What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it.
The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re 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 role blends strategy and execution: setting near- and long-term direction for AI technology while directing the design, build, and delivery of reusable, enterprise-grade AI capabilities. The successful candidate will proactively identify enterprise AI needs, monitor the fast-moving AI innovation landscape, and accelerate responsible adoption across business units — all in service of Markel's strategic and business objectives.As the primary relationship owner between the AI Enablement Center and IT application delivery and enterprise governance bodies, this leader ensures AI investments are prioritized against organizational goals, measured for business impact, and governed in line with risk and regulatory requirements. The role also provides senior-level engagement with business unit executive leadership and works closely with Forward Deployed AI Leads embedded in each business unit.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
- Develop and own the short- and long-term AI technology strategy, ensuring tight alignment with Markel's enterprise and business unit goals.
- Continuously research, monitor, and evaluate emerging AI innovation, trends, and vendors; translate developments into actionable opportunities for the enterprise.
- Partner with the AI Enablement Center, AI Leads, and business leaders to translate prioritized AI opportunities into scalable technology capabilities, platform investments, and enterprise solutions.
Platform & Solution Delivery
- Direct the design, execution, and delivery of reusable, scalable AI platform capabilities (e.g., agentic AI, orchestration, observability, model and tooling infrastructure) that can be leveraged across business units.
- Establish engineering standards, reference architectures, and a “paved road” that accelerates safe, consistent AI development and reduces duplicated effort.
- Oversee the pilot-to-production lifecycle, ensuring solutions scale reliably from proof of concept to enterprise production.
Adoption & Business Engagement
- Enable scaled adoption through the delivery of secure, reliable, reusable AI platforms and services that can be leveraged across business units.
- Provide senior-level engagement with business unit executive leadership on strategic alignment, portfolio priorities, and escalation resolution.
- Partner with the AI Enablement Center, enterprise architects, and technology leaders to evaluate solution approaches and ensure alignment with enterprise AI standards and platform strategy.
Governance, Risk & Partnership
- Serve as the primary relationship owner between the AI Enablement Center and IT application delivery and enterprise governance bodies.
- Ensure AI investments are aligned to organizational priorities, measured for business impact, and governed according to risk, security, and regulatory requirements.
- Establish metrics and reporting — adoption, business impact, cost/FinOps, and usage — to demonstrate value and inform decision-making.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, mentor, and grow a small team of AI engineers; manage partner and vendor teams.
- Cultivate strong dotted-line relationships with IT Leaders and Architecture teams to ensure alignment and integration with the broader technology landscape.
- Foster a culture of innovation, responsible AI, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 10+ years of technology experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role delivering enterprise technology platforms or solutions.
- Demonstrated experience defining and executing AI/ML or emerging technology strategy at enterprise scale.
- Strong understanding of the modern AI landscape — including generative and agentic AI, LLMs, orchestration, MLOps/LLMOps, and cloud AI platforms.
- Proven track record of delivering reusable, production-grade technology capabilities and driving cross-organizational adoption.
- Experience partnering with governance, risk, security, and architecture functions; familiarity with AI governance and regulatory considerations.
- Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and translate between technical and business audiences.
- Experience leading engineering teams and managing partner/vendor relationships.
Preferred
- Advanced degree (Master’s / MBA) in a relevant field.
- Experience in insurance, financial services, or another regulated industry.
- Hands-on experience operationalizing AI within a Center of Excellence or platform operating model.
- Familiarity with FinOps practices for AI/cloud cost management.
- Knowledge of responsible AI frameworks and evolving AI regulation (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF).
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-SY
US Work Authorization
US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.
Pay information:
The base salary offered for the successful candidate will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, geographic location, and other factors. The national average salary range for the Director, AI Technology Platform and Solutions is $150,000 - $223,850 with 45% incentive.
Who we are:
Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) 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.
We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better
We enjoy the everyday | We think further
What’s 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.
Caution: Employment scams
Markel is aware of employment-related scams where scammers will impersonate recruiters by sending fake job offers to those actively seeking employment in order to steal personal information. Frequently, the scammer will reach out to individuals who have posted their resume online. These "job offers" include convincing offer letters and frequently ask for confidential personal information. Therefore, for your safety, please note that:
All legitimate job postings with Markel will be posted on Markel Careers. No other URL should be trusted for job postings.
All legitimate communications with Markel recruiters will come from Markel.com email addresses.
We would also ask that you please report any job employment scams related to Markel to [email protected].
Markel is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of any protected characteristic. This includes race; color; sex; religion; creed; national origin or place of birth; ancestry; age; disability; affectional or sexual orientation; gender expression or identity; genetic information, sickle cell trait, or atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait; refusal to submit to genetic tests or make genetic test results available; medical condition; citizenship status; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, familial status, or family responsibilities; military or veteran status, including unfavorable discharge from military service; personal appearance, height, or weight; matriculation or political affiliation; expunged juvenile records; arrest and court records where prohibited by applicable law; status as a victim of domestic or sexual violence; public assistance status; order of protection status; status as a smoker or nonsmoker; membership or activity in local commissions; the use or nonuse of lawful products off employer premises during non-work hours; declining to attend meetings or participate in communications about religious or political matters; or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Should you require any accommodation through the application process, please send an e-mail to the [email protected].
No agencies please.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 10+ years of technology experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role delivering enterprise technology platforms or solutions.
- Demonstrated experience defining and executing AI/ML or emerging technology strategy at enterprise scale.
- Strong understanding of the modern AI landscape including generative and agentic AI, LLMs, orchestration, MLOps/LLMOps, and cloud AI platforms.
- Proven track record of delivering reusable, production-grade technology capabilities and driving cross-organizational adoption.
- Experience partnering with governance, risk, security, and architecture functions; familiarity with AI governance and regulatory considerations.
- Exceptional executive communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and translate between technical and business audiences.
- Experience leading engineering teams and managing partner/vendor relationships.
- US work authorization required (employer does not provide visa sponsorship).
- Advanced degree (Master's / MBA) in a relevant field.
- Experience in insurance, financial services, or another regulated industry.
- Hands-on experience operationalizing AI within a Center of Excellence or platform operating model.
- Familiarity with FinOps practices for AI/cloud cost management.
- Knowledge of responsible AI frameworks and evolving AI regulation (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF).
Markel Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Markel and has not been reviewed or approved by Markel.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive coverage includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, and telehealth, complemented by company-sponsored wellness programs and free fitness/mindfulness apps. Feedback suggests expanded mental-health resources and wellness incentives further enhance support.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include 401(k) and other financial protections that can add meaningful long-term value. Feedback suggests strong company matching and retirement contributions are a notable part of the package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A broad suite includes paid time off, corporate holidays, parental leave, hybrid work, volunteer time, and education support. Feedback suggests PTO accrual grows with tenure and can include an option to buy extra days.
Markel Insights
What We Do
At Markel, we believe in hard work, a zealous pursuit of excellence, and fairness in all our dealings. Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) is a global Fortune 500 company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. We seek to be a leader in each of our pursuits, with insurance being our primary business. As a market leader for specialty insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world, Markel embodies integrity, commitment, teamwork, and innovation in every day operations. We are encouraged to look for a better way to do things. Since our founding in 1930, we have sought to know our customers’ needs and to provide quality products and service. Markel specializes in providing coverage for hard-to-place risks for a variety of niche markets including: • Agricultural and equine risks • Reinsurance for large risk enterprises such as oil rigs • Event cancellation insurance for weddings, concerts, and sporting events • Inland marine coverage for fine art collections • Environmental pollution • Yachts, ATVs, and motorcycles At Markel we provide an atmosphere in which people can reach their personal potential. We are results-oriented, and we continually strive for a better way to do things. The Markel approach is one of spontaneity and flexibility. Markel helps employees balance work and social activities. Markel gives you the keys to success! Keeping an open mind and learning new skills allows our associates to stay ahead of the marketplace. Above all, we enjoy what we are doing. There is excitement here that comes from innovating, creating, striving for a better way, sharing success with others…winning. That is the Markel Style.
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