Job Title: Deputy Director – Recruitment (Leadership Hiring & Executive Search)
Location
Delhi NCR
Reporting To
Director – Human Resources / CHRO
Role Summary
The Deputy Director – Recruitment will be responsible for leading the organization's leadership hiring strategy and executive search initiatives across academic and non-academic functions. The role requires identifying, attracting, assessing, and onboarding senior talent including Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, CXO-level leaders, and other critical leadership positions.
The ideal candidate should possess strong expertise in executive search, talent mapping, market intelligence, stakeholder management, and headhunting. Candidates with experience in Higher Education institutions or executive search/consulting firms serving Higher Education clients will be preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Executive Hiring
- Lead end-to-end recruitment for senior leadership and strategic positions across the organization.
- Manage hiring mandates for academic and administrative leadership roles including Vice Chancellors, Pro Vice Chancellors, Deans, Directors, Registrars, Principals, COOs, CFOs, CHROs, and other critical positions.
- Develop and execute executive search strategies to identify and attract high-caliber talent.
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of leadership candidates for current and future requirements.
Executive Search & Headhunting
- Conduct targeted market mapping and talent intelligence exercises across Higher Education institutions, universities, research organizations, EdTech companies, and relevant industries.
- Utilize direct sourcing, networking, referrals, industry associations, and executive search methodologies to identify passive talent.
- Engage and influence senior professionals through consultative recruiting approaches.
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism while handling sensitive leadership mandates.
Stakeholder Management
- Partner closely with senior management, Board members, academic leadership, and hiring committees to understand talent requirements.
- Advise stakeholders on market trends, compensation benchmarking, talent availability, and hiring strategies.
- Facilitate candidate assessments, interviews, and selection processes for leadership positions.
Talent Market Intelligence
- Monitor Higher Education talent trends, compensation benchmarks, and competitor hiring practices.
- Conduct talent mapping studies for key institutions and emerging sectors.
- Generate market insights to support strategic workforce planning and succession planning initiatives.
Employer Branding & Talent Engagement
- Strengthen the institution's employer brand within the Higher Education ecosystem.
- Build relationships with industry leaders, academic professionals, research scholars, and professional networks.
- Represent the organization at industry forums, conferences, and networking events.
Recruitment Governance & Analytics
- Ensure adherence to recruitment policies, processes, and compliance requirements.
- Track leadership hiring metrics including time-to-fill, source effectiveness, candidate quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Prepare periodic recruitment dashboards and reports for senior leadership.
Desired Candidate Profile
Educational Qualification
- Master's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or related discipline.
- Additional certifications in Executive Search, Talent Acquisition, or Leadership Assessment will be an advantage.
Experience
- 12–18 years of progressive experience in Talent Acquisition, Executive Search, or Leadership Hiring.
- Experience within a reputed Higher Education institution, university, EdTech organization, or executive search/consulting firm serving Higher Education clients.
- Demonstrated success in hiring senior academic and corporate leadership positions.
Essential Skills
- Executive Search
- Leadership Hiring
- Headhunting
- Talent Mapping
- Market Intelligence
- Stakeholder Management
- Candidate Assessment
- Workforce Planning
- Employer Branding
- Negotiation & Offer Management
- Relationship Management
- Strategic Talent Acquisition
- Succession Planning
- Recruitment Analytics
Behavioural Competencies
- Strong influencing and relationship-building skills.
- Exceptional communication and presentation abilities.
- High level of professionalism and confidentiality.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving orientation.
- Ability to engage effectively with senior leadership and Board-level stakeholders.
Preferred Industry Background
- Universities and Higher Education Institutions.
- Education Groups and Academic Networks.
- EdTech Organizations.
- Executive Search Firms.
- Talent Consulting Firms specializing in Higher Education, Education, Research, or Knowledge Services sectors.
Key Success Metrics
- Closure of leadership positions within agreed timelines.
- Quality and retention of leadership hires.
- Strength and depth of talent pipelines.
- Stakeholder satisfaction scores.
- Diversity and succession readiness of leadership talent pools.
- Effectiveness of executive search and talent mapping initiatives.
