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Higher Education Overview
Practicus has been delivering Talent and Advisory Services to the HE market for over 10 years. Working closely with C-suite and functional leaders within over 50% of the UK Universities we have an in-depth understanding of both macro and micro challenges the sector has - and is facing.
See below, a case study from one of our Higher Education Sector clients who we supported through a complex business-wide transformation. It includes a comprehensive view of the key functions and stakeholders we engaged and the diverse job roles we delivered to them.
Functions & Key Stakeholders
We've worked across six core functions, each led by dedicated stakeholders who drive strategic initiatives and operational excellence.
Functions
Finance
HR
IT
Procurement
Projects & Planning
Legal
Key Stakeholders
  • CFO (acting COO)
  • Finance Director
  • Financial Accountant
  • Head of Financial Operations
  • Head of Financial Planning
  • Head of People Operations
  • HR Director
  • Head of IT and Digital Services
  • Head of Technology and Digital Projects
  • Head of Infrastructure and Governance
  • Head of Product
  • Head of Architecture
  • Head of Infrastructure Technologies
  • Head of Procurement
  • Procurement Manager
  • Director of Strategic Projects and Planning
  • Senior Information and Data Manager
  • Senior PM
  • Transformation Programme Workstream Lead
  • Head of Legal
Types of Roles: Worked by Function
Across our six functions, we've successfully recruited for a diverse range of specialist and leadership positions, each contributing unique expertise to our organisational goals.
Procurement
  • Senior Procurement Manager – Estates, Facilities and Property
  • Procurement Manager
Legal
  • Senior Legal Advisor
  • Legal Advisor
Finance
  • Financial Accountant
  • Assistant Financial Accountant
  • Head of Payroll and Pensions
  • Head of Financial Operations
  • Finance & HR Systems Manager
HR
  • Director of HR
  • People and Organisational Change Manager
  • Change and Communications Manager
Projects & Planning
  • Director of Governance
  • Transformation Director
  • Transformation PM
  • Senior PM
  • Senior Change Manager
  • Business Analysts (x3)
  • HESA Planning Consultant
  • CRM Project Manager
  • Project Manager
  • Business Process Designer
IT
  • Senior Delivery Manager
  • Identity Manager
  • Product Engineering Lead
  • Senior Business Analyst
  • Solutions Architect
  • Data Consultant
  • Data Migration Consultant
  • Data Analyst
What we've achieved
“I was referred to Practicus by a colleague who was utilising their Advisory Service. The University fully engaged Practicus during our Transformation Programme, and they provided expert consultation and high-quality talent at short notice, supporting us through a period of significant change… Practicus consistently demonstrated a transparent, reliable, and professional approach, and I would confidently recommend their services to other stakeholders within the higher education sector.”
- Chief Operating Officer, Higher Education Institution
Why Us?
Finding the right talent shouldn't hold you back. We're here to make sure you get the people you need, when you need them, with confidence and peace of mind.
Our Services
Senior-level roles aren't "business as usual" anymore. You need people who can deliver clear outcomes fast. We dig beneath job specs to understand the real challenges, benchmark and qualify the role, and create a targeted, agile approach to the market.
Our award-winning teams bring deep expertise across Interim, Permanent, and Executive Search. You get a trusted partner who adapts as your business needs evolve.
Our proven screening and assessment process finds candidates who genuinely fit—how they think, lead, and solve problems, not just what they've done. We focus on mindset and long-term potential so you gain someone who delivers beyond the short term.
OUR APPROACH
We use a dual methodology:
  • Human-first, authentic engagement
  • Best-in-class, tech-enabled processes
By using AI to save time, we focus on the human elements that matter—insight, empathy, and emotional intelligence.
ADVISORY SERVICES
Our extensive network gives you free access to experienced professionals and subject-matter experts, offering real-time advice, peer learning, and practical solutions whenever you need them. Find out more.
Our Recruitment Approach
Our bespoke search process is designed to deliver the right fit quickly. We aim to place interim candidates within 5 working days, and permanent or fixed-term hires within 10 working days, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.
INTERIM
PERMANENT
FIXED
Executive search
1
STEP 1: Strategic Kickoff
We start with a deep-dive briefing to understand the role, team, and goals. From this, we build a clear, compelling candidate pack that sets the tone for a strong search.
2
STEP 2: Smart Sourcing
Combining experience, tech, and insider networks, we pinpoint high-potential talent—often the people you won’t find on paper. Our tools and reach help us zero in on the best of the market.
3
STEP 3: In-Depth Interviews
We take the time to truly get to know each candidate. Through detailed interviews, we assess their experience, personality, and motivations to ensure the strongest fit before they meet you.
4
STEP 4: Curated Shortlist
You receive a shortlist of 3–4 fully qualified, personally vetted candidates. Each profile includes interview notes, a clear rationale, and often an embedded video clip so you can see them in action.
5
STEP 5: Interview Management
We handle everything—from scheduling to preparation. Our bespoke coaching sessions and real-time feedback loops keep interviews smooth, productive, and candidate-friendly.
6
STEP 6: Offer & Onboarding
We guide both you and the candidate through offers, negotiations, and onboarding. We stay close throughout the transition to help ensure a confident, seamless start.
Our Insight-Led Approach
We leverage comprehensive data and market intelligence to refine our recruitment strategies, ensuring precision, speed, and diversity in every search.
Market Insight
Regular candidate conversations provide real-time insights into availability, skill trends, and salaries. We collaborate with clients to align hiring strategies and secure extraordinary talent.
Diversity Benchmarking
We proactively track candidate network diversity and placements, benchmarking them against the market. This influences our search processes and supports inclusive workforce planning. Read more.
Continuous Monitoring
Data from every search assesses performance, allowing us to tailor our approach to market nuances and industry shifts. This data-driven process delivers high-quality candidates with precision.
Data-Driven Sourcing
We align our services with market trends, using data to inform decisions. This enables quick access to sought-after skills, maintaining impressive 2:1 interview-to-placement and 3:2 CV-to-interview ratios.
Our Track Record
Our experience goes well beyond your sector, spanning multiple industries. This cross-sector insight fuels innovation, bringing fresh ideas and proven solutions from different perspectives to solve business challenges in smarter ways.
Read more case studies here.