Head of Willis Technology Assurance

Overview

In this role you will define and own the technology assurance strategy across quality, security, compliance, data and technology risk, embedding assurance across agile and DevOps product lifecycles. You will lead a cross-functional team, provide senior leadership with clear risk and quality insights, and drive AI-driven automation to enhance assurance effectiveness. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on governance to ensure safe, reliable, and compliant digital products and services. You will shape the future of assurance through emerging technologies and strong stakeholder collaboration.

Pay / Benefits

• 25 days annual leave
• private healthcare
• group income protection
• pension scheme with matched contributions
• hybrid working
• volunteer day

Responsibilities

• Define and own the technology assurance strategy aligned to business objectives and risk appetite
• Build and develop a high-performing assurance function across quality, security, compliance, data and technology risk
• Embed assurance in Agile, DevOps and continuous delivery environments as a strategic partner
• Establish standards for quality, testing, security and release across digital products and data platforms
• Oversee test automation, non-functional testing, defect management, vulnerability management and penetration testing
• Lead technology compliance, audits and regulatory assurance
• Own data quality, governance, lineage and integrity assurance frameworks
• Develop assurance frameworks for AI/ML and agentic technologies (responsible AI, model risk, bias, explainability, safety and human oversight)
• Drive AI, automation and continuous monitoring to improve assurance efficiency
• Maintain risk and control framework, prioritising based on business risk
• Provide senior leadership with clear reporting on risk, quality, compliance and assurance performance
• Manage budgets, resources, tooling and third-party/ vendor assurance
• Foster continuous improvement, innovation and maturity across the assurance function
• Build relationships across Engineering, Product, Data, Legal, Risk and Commercial teams; influence decisions through collaboration
• Develop assurance capability through coaching, training and knowledge sharing

Key requirements

• Significant senior leadership experience in technology assurance, quality, risk, security or related function
• Broad understanding of digital products, data services and technology delivery across the lifecycle
• Experience leading 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
• Strong understanding of AI/ML and emerging agentic technologies and their assurance implications
• Track record of improving and innovating assurance practices
• Experience managing distributed or global teams across locations and time zones
• Strong release management, delivery governance and quality gates
• Excellent stakeholder management in a matrix environment
• Degree in Computer Science, IT or related discipline preferred, or equivalent experience

• strategic leadership
• stakeholder management
• clear communication
• quality assurance
• security
• compliance

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