This roles primary responsibility is to position HR as a strategic business partner and develop strong relationships across allocated business areas becoming the ‘go to’ person for all HR requirements across specific client groups delegating within HR where appropriate.
At Markel, we believe that what we do really matters. And that every one of us has the power to make a difference. To us, insurance is more than a piece of paper. It’s a promise to help people get back on their feet. It’s a commitment that gives people the courage to take chances. And in uncertain times, it’s the fuel that moves the world forward.
Since the very start, we’ve used our ingenuity to insure risks that others can’t.
Finding smart solutions to complex problems, so people can live their lives and seize opportunities.
Our style is about focussing on people’s needs, not just words on a page. It’s about building relationships and connecting as humans. And ultimately, it’s about being there for people when they need us most.
In our eyes, our journey is just beginning. Together, we’re building a business that supports more people, in more places. But unlike our peers, we’ll never lose our people-first focus as we grow. Because you will always be what makes Markel special. And what continues to power this business forward.
Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) is a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.
Find out more by visiting our websites www.markelinternational.com
Role overview
This is an exciting opportunity for an HR Business Partner to join Markel’s Human Resources team with oversight of people activity within our continental Europe operations (France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Switzerland). This role will drive a cohesive people agenda that is aligned to the company’s ambitious growth plans, it will also oversee the implementation of strategic HR initiatives, as well as handling cyclical HR activity.
The HR Business Partnering team (seven FTE based in UK, Singapore and Canada) is central to the coordination and delivery of the company’s people agenda. The role works closely with the centres of excellence (COEs) in Talent Development, Recruitment, Total Rewards and HRIS teams, with the goal of delivering a world-class employee experience.
This role will have coverage of circa 200 employees, supported by local HR representatives in Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
Duties and responsibilities
- Working closely with HR leadership and local HR teams to deliver a consistent people experience which recognises the importance of local markets and requirements
- Build and maintain strong business relationships across assigned business units and/or location coverage areas and be a trusted business partner to help achieve their overall people plans and assist business leadership in coaching their teams on HR best practice
- Working with the relevant COEs to improve and streamline processes across locations
- Work with leadership to develop robust resource and succession plans
- Partner with the Talent team to support the Talent Cycle for designated business areas, including but not limited to, performance and talent calibration activity, skills analysis exercises and team reviews
- Partner with Finance team in supporting business units with headcount forecasting and budget process
- Work in collaboration with the recruitment team to create a cohesive recruitment experience across Europe, leveraging the employee value proposition
- Supports the company’s and divisions’ diversity and inclusion efforts, developing and supporting employee network activity as required
- Support leaders on the annual reward cycle as well as identifying benchmarking requirements throughout the year; reviewing and communicating data/suggestions provided by the Total Reward team
- Have oversight of complex employee relations issues in given locations
- Work in collaboration with the wider global HR business partnership team, fostering strong relationships and a global mind-set, contributing to complex HR projects cross-functionally, taking the lead on global and local initiatives where appropriate
- With the support of the local HR team members, manage day to day employee lifecycle activities such as family leave, role changes, wellbeing support etc
- Possible line management duties as well as coaching other team members as appropriate
What you will bring to the role
- Strong experience of business partnering within an international organisation, working closely across a matrix organisation to maximise relationships and the support of COE’s to ensure exemplary HR support across relevant business units
- Have experience of end to end HR activity to include operational areas
- Thrive within a fast moving, growth environment as well as being a lead contributor to a high performing HR business partnering team
- Experience of working with employment law across multi locations
- Must have experience of complex employee relations matters including but not limited to reorganisations and organisational design
- Be able to demonstrate prior experience and understanding of complex total reward compensation plans and awards
- Demonstrate strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to message complex and/or HR process in in a persuasive and pragmatic way
- Strong Excel, with an ability to grasp and interpret data as well as presenting information at an executive level
- Experience of M&A activity desirable
- Role model the Markel Style with a high level of integrity and discretion