Higher Education / Executive Search
Higher Education Recruitment: Appointments and Savings
Senior academic and professional services appointments made through Talent Acumen’s research-led search
Placements by university
| University | Placements | CVs submitted | Interviewed | Our fee (+VAT) | Typical agency fees | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Gordon University | Director of External Affairs; Head of Communications (6 months later, no extra fee) | 19 | 10 | £8,925 | £38k to £52k | £29k to £43k |
| University of Central Lancashire | Professor of Digital Transformation, Business School | 21 | 5 | £8,000 | £19.4k | £11.4k |
| Manchester Metropolitan University: Business & Law | Professor of Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship | 26 | 12 | £15,750 | £25k | £9.25k |
| Manchester Metropolitan University: Arts & Humanities | Professor of Sustainability, Design and Fashion Systems; Professor of Sculpture | 20+ | 5 | £10,000 | £42.5k | £32.5k |
| University of Southampton: Optoelectronics Research Centre | Professor of Photonics and Optoelectronics, plus a second senior academic (one role briefed) | 23 | 7 | £11,000 | £55k | £44k |
| Total | 8 placements from 5 searches | 109+ | 39 | £53,675 | £180k to £194k | £126k to £141k |
Typical agency fees are calculated at 25% of salary per hire: RGU on the advertised salary range for both roles (so shown as a range), UCLan on the entry Professor salary of £77,668, Manchester Met Business & Law on a £100,000 professorial salary, Manchester Met Arts & Humanities on c.£85,000 and Southampton on £110,000.
What this shows
One fee, any number of hires. RGU, Manchester Met Arts & Humanities and Southampton each made two appointments from a single search, with no placement fee for either.
Passive talent reached. Appointees included academics who were not looking to move. We found and approached them directly, rather than relying on adverts.
Candidates who stay the course. Every candidate RGU shortlisted attended final interview, which its recruitment team had never seen from a search agency.
Intelligence the university keeps. Each university received the full market map of everyone identified and approached, ready for future vacancies.
In the client's words
“I found the experience of this headhunting one of the better approaches I have experienced and mentioned it to a number of my colleagues both within the University and to some outside in the wider sector.”
Dr Duncan Cockburn, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources), Robert Gordon University
“We are delighted with the result and I truly hope that this opens the door for Talent Acumen... I can honestly say when using search agencies, we have never had the shortlisted candidates all make it to final interview. There is always at least one that pulls out. Despite providing a reduced service in terms of engagement/interviews with candidates, Talent Acumen have obviously gained buy in and thoroughly understood the candidates and motivations to get this kind of result.”
Julie Skinner, Recruitment Manager, Robert Gordon University