The client
University of Southampton, a Russell Group university ranked among the UK’s leading research-intensive institutions, with a global reputation for innovation and excellence in education.
The project
Deputy Director of Global Recruitment, Admissions & Marketing (GRAM).
|
The brief
This newly created role was designed to provide strategic and operational leadership across the University’s global recruitment, admissions, marketing, and partnerships functions. The role supports delivery of Southampton’s corporate strategy, which targets ambitious growth in undergraduate and international student numbers. The successful candidate would need to bring deep knowledge of UK and international recruitment, sector credibility, stakeholder management skills, and the ability to lead large-scale, cross-functional teams. An understanding of digital marketing and commercial insight was also key.
The process
Veredus partnered closely with the Director of GRAM to define the brief and shape a compelling candidate proposition. We targeted senior professionals with experience in complex, globally engaged higher education environments and a demonstrable track record of driving student recruitment and strategic innovation.
Our proactive international search combined targeted headhunting with strategic advertising across sector-specific platforms, generating strong engagement from a diverse candidate pool. We attracted 43 formal applications, shortlisted five high-calibre individuals for final interview, each assessed for their leadership capability, cultural alignment, and insight into the evolving global student recruitment landscape.
The results
Veredus successfully appointed a candidate with the required experience, values, and leadership profile. The new Deputy Director brings a collaborative approach, commercial acumen, and a commitment to advancing Southampton’s global reach and strategic recruitment goals.
Take-aways
• Strong collaboration with the client team enabled a well-defined brief and responsive search strategy.
• Flexibility on hybrid working was essential in managing candidate expectations around relocation.
• The role’s broad scope and strategic visibility attracted candidates with diverse commercial and digital backgrounds.
• Veredus’s knowledge of the HE market and targeted search capability delivered a strong shortlist for a newly created senior post.
Close