Description
Join as a Public Sector Account Director and lead the strategic development of relationships with some of the UK's most influential public sector organisations. Acting as the primary client lead, you will bring together WTW's market-leading insurance, risk, claims and advisory capabilities to help clients manage risk, meet governance requirements and deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.
You will own a portfolio of public sector clients and prospects, with responsibility for client retention, service excellence, business development and tender support. Working across a diverse client base including local authorities, central government, education, housing, health, transport, infrastructure and emergency services, you will build trusted relationships with senior decision-makers and identify opportunities to expand the value WTW delivers.
This role offers the opportunity to influence complex and high-profile programmes while partnering with specialist colleagues across the business, positioning you as a key leader within WTW's Public Sector Practice and a trusted advisor to organisations operating under significant public scrutiny and accountability.
The Role
- Take ultimate responsibility for the provision of required services to public sector clients, ensuring delivery is transparent, auditable and aligned to agreed service standards.
- Understand each client’s statutory responsibilities, operational exposures, political and reputational sensitivities, risk financing needs and procurement constraints, then translate these into practical insurance and risk advisory solutions.
- Identify and maintain active relationships with key budget holders, procurement leads, legal advisers, finance directors, risk managers, project sponsors, senior officers and other public sector decision makers.
- Provide technical, industry and subject matter expertise on public sector insurance programmes, including property, liability, motor, construction, cyber, terrorism, financial lines and specialist project risks where relevant.
- Draw on specialist technical teams across WTW to provide joined-up advice on claims advocacy, risk engineering, analytics, placement strategy, contract review, project advisory work and emerging risk themes.
- Determine appropriate solutions, programme structures, pricing and placement strategies that meet client needs, withstand procurement scrutiny and deliver sustainable, profitable business.
- Grow the existing portfolio by identifying new opportunities within current public sector relationships, frameworks, projects, joint ventures, arms-length bodies and associated entities.
- Lead, coordinate and motivate supporting service teams, ensuring clear roles, ownership, timelines and communication across client service, placement, claims and technical workstreams.
- Maintain effective working relationships with Claims Advocates to support prompt, defensible outcomes and clear communication with public sector clients, insurers and other advisers.
- Actively drive the sales process for winning, retaining and developing public sector clients, including positioning WTW’s differentiated value proposition in complex competitive tenders.
- Optimise placement outcomes and revenue from new and existing clients using appropriate market channels, framework routes, insurer engagement strategies and data-led negotiation.
- Lead end-to-end operational and service delivery, adhering to WTW policies, regulatory obligations, client service standards and all agreed governance requirements.
- Understand and manage compliant public sector insurance procurement processes, including activity under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and the Procurement Act 2023 where applicable.
- Support insurance contractual drafting and review for model-form and project contracts, helping clients evaluate bidder responses, clarify insurance queries and resolve risk allocation issues.
- Lead and coordinate public procurement tender responses, including solution design, bid narrative, pricing inputs, evidence, case studies, compliance responses and presentation preparation.
- Support and deliver the insurance advisory workstream for public sector projects, including appraisal of project risks, development of insurance requirements, tender engagement and evaluation support, strategic advice to project teams and advisers, negotiation of bidder insurance issues and post-award verification of contractual insurance compliance and evidence of cover.
- Actively participate in public sector forums, industry workshops, training sessions and seminars to maintain market insight and strengthen WTW’s profile.
Qualifications
What you’ll bring
- Preferably ACII qualified, legally qualified, or holding a comparable professional qualification; candidates with a strong combination of insurance technical and legal or contract experience will be particularly relevant.
- Strong insurance knowledge and experience, with practical understanding of public sector risk profiles, insurance programme design, tendered insurance placements and strategic account development.
- Understanding of UK public procurement principles, including transparency, equal treatment, value for money, auditability, conflicts management and compliant tender evaluation.
- Experience contributing to or leading public sector tenders, framework submissions, procurement clarifications, evaluation support or contract-related insurance work.
- Ability to interpret insurance clauses, contract schedules, indemnity provisions, collateral warranties, limits, deductibles, evidence of cover and insurance compliance requirements.
- Track record of developing trusted senior relationships with public bodies, procurement teams, legal advisers, insurers, loss adjusters, external specialists and internal stakeholders.
- Experience of new business development and converting prospects to clients, ideally in a regulated, tender-led or relationship-led environment.
- Ability to represent Willis Towers Watson with integrity and credibility, particularly where clients are subject to public accountability, transparency and scrutiny.
- Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to explain complex insurance and contractual issues clearly to non-insurance stakeholders.
- Experience working with processes and systems that support client service, regulatory compliance, governance, data quality and document control.
- Experience of global programmes is useful but not essential; experience with complex UK public sector, infrastructure, construction, PFI/PPP, outsourcing or project-related risks would be advantageous.
What we offer
Enjoy a benefits package designed to help you thrive, both professionally and personally. You'll receive 25 days of annual leave plus an extra WTW day to relax and recharge. Our comprehensive health and wellbeing offering includes private healthcare, life insurance, group income protection, and regular health assessments, all giving you peace of mind. Secure your future with our defined contribution pension scheme, featuring matched contributions up to 10% from the company.
We support your growth and balance with hybrid working options, access to an employee assistance programme, and a fully paid volunteer day to make a difference in your community. On top of these, you can opt into a variety of additional perks including an electric vehicle car scheme, share scheme, cycle-to-work programme, dental and optical cover, critical illness protection, and much more. Start making the most of your career and wellbeing with a range of benefits tailored for you.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We’re committed to equal employment opportunity and provide application, interview and workplace adjustments and accommodations to all applicants. If you foresee any barriers, from the application process through to joining WTW, please email candidatehelpdesk@wtwco.com
