Owner, you will own the end‑to‑end customer journey—from pre‑sales solutioning through to program launch and expansion—while building the operational infrastructure needed to scale Marqeta’s European business. This is a senior leadership role requiring both strategic vision and operational rigour. You will shape how Marqeta delivers for its customers in Europe, driving Time to Value improvements, enabling revenue growth, and ensuring excellence across our card network and BIN delivery operations.
European Solutions Engineering and Delivery
- Own and scale the Solution Engineering and Delivery organisations supporting issuer processing and program management customers across Europe
- Define clear engagement models with Sales and Account Management across the full customer lifecycle: pre‑sales, onboarding, implementation, and expansion
- Build and maintain a standardized Solutions & Delivery framework that drives consistency, speed, and quality: Measurable KPIs spanning Time to Value, delivery quality, predictability, and customer satisfaction
- Automation, process simplification, and reusable solution components
- Ensure all solution designs are scalable, compliant, and aligned to Marqeta’s product and market strategy
Card BIN Delivery Operations
- Own Marqeta’s Card BIN delivery teams in Europe, integrating people, processes, and governance into a unified operating model
- Standardise BIN onboarding, certification, and lifecycle management processes to ensure reliability and compliance
- Build a scalable BIN operating model that supports future growth in European volumes and program complexity
Card Network Operations
- Serve as Marqeta’s senior operational owner for European card network relationships (e.g., Visa, Mastercard)
- Ensure operational readiness, certification compliance, and execution excellence across all network obligations
- Act as the escalation point for delivery, implementation, and network‑related operational issues
- Translate network rules, mandates, and changes into clear, actionable delivery plans for internal teams
Cross‑Functional Integration
- Drive tight alignment between Sales, Account Management, Solution Engineering, Delivery, and BIN Operations to create a seamless customer experience
- Eliminate handoff friction, duplicated effort, and unclear ownership across the customer journey
- Partner with Product, Technology, Compliance, Risk, and Legal to ensure solutions are deliverable, compliant, and scalable—and to feed delivery insights back into the product roadmap
Strategic Growth and Organisational Scaling
- Translate European market strategy into team structure, capacity models, investment priorities, and delivery excellence metrics
- Partner with Revenue Leadership to support multi‑year European growth objectives and organisational development
- Build an operational culture grounded in predictability, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement
Senior Director of Operations (EU / UK) employer: Marqeta
Marqeta is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and operational excellence in the fast-paced payments industry. With a strong commitment to employee growth, Marqeta provides ample opportunities for professional development and leadership advancement, all while promoting a collaborative culture that values clarity and efficiency. Located in Europe, this role allows you to be at the forefront of shaping customer experiences and driving strategic initiatives within a supportive and high-performance team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director of Operations (EU / UK)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and services, especially in the payments ecosystem. This will help you tailor your answers and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led teams, improved processes, or driven operational excellence. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep it structured.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director of Operations (EU / UK)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your 15+ years of experience in leading operations, especially in payments or financial services. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; show us what you’ve accomplished! Use metrics to demonstrate how you’ve improved customer outcomes or reduced Time to Value in previous roles. Numbers speak louder than words!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Explain why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Director role and how your strategic vision can help us scale Marqeta’s European business. Keep it engaging and personal!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marqeta
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the payments ecosystem, especially issuer processing and card networks. Be ready to discuss your past experiences in operational excellence and how you've improved customer journeys.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to build and develop high-performance teams. Think about times when you've influenced stakeholders or integrated teams, and be ready to share those stories during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be prepared to talk about how you've translated market strategies into actionable plans. Discuss your experience with scaling operations and how you've driven Time to Value improvements in previous roles.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice bridging the gap between technical and commercial aspects of operations. You’ll need to show that you can communicate effectively with both delivery teams and senior leadership, so think about how you can convey complex ideas simply.
