Director, Project Management

Overview What part will you play? If youre looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, youve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and youll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. Were always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special The Director, Project Management is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of individual projects and the management of a broader project portfolio to ensure alignment with organizational priorities, operational excellence, and outstanding customer outcomes. This role leads a team of project managers, champions customer needs, applies a data-driven approach to decision-making, and drives process improvements to close customer experience (CX) gaps. The Director will partner with senior leadership, operational teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to establish best practices in project management, deliver results against business and financial goals, and ensure every initiative enhances both business performance and the customer journey. Key Responsibilities Project & Portfolio Leadership: Oversee planning, execution, and delivery of key projects within the companys CPI portfolio; Manage and prioritize the portfolio of projects to align with organizational goals and strategic initiatives; Establish project governance, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with financial and operational goals; Monitor progress against baselines (schedule, budget, and business outcomes), escalating risks and implementing mitigation strategies as needed; Recalibrate the portfolio as necessary to adjust for business shifts, resource needs, or scope changes; Develop, refine, and implement best practices, processes, and tools for effective project and portfolio management; Partner with leadership to identify potential projects aligned with strategic priorities and roadmap initiatives; Promote a culture of continuous improvement by incorporating lessons learned into future initiatives; Establish and maintain effective performance metrics and feedback loops for ongoing process refinement; Partner with internal departments, technical teams, and executive leadership to facilitate project implementation and oversight; Prepare regular project portfolio updates and senior management presentations; Ensure project communication is clear, timely, and aligned with organizational expectations. Customer Advocacy and Team Leadership: Serve as a champion for the customer in all projects, ensuring that initiatives deliver measurable value and satisfaction; Identify and highlight CX gaps within existing processes, services, and products; Partner with business and technology teams to implement solutions that directly enhance customer experience; Lead, coach, and develop a team of project managers to maximize collaboration, accountability, and professional growth; Select and maintain qualified personnel, providing mentoring, coaching, and performance feedback; Establish clear annual objectives for direct reports and foster personal growth opportunities; Maintain effective communication across the team and with broader organizational leadership. Qualifications Required Bachelors degree in business, Project Management, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience). 8+ years of progressive project management experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership role managing both projects and people. Proven experience in portfolio management and delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives. Strong understanding of process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen). Demonstrated success in customer advocacy and translating customer feedback into operational improvements. Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Preferred Masters degree or MBA. PMP, PgMP, or similar certification. Insurance or financial services industry experience. Experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership. Key Competencies Strategic Thinking & Execution Customer-Centric Mindset Change Leadership Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills Cross-Functional Collaboration Team Development & Coaching Risk Management & Mitigation US Work Authorization US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future. Who we are Markel Group (NYSE MKL) is a fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory and investment operations around the world. Were all about people | We win together | We strive for better. We enjoy the everyday | We think further. Whats in it for you In keeping with the values of the Markel Style, we strive to support our employees in living their lives to the fullest at home and at work. We offer competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees needs at all stages of life. All full-time employees have the option to select from multiple health, dental and vision insurance plan options and optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance. We also offer a 401(k) with employer match contributions, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, PTO, corporate holidays and floating holidays, parental leave. Are you ready to play your part? Choose Apply Now to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. Safety and Compliance Caution: Employment scams. All legitimate job postings will be posted on Markel Careers. All legitimate communications will come from Markel.com email addresses. If in doubt, report any job employment scams to rarecruiting@markel.com. Markel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on protected characteristics. If you require accommodation through the application process, please email rarecruiting@markel.com. No agencies please. #J-18808-Ljbffr