Head of Willis Technology Assurance

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

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Group income protection

Pension scheme

Job summary

WTW is seeking an experienced Head of Technology Assurance to lead our assurance function across digital and data products and services in the UK. You will define strategy for quality, security, compliance, risk and data assurance, embedding assurance throughout the product lifecycle and reporting to senior leadership on technology risk and quality.

You will build and lead a high-performing team, drive testing standards, AI/ML assurance, and governance across Agile, DevOps and release processes,

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in technology assurance, quality, risk or related function.
• Strong 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.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technology assurance strategy, aligned to objectives, technology direction and risk appetite.
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing assurance function across quality, security, compliance, data and tech risk.
• Embed assurance into agile, DevOps and continuous delivery environments as a strategic partner.
• Establish standards across digital products, data platforms and services.
• Oversee test automation, non-functional testing, defect management and vulnerability management.
• Lead technology compliance, audit and regulatory assurance with standards/regulations.
• Own data quality, governance, lineage and integrity assurance frameworks.
• Develop assurance frameworks for AI/ML and agentic technologies, incl. responsible AI and model risk.
• Drive AI, automation and monitoring to improve assurance efficiency.

Skills

Senior leadership

Technology assurance

QA

Security

Compliance

Data governance

Agile/DevOps

AI/ML assurance

Education

CS/IT degree

Tools

Auditing tools

Security testing tools

Job description

Description

We are looking for an experienced Head of Technology Assurance to lead our assurance function across digital and data products and services. You will define and drive the strategy for quality, security, compliance, risk and data assurance, ensuring our technology is safe, reliable, compliant and fit for purpose. Working across Technology, Engineering, Product, Data and Governance, you will embed assurance throughout the product lifecycle and provide senior leadership with clear insight into technology risk and quality. You will also shape the future of assurance through AI, automation and emerging technologies.

The Role

• 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.

Qualifications

What you'll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in technology assurance, quality, risk, security or a related technology function.
• Strong understanding of digital products, data services and technology delivery across the full lifecycle.
• Experience leading across multiple assurance disciplines, such as 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.
• Degree in Computer Science, IT or a related discipline preferred, or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• CISM, CISSP, CISA, ISTQB or equivalent certification.
• Experience in financial services or another regulated environment.
• Experience with AI/ML assurance, responsible AI or model governance.
• Hands-on experience with AI-driven testing, automated monitoring or agentic assurance.
• Experience building or scaling a technology assurance function.

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