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 100000 - 150000 € 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 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.
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, HealthKick and much more…
Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London employer: MQ Referrals Only
Marqeta is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering employees the opportunity to lead transformative projects in the payments industry. With a strong focus on professional growth, Marqeta provides generous benefits including premium healthcare, equity options, and a supportive environment for work-life balance through hybrid working arrangements. Located near London, employees benefit from a vibrant city atmosphere while being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that Senior Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Marqeta’s operations and think about how your experience aligns with their needs. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've driven operational excellence and customer satisfaction in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! During interviews, highlight your ability to build high-performance teams and influence stakeholders. Share stories that demonstrate your strategic vision and hands-on approach to problem-solving.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Marqeta team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Operations - EU / UK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Director role. Highlight your experience in leading operations and how it aligns with Marqeta's goals. We want to see how you can drive excellence in customer journeys!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:This is a senior position, so don’t hold back on sharing your leadership experiences. Talk about how you've built high-performance teams and influenced stakeholders. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and lead!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate candidates who can communicate effectively, just like we do at StudySmarter!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Let’s get your journey started!
How to prepare for a job interview at MQ Referrals Only
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in Marqeta’s operations, especially around Solution Engineering and Delivery. Brush up on the payments ecosystem and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals for operational excellence and customer journey improvement.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to build and lead high-performance teams. Think about times when you’ve influenced stakeholders or integrated teams to achieve a common goal. This role is all about leadership, so make sure you demonstrate your strategic vision and hands-on approach.
✨Understand the Customer Journey
Familiarise yourself with the end-to-end customer journey from pre-sales to program launch. Be ready to discuss how you would enhance this journey at Marqeta, focusing on reducing Time to Value and improving customer satisfaction through operational improvements.
✨Be Ready for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires tight alignment across various teams. Prepare to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated with different departments in the past, such as Sales, Account Management, and Compliance. Highlight your communication skills and your ability to eliminate friction in processes.
