At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead European operations, enhancing customer journeys and driving growth in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join Marqeta, a leading tech company revolutionising the payments landscape.
- Benefits: Enjoy premium health coverage, generous time off, equity options, and remote work support.
- Other info: Hybrid role with excellent career development opportunities and a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payments while making a real impact on customer experiences.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in operations with expertise in payments and financial services.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
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.
NOTE
This is a hybrid role and requires employees to be based within 35 miles of our London office.
You will be expected to work on-site two days a week, on Tuesday and Thursday, with the flexibility to work remotely on the other days.
The Talent team will share more details if selected for the "Recruiter" Interview. We'd love for you to join us!
- The Impact You’ll Have
- 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 organizational development.
- Build an operational culture grounded in predictability, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.
Who You Are
- 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.
- Operational Excellence
- 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.
- Leadership and Influence
- 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.
- Ways of Working
- 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.
- Recruiter for this role
- Lou Devlin - Linkedin Profile
- (no agencies please!)
- Typical Process
- Application Submission
- Recruiter video call
- Hiring manager video call
- Virtual “Onsite” consisting of 4-5, 45 min calls
- Presentation Round to team
• Offer!
Compensation and Benefits
- Premium Private Medical and Dental coverage
- Generous time off program with additional “Floating Holiday days”
- Retirement savings program with company contribution
- Equity in a publicly-traded company and an Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Monthly stipend to support our remote work model
- Annual development stipend to support our people's growth and development
- Family-forming benefits and up to 20 weeks of Parental Leave
- Wellbeing programs i. e. Modern Health, Health Kick and much more…
Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London employer: Marqueta
Marqeta is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, particularly for the Senior Director, Operations role based in London. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, Marqeta offers generous benefits including premium medical coverage, equity opportunities, and a supportive environment for professional development. The hybrid work model allows for flexibility while ensuring collaboration and innovation thrive, making it an ideal place for leaders to make a meaningful impact in the fast-paced payments industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London
✨Tap into Campus Networks
If you're still in uni, don’t forget to engage with your campus's career services and attend finance-related events. Banks often do presentations and recruitment drives on campus, so put yourself out there and make use of these opportunities to show off your passion for the field.
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Join finance-focused groups on platforms like LinkedIn and engage in discussions. This can really help you stand out from the crowd, allowing potential employers to see your knowledge and interest in industry trends. Plus, you might stumble upon job postings shared exclusively within the group.
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Role:When applying for a full-time position, your cover letter should make a direct connection between your experience and the job description. Don't just state your enthusiasm for finance—dive into how your background in banking or financial analysis sets you apart. Let your passion shine through while being specific about what you can bring to Marqueta.
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Research and Reflect:Before hitting that 'apply' button on Marqueta's website, do a little digging. Look up their recent projects, values, and culture. Reflecting their ethos in your application can make a huge difference and show you’re genuinely interested in being part of the team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marqueta
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with Marqueta.
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✨Show Your Passion for Finance
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✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former Marqueta employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
