Director - Commercial Lines Underwriting

Willis Towers Watson; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Hybrid working options

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Group income protection

Defined contribution pension (10%+)

Volunteer day

Electric vehicle car scheme

Share scheme

Cycle-to-work

Dental cover

Optical cover

Critical illness protection

Job summary

Willis Towers Watson in London invites an accomplished Director to lead underwriting transformations for commercial and specialty insurance. You will influence C-suite executives, shape strategy and portfolio performance, and partner with analytics and technology teams to deliver integrated solutions. The role emphasises leadership, client growth and market-facing insights, with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Significant commercial and/or specialty insurance underwriting experience.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and executives.
• Experience leading complex programmes involving operational change and transformation.
• Strong understanding of data enrichment, analytics and digital decisioning.
• Proven commercial mindset with client propositions and growth experience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commitment to inclusive leadership and developing diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting transformation and operating model programmes for commercial and specialty insurers.
• Advise C-suite executives on underwriting strategy, portfolio performance and digital transformations.
• Drive data-driven underwriting adoption to improve risk selection and efficiency.
• Grow client relationships and identify new consulting opportunities and revenue growth.
• Create and enhance underwriting consulting propositions and market insights.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Coach and mentor colleagues, fostering an inclusive high-performing environment.

Skills

Underwriting strategy

Stakeholder influence

Programme leadership

Data-driven underwriting

Commercial mindset

Communication skills

Inclusive leadership

Job description

Description

Join us and play a leading role in shaping the future of commercial and specialty insurance. As a Director within WTW's UK Property & Casualty Consulting Practice, you will partner with senior insurance executives, underwriting leaders and transformation teams to solve some of the market's most complex underwriting, pricing and portfolio management challenges.

This is a highly visible leadership role combining deep underwriting expertise, consulting excellence and commercial acumen. You will help clients modernise underwriting practices, enhance decision-making, leverage advanced analytics and technology, and unlock sustainable profitable growth in an increasingly dynamic insurance landscape.

Working alongside industry-leading consultants, actuaries, data scientists and technology specialists, you will influence business strategy, develop innovative client solutions, contribute to thought leadership and help expand WTW's market presence across the commercial and specialty insurance sector.

The Role

• Lead large-scale underwriting transformation and operating model programmes for commercial and specialty insurers, ensuring successful delivery of strategic business outcomes.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite executives, Chief Underwriting Officers and senior leadership teams on underwriting strategy, portfolio performance and digital transformation initiatives.
• Drive the adoption of data-driven underwriting and digital decision-making capabilities, helping clients enhance risk selection, operational efficiency and underwriting effectiveness.
• Develop and grow client relationships, identify new consulting opportunities and contribute to business development, proposal activity and revenue growth objectives.
• Lead the creation and enhancement of WTW's underwriting consulting propositions, intellectual capital, thought leadership and market-facing insights.
• Partner with multidisciplinary teams across consulting, analytics, technology and global practices to deliver integrated solutions for complex client challenges.
• Coach, mentor and develop colleagues, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing environment while helping build the next generation of consulting talent.

Qualifications

What you'll Bring

• Significant commercial and/or specialty insurance underwriting experience, including exposure to underwriting strategy, portfolio management or underwriting transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and build trusted relationships with executives, underwriting leadership teams and key decision-makers.
• Experience leading complex programmes involving operational change, digital transformation, underwriting optimisation, process redesign or technology implementation.
• Strong understanding of emerging underwriting trends, data enrichment, digital decisioning and the evolving role of analytics within insurance organisations.
• Proven commercial mindset with experience contributing to business development activities, developing client propositions and identifying growth opportunities.
• Excellent communication, collaboration and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into practical business solutions.
• A commitment to inclusive leadership, continuous learning and developing diverse teams through coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing.

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 [e-mail]