Public Sector Practice Leader

As Public Sector Practice Leader, you will lead a strategically important part of our business, shape the future of our Public Sector practice and help clients navigate an increasingly complex operating environment. This role requires demonstrable experience of working with and/or within the UK public sector, with a strong understanding of the sector's governance, procurement, stakeholder and risk landscape. It is a highly visible leadership role that combines market influence, client leadership, commercial growth and people development. You will set the strategic direction for the practice, champion collaboration across WTW and inspire teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients and colleagues alike.

Working closely with senior leaders across the business, you will identify opportunities to strengthen our market position, deepen client relationships and create innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of public sector organisations.

Location and travel
The Public Sector team is based in our Bristol office. The successful candidate will be expected to travel to Bristol on a weekly basis to spend regular time with the team, support colleague development, drive collaboration and maintain momentum across client, market and growth activity.

The Role

People Management

As Public Sector Practice Leader, you will create an environment where people can do their best work, grow their careers and contribute to the success of the practice. Through inclusive leadership and a commitment to developing talent, you will build a high-performing culture that encourages collaboration, innovation and accountability. You will:

• Lead, inspire and develop a diverse team of colleagues, creating a culture of engagement, inclusion and continuous improvement.

• Coach and mentor current and future leaders, supporting individual development and succession planning.

• Set clear expectations and objectives, empowering colleagues to achieve their full potential in line with HR Group policies, procedures, performance management and goal setting.

• Foster a culture where diverse perspectives are valued and colleagues feel supported, respected and able to thrive.

• Champion collaboration across teams, geographies and lines of business to deliver the best outcomes for clients.

• Provide visible leadership to the Public Sector team through regular weekly presence in the Bristol office.

• Build capability within the practice to meet future business and client needs. 

Proposition Management

You will play a key role in shaping and evolving our Public Sector proposition, ensuring it remains relevant, differentiated and aligned to the needs of a changing market. You will:

• Define and execute the strategic direction of the Public Sector practice.

• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities impacting public sector organisations.

• Bring practical public sector insight to proposition development, reflecting the sector's operating models, funding pressures, governance requirements and stakeholder expectations.

• Enhance and develop client propositions that respond to evolving client priorities and market demands.

• Collaborate with experts across WTW to bring innovative, integrated solutions to clients.

• Leverage data, insights and market intelligence to strengthen our value proposition.

• Drive continuous improvement in the services, solutions and expertise offered by the practice.

Growth and Business Development

You will be responsible for the sustainable growth and long-term success of the Public Sector practice, building strong client relationships and identifying opportunities to expand our impact across the market. You will:

• Accountable for the overall performance, growth and strategic direction of the Public Sector Practice.

• Deliver sustainable growth through client retention, strategic account development, new business acquisition and the expansion of WTW's presence within the Public Sector market.

• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across public sector organisations and partner networks.

• Use established public sector credibility and market understanding to open senior conversations and strengthen WTW's relevance with clients and prospects.

• Identify opportunities to broaden client engagement across WTW's full range of services and solutions.

• Support strategic sales initiatives and major opportunities across the Public Sector market.

• Strengthen WTW's market presence through external networking, industry engagement and thought leadership.

• Contribute to business planning and growth strategies that support long-term success.

Operational Delivery

You will ensure the effective and efficient operation of the practice, balancing commercial objectives with exceptional client service and robust governance. You will:

• Oversee the successful delivery of services and solutions across the Public Sector practice.

• Monitor performance against strategic, financial and operational objectives.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, governance and risk management requirements.

• Use data and business insights to inform decision-making and drive performance.

• Promote operational excellence and quality standards across all areas of responsibility.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver a consistent and outstanding client experience.

Market Leadership & Purpose

At WTW, we believe organisations perform best when they balance commercial success with meaningful impact. As Public Sector Practice Leader, you will help shape the future of a sector that delivers critical services to communities across the UK and Ireland. You will:

• Act as a visible and influential ambassador for WTW within the Public Sector market.

• Champion the values and behaviours that define our culture.

• Represent WTW through industry forums, conferences, client events and thought leadership initiatives.

• Inspire teams around a shared vision and purpose.

• Help public sector organisations navigate change, build resilience and deliver positive outcomes for the communities they serve.

• Drive innovation, collaboration and strategic thinking across the practice.

• Contribute to wider business initiatives and leadership priorities beyond the immediate scope of the role.

What you’ll bring

• Significant and demonstrable public sector experience, ideally gained through advising, leading or partnering with UK public sector organisations in a professional service, consulting, insurance, broking, advisory or comparable environment.

• Experience developing and executing business growth strategies.

• Experience building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Experience leading change, driving strategic initiatives and delivering measurable business outcomes.

• Experience developing client propositions, services or solutions that respond to market needs.

• Experience working across complex, matrixed organisations and bringing teams together around shared objectives.

• Experience developing talent, building capability and fostering high-performing teams.

• Ability and willingness to travel to WTW's Bristol office on a weekly basis, recognising that the Public Sector team is located there.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and the ability to translate vision into action.

• Strong commercial acumen and client focus.

• Excellent credibility with public sector stakeholders, including an appreciation of public accountability, governance, procurement and service delivery pressures.

• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.

• Effective communication, influencing and presentation skills.

• The ability to navigate complexity and make sound decisions in a changing environment.

• All-Inclusive leadership and coaching capability.

• The ability to drive collaboration across teams and disciplines.

• A growth mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.

• Sound judgement, integrity and accountability.

• A commitment to inclusion, diversity and creating a culture where everyone can succeed.

WTW Competencies

• Strategic Leadership

• Client Focus

• Drives Results

• Develops Talent and Teams

• Collaboration and Influence

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, while recognising that this role requires weekly travel to our Bristol office where the Public Sector team is located. You will also have 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 candidatehelpdesk@wtwco.com