Account Director - Employee Relations

The Account Director – Employee Relations is a senior role within the Workplace Risk Employee Relations team, responsible for leading the delivery of ER advisory and project work, overseeing retained client arrangements, and supporting business development and revenue growth for the Employee Relations (ER) practice. 

Reporting to the ER Services Lead, this role will ensure service quality, responsiveness, and continuity for key accounts, while also contributing to the expansion of cross-practice solutions such as WTW Pay Comply. The Account Director will play a pivotal role in mentoring junior team members, supporting market expansion, and ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of the ER practice.

The Role

• Lead the delivery of complex ER advisory and project work, including WTW Pay Comply service delivery in collaboration with the Retirement team.
• Oversee retained client arrangements and key accounts, ensuring service quality, responsiveness, and continuity.
• Support business development and market expansion, including the pursuit of larger, strategic projects and support for growth strategy.
• Deliver high-quality ER advisory services that contribute to, and exceed, both individual and practice-level revenue and growth targets, including assessing commercial risk, pricing services, and negotiating client contracts.
• Represent the practice in industry forums, client presentations, and internal meetings as required.
• Mentor and develop junior team members (e.g., Account Executive), building internal capability and resilience.
• Contribute to the broader Workplace Risk practice by collaborating on cross-functional projects, sharing expertise, and supporting the integration of Employee Relations with other risk and compliance services.
• Deliver and expand cross-LOB (Line of Business) solutions, supporting both business development and service delivery for high-demand growth initiatives.
• Engage in initiatives related to workers’ compensation, including partnering with the workers’ compensation team to deliver integrated solutions for clients, advising on complex cases where ER and workers’ compensation intersect, and supporting the development of best practice resources and training.
• Support the development and delivery of holistic workplace and people risk solutions that address employee relations, workers’ compensation, health and safety, and compliance needs for clients.
• Maintain and grow client relationships, ensuring high levels of client satisfaction and retention.
• Develop and support internal processes, best practices, and compliance within the ER team, ensuring all services meet company policies, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of ER and workplace risk consulting.

 The Requirements

• Tertiary qualification or equivalent in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, Business or a related field.
• Extensive experience in employee relations, industrial relations, or a related field, with a proven track record of leading complex client matters and managing retained accounts.
• Demonstrated ability to drive business development, secure new business, and contribute to market expansion.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with experience developing junior team members.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Deep knowledge of Australian (and ideally New Zealand) employment legislation, workplace safety, and compliance requirements.
• Strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and the ability to deliver results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Applicants must have Australian or New Zealand citizenship or hold a valid and appropriate permanent working visa.

Note: Employment-based visa sponsorship and/or assistance is not offered for this specific job opportunity. 

Why Join WTW?

WTW provides a competitive benefits package which includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

• Annual bonus
• Company paid salary continuance insurance
• Life and TPD insurance 
• Hybrid working
• Networks (Gender, Wellbeing, Pride)
• Career Growth – internal opportunities and development programs

At WTW, we trust you to know your work and the people, tools and environment you need to be successful. The majority of our colleagues work in a ”hybrid” style, with a mix of in-person and in-office interactions dependent on the needs of the team, role and clients. Our flexibility is rooted in trust and “hybrid” is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

We understand flexibility is key to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and so we encourage requests for all types of flexible working. Please speak to your recruiter to discuss more.

At WTW, we believe that a culture of inclusion and diversity is critical to our business. It's not a separate initiative – rather it’s fundamental to everything we do. We are an equal-opportunity employer who is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and embrace diversity including gender, nationality, disability, age, marital/parental status, ethnicity, gender identity and sexual orientation. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.  

In the spirit of reconciliation Willis Towers Watson acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. 

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 candidate.helpdesk@willistowerswatson.com