Defence Security Virtual Practice Leader

Willis Towers Watson; Greater London; On-site; GBP 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Group income protection

Pension scheme (10% matched)

Volunteer day

Electric vehicle car scheme

Share scheme

Cycle-to-work

Dental cover

Optical cover

Critical illness protection

Job summary

Willis Towers Watson is seeking a Defence & Security Virtual Practice Leader, based in London, to lead a UK-wide and global outward-facing practice. You will unite stakeholders, set strategy, and drive growth across government, defence, aerospace, security and critical infrastructure.

You will lead major business development opportunities, shape client propositions, and align UK priorities with international strategy while scaling the practice and embedding new ways of working.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience within Defence & Security, risk advisory, consulting, insurance, professional services or a related market.
• Experience developing and winning complex, high-value opportunities.
• Strong relationships with senior decision-makers across the sector.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate in a matrix environment.
• A strategic mindset with drive to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and leadership skills.
• Experience in insurance, risk management, government, defence procurement, cyber, resilience, national security environments.

Responsibilities

• Map Defence & Security clients, opportunities and activity across the organisation, establishing clear priorities and aligned account plans.
• Drive adoption of the new practice model by securing stakeholder commitment and embedding consistent ways of working.
• Build and strengthen relationships with senior stakeholders across defence, government, security, aerospace and related industries.
• Identify emerging market trends, risks and opportunities and convert insight into commercial action.
• Personally lead major business development opportunities and complex client engagements, mobilising the right expertise at the right time.
• Create innovative client propositions by bringing together expertise across risk, insurance, advisory, analytics and capital solutions.
• Act as an executive sponsor for key strategic accounts and support long-term client retention and growth.
• Represent the organisation externally through industry events, thought leadership and professional networks.
• Collaborate with global sector leaders to ensure alignment between UK priorities and international strategy.
• Implement the governance, talent plan and commercial structure required to scale the practice.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Stakeholder mgmt

Business development

Relationships

Communication

Security/Defence industry

Job description

Description

Join us as our Defence & Security Virtual Practice Leader, based in London and supporting UK and global outward business. This is a unique opportunity for a commercially minded leader to unite stakeholders behind a clear vision and turn strategy into measurable growth.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to establish and grow a UK Defence & Security Virtual Practice. With an established portfolio of clients across multiple teams from which you can derive specialist expertise, the opportunity is to unite existing strengths, create a distinctive market-facing proposition and accelerate growth across government, defence, aerospace, security, technology and critical infrastructure organisations. The role combines sector leadership, business development, client engagement with the potential to assume P&L responsibility as the practice scales.

Working across the UK and our global network, you will coordinate teams and specialist expertise around shared priorities, embed new ways of working and lead from the front on priority opportunities. You will develop differentiated solutions that help clients navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical, operational and risk landscape.

The Role

As lead, you will set the strategy and operating model for a new virtual practice.

Success will require visible leadership, business growth momentum and broad stakeholder commitment. You will:

• Map Defence & Security clients, opportunities and activity across the organisation, establishing clear priorities and aligned account plans.
• Drive adoption of the new practice model by securing stakeholder commitment and embedding consistent ways of working.
• Build and strengthen relationships with senior stakeholders across defence, government, security, aerospace and related industries.
• Identify emerging market trends, risks and opportunities and convert insight into commercial action.
• Personally lead major business development opportunities and complex client engagements, mobilising the right expertise at the right time.
• Create innovative client propositions by bringing together expertise across risk, insurance, advisory, analytics and capital solutions.
• Act as an executive sponsor for key strategic accounts and support long‑term client retention and growth.
• Represent the organisation externally through industry events, thought leadership and professional networks.
• Collaborate with global sector leaders to ensure alignment between UK priorities and international strategy.
• Implement the governance, talent plan and commercial structure required to scale the practice.

Qualifications

What you’ll bring

• Leadership experience within Defence & Security, risk advisory, consulting, insurance, professional services or a related market.
• Experience developing and winning complex, high‑value opportunities.
• Strong relationships with senior decision‑makers across the sector.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate in a matrix environment.
• A strategic mindset with drive to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Excellent communication, relationship‑building and leadership skills.
• Experience in insurance, risk management, government, defence procurement, cyber, resilience, national security environments.

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 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 [e-mail]