Senior Technical Director – Construction

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WTW is seeking a Senior Technical Director, Construction, to lead technical risk and insurance guidance for major infrastructure and civil projects from Auckland. The role requires strong contract interpretation, deep construction insurance know how, and the ability to turn complex risk findings into clear, commercially focused advice for account directors, broking teams and underwriters. You’ll provide senior technical leadership, support bids and design through delivery, mentor colleagues, and help shape renewals and market engagement. Essential: curiosity, analytical rigor, excellent written and verbal communication, and a proven ability to engage senior stakeholders; in your application, spotlight major infrastructure work, contract interpretation outcomes, and collaboration with underwriting teams. NZ Certificate in Financial Services Level 5 or ability to obtain with WTW support; onsite full-time.

The Role

Join WTW’s market‑leading Construction Risk & Insurance specialty and support some of the region’s most significant infrastructure and civil engineering projects. This senior role suits experienced construction brokers and/or professionals with strong contract‑interpretation capability (such as legal, project advisory, or risk consulting backgrounds) who enjoy solving complex risk and insurance challenges.

You’ll bring strong technical judgement and the ability to translate complexity into clear, commercially focused advice. Working closely with Account Directors, broking teams, underwriters, and specialist partners, you’ll provide high‑value technical leadership while collaborating across the practice to deliver excellent client outcomes. This is a highly visible and impactful role with the autonomy to shape technical excellence across major national projects.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Quality Assurance

• Act as a senior technical authority across construction risks, offering clear, commercially practical advice.
• Lead and uphold technical standards in contract reviews, policy interpretation, risk analysis, and insurance structure recommendations.

2. Strategic Client & Project Support

• Provide senior input across project lifecycles from bid and design phases through delivery, helping clients understand, allocate, and mitigate risk.
• Translate technical findings into strategic recommendations that support project success.

3. Partnership with Account Directors & Broking Teams

• Partner closely with Account Directors and brokers across the business on renewal strategies, market engagement, pricing analysis, and underwriter negotiations.
• Provide specialist technical input for broking, client management, or commercial outcomes.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Market Influence

• Build credibility with senior stakeholders, including contractors, project owners, engineers, lawyers, insurers, and risk specialists.
• Strengthen WTW’s presence in the construction insurance market by maintaining strategic relationships with insurers and technical partners.

5. Business Growth, Value Creation & Revenue Support

• Contribute technical insight to tenders, bids, and capability presentations.
• Identify opportunities to add value, strengthen accounts, and leverage cross‑practice expertise across WTW.

6. Development & Capability Building

• Mentor colleagues, support technical training, and contribute to continuous improvement within the Construction Practice.
• Ensure compliance with WTW processes, regulatory obligations, and quality standards.

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The Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Curiosity, initiative, and a desire to deepen specialist technical expertise within a supportive learning environment.
• Strong experience in construction, general or liability insurance broking, underwriting, and/or working in an environment requiring skilled contract interpretation (e.g., legal, project advisory, risk consultancy).
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex documents.
• Confident communicator with the ability to explain complex technical issues clearly and commercially to senior stakeholders.
• Professional, reliable, and committed to delivering outstanding client outcomes.
• Excellent written communication, able to distil technical issues clearly and concisely.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy.

• New Zealand Certificate in Financial Services (Level 5) or ability to obtain Level 5 with WTW’s support. 

   

Desirable 

• Exposure to major infrastructure, engineering, PPP, or alliance projects.

• Familiarity with reviewing construction contractual clauses for insurance implications.

   

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 [email protected]