Head of HR MSAM (Interim)

About MSM (MSIG Specialty Marine) – MSM is a captive managing general agent that offers tailored marine insurance solutions. With a team of roughly 200 specialists and a broad product range, MSM delivers market‑leading underwriting, claims handling and risk advice, while maintaining a client‑focused service culture.

Job Purpose

This rare opportunity calls for a commercially minded, people‑focused interim Head of HR. Reporting to the CEO, the role will elevate the HR function to the next level, act as a trusted advisor to the Management Board and partner closely with MSIG Europe while driving business priorities across MSIG group entities.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Strategy & Business Partnering: Define and execute the MSM HR strategy aligned with the MSM Management Board and the broader MS Amlin group direction; identify people risks and opportunities and translate business priorities into practical HR initiatives.
• Team Leadership: Lead, develop and inspire the MSM HR team; set clear objectives, strengthen ownership and deliver high‑quality, business‑focused support across all MSM locations.
• MSIG Europe Interface & Service Governance: Act as the primary MSM interface with MSIG Europe HR functions, govern the quality, scope and delivery of shared HR services, and ensure mandatory self‑service standards.
• Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning: Own end‑to‑end recruitment and workforce planning for MSM, partner with MSIG Europe on shared pipelines, frameworks and employer brand initiatives, and strengthen succession planning.
• Performance Management & Reward: Drive the performance management cycle, champion goal setting, development conversations and differentiated reward; work with MSIG Europe on benchmarking, pay review and benefits harmonisation.
• Learning, Development & Engagement: Champion a culture of learning and development; support technical, leadership and commercial capability programmes; drive employee engagement initiatives using data and feedback.
• Employment Law, Compliance & Employee Relations: Ensure full compliance with employment legislation across all jurisdictions; manage complex employee relations matters with sound judgment and confidentiality.
• Organisational Design & Change Management: Support and lead organisational design activities, including restructures, role redesign and integration projects; act as a key change enabler and build stakeholder buy‑in.
• HR Reporting & Analytics: Maintain accurate HR data, develop dashboards, present insights to the Management Board, and use data to support evidence‑based decisions.
• Culture, Identity & Employee Experience: Guard and shape MSM’s culture, ensuring it remains specialist, client‑focused and collaborative; strengthen the employee experience through practical, visible HR activity.

Key Relationships

• Managing Director & MSM Management Board
• MSM HR team
• MSIG Europe HR leadership and specialist HR functions
• Country leaders and functional leaders across MSM
• Legal counsel, Works Councils and employee representative bodies
• External partners, recruiters, advisors and vendors

What we are looking for

• Minimum of ten years’ progressive HR experience within international environments and a university degree in a relevant subject.
• Strong understanding of how HR can actively support business performance and translate priorities into practical people plans.
• Proven experience in complex, empowered or decentralised organisations with a current, practical grasp of modern HR trends and best practice.
• Credible communicator with cultural awareness and respect for diversity—able to engage senior leaders on sensitive people matters with discretion and sound judgment.
• A “hands‑on” and agile HR leader, comfortable shaping strategy, developing policy and delivering practical implementation.
• Commercially minded and able to contribute to senior leadership discussions beyond the HR mandate.
• Track record of managing HR in matrix or shared‑services environments, coordinating services across entities without direct line authority.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of French, Dutch or German a strong asset.

Personal Characteristics

A self‑starter with high energy, a pragmatic, business‑oriented mindset and a focus on delivering measurable business impact. Opens to data, numbers and insight, and striking a balance between strategy and execution. An inspiring, credible leader who builds trust across cultures, challenges constructively, and possesses resilience, discretion and fairness.

Leadership Competencies

• Collaboration and Influencing Skills: Build successful partnerships across functions, entities and geographies; act as an internal consultant to the Management Board and senior leadership.
• Results Orientation: Translate strategy into measurable action plans; lead by example, hold self and others accountable and move initiatives forward without large team dependencies.
• Strategic Orientation: Think long‑term, identify opportunities, and combine vision with tactical execution, resourcefulness and a willingness to roll up sleeves.
• Change Leadership: Bring about change, build compelling cases, and implement with conviction; experience leading change across a group, including subsidiary‑parent interfaces.
• Commercial and Data‑Led Mindset: Use workforce data, business insight and market context to inform decisions on talent, succession, performance and engagement; drive conversations from tracking to business impact.

What we offer

• A senior role with direct access to the Managing Director and Management Board, and genuine influence beyond the HR function.
• An international, multi‑country environment backed by the resources of MSIG Europe.
• High degree of autonomy and empowerment to shape the HR function and make a tangible difference.
• A collaborative specialist culture with a team of approximately 200 professionals.
• The opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in a specialist, client‑focused organisation.

Why Join Us?

Beyond a traditional Head of HR, this role offers the platform, visibility and support to shape the people agenda of a specialist international business at a pivotal point in its evolution. It is an opportunity for an ambitious, commercially minded HR leader to influence business direction beyond HR and to build meaningful partnerships across the broader European group.

Interested?

To apply, submit your CV together with a brief introduction, outlining your interest in the role and what attracts you to MSIG Specialty Marine. We look forward to hearing from you.

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