Market Talent Partner/Lead Recruiter

Markel • Chicago, IL

3d • $97,520 - $134,090 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Market Talent Partner at Markel, you will play a key role in helping the business attract top talent across the US Insurance divisions. In this individual contributor role, you will serve as a strategic, market-facing talent advisor, partnering closely with business leaders and HR Business Partners to understand hiring needs, shape targeted talent strategies, and build strong external relationships across the divisional landscape. You will be most successful in this role if you bring deep knowledge of the specialty insurance talent market, credibility with industry talent, and a proactive, relationship-driven approach to identifying and engaging high-caliber candidates.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in talent acquisition, executive search, underwriting, or recruiting, ideally within specialty insurance, E&S, or other specialized talent markets.
• A track record of building talent pipelines and engaging passive candidates for critical, niche, or hard-to-fill roles.
• Strong understanding of the E&S insurance market, including talent trends, competitor dynamics, and key functional roles.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to establish credibility with business leaders and external talent.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems, sourcing tools, and data to inform recruiting strategies and measure effectiveness.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple searches, stakeholders, and priorities in a dynamic environment.
• The professional presence and market credibility to represent Markel effectively externally.
• US Work Authorization required. Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Professional training or certification in recruiting, talent acquisition, or human resources is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business leaders to understand current and future talent needs and develop proactive recruiting strategies aligned with business priorities.
• Serve as a market-facing talent acquisition advisor, bringing insight into competitor activity, talent trends, and market dynamics.
• Build and maintain strong external relationships across the E&S market, including industry talent, brokers, underwriters, associations, and other key market participants.
• Develop targeted sourcing strategies and talent pipelines for critical and hard-to-fill roles, with a focus on specialized talent.
• Provide market intelligence, talent mapping, and recommendations that help hiring leaders make informed talent decisions.
• Lead full-cycle recruitment for assigned roles, delivering a high-quality and efficient hiring process from intake through offer.
• Partner closely with HR Business Partners and internal stakeholders to align on hiring priorities, recruiting strategy, and candidate experience.
• Represent Markel in the external market through networking, industry events, and relationship-building activities that strengthen brand awareness and access to talent.
• Track and analyze recruiting activity, pipeline health, and market data to generate insights, measure effectiveness, and continuously improve outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policies related to talent acquisition.
• Travel up to 30% as needed.

Benefits

• Competitive benefit programs that help meet our diverse and changing environment as well as support our employees’ needs at all stages of life.
• Option to select from multiple health, dental and vision insurance plan options
• Optional life, disability, and AD&D insurance.
• 401(k) with employer match contributions
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• PTO
• Corporate holidays and floating holidays
• Parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior