Head of Technology Assurance & Risk (Hybrid)

WTW; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Job summary

Willis Towers Watson is seeking an experienced Head of Technology Assurance to lead our assurance function across digital and data products. You will define and drive the strategy for quality, security, compliance, risk and data assurance, ensuring our technology is safe and fit for purpose.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will embed assurance across the product lifecycle, shape assurance for AI/ML, oversee audit, and build a high-performing team across locations.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in technology assurance, quality, risk or related function.
• Understanding of digital products, data services and technology delivery across the full lifecycle.
• Experience leading across multiple assurance disciplines (QA, security, compliance, data or technology risk).
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate complex technology risks clearly.
• Experience embedding assurance within Agile, DevOps and continuous delivery environments.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML and emerging agentic technologies and their assurance implications.
• Proven track record of improving and innovating assurance practices.
• Experience managing distributed or global teams across multiple locations and time zones.
• Strong experience in release management, delivery governance and quality gates.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and ability to operate effectively in a matrix environment.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technology assurance strategy, aligned to business objectives, technology direction and risk appetite.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing assurance function across quality, security, compliance, data and technology risk.
• Embed assurance into Agile, DevOps and continuous delivery environments, acting as a strategic partner rather than a delivery gate.
• Establish quality, testing, security and release standards across digital products, data platforms and services.
• Oversee test automation, non-functional testing, defect management, vulnerability management and penetration testing.
• Lead technology compliance, audit and regulatory assurance, ensuring alignment with relevant standards and regulations.
• Own data quality, governance, lineage and integrity assurance frameworks.
• Develop assurance frameworks for AI/ML and agentic technologies, including responsible AI, model risk, bias, explainability, safety and human oversight.
• Drive the use of AI agents, automation and continuous monitoring to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assurance.
• Maintain the technology assurance risk and control framework, prioritising activity based on business risk.
• Provide senior leadership with clear reporting on technology risk, quality, compliance and assurance performance.
• Manage assurance budgets, resources, tooling and third-party/vendor assurance.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and maturity across the assurance function.
• Build strong relationships across Engineering, Product, Data, Legal, Risk and Commercial teams, influencing decisions through collaboration and expertise.
• Develop assurance capability through coaching, training and knowledge sharing.

Education

Degree in Computer Science, IT or related discipline

Equivalent experience

Job description

Willis Towers Watson is seeking an experienced Head of Technology Assurance to lead our assurance function across digital and data products. You will define and drive the strategy for quality, security, compliance, risk and data assurance, ensuring our technology is safe and fit for purpose.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will embed assurance across the product lifecycle, shape assurance for AI/ML, oversee audit, and build a high-performing team across locations.