Academic leadership
Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Deans, Directors, Principals of constituent colleges, Academic Director, Head of Department and Centre Director.
Higher Education Practice
University Recruitment Agency in India — Faculty, Deans and Vice Chancellors
Savanna HR runs Vice Chancellor and Pro-VC searches and hires Registrars, Deans and faculty for private universities, deemed universities and colleges across India. Every academic shortlist is checked against UGC, AICTE and statute eligibility before it reaches you.
30+Universities served
600+University roles closed
22 daysAverage faculty fill
92%Offer acceptance rate
2.5+ yrsAverage stay in role
Roles we hire for universities
Every function a modern university runs, from the Vice Chancellor's office to the hostel
Leadership, faculty, research, administration, technology, admissions and student life. One specialist team that understands academic eligibility norms and the commercial side of running an institution.
Faculty
Professors, Associate and Assistant Professors across engineering, management, law, design, architecture, liberal arts, sciences, commerce and media. Professors of Practice, adjunct and visiting faculty.
Medical and health sciences
MBBS and PG medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, allied health and AYUSH faculty. Medical Superintendents and teaching-hospital administration.
Research and innovation
Dean of Research, research faculty, Top 2% scientists, postdocs, grants managers, IPR and tech-transfer officers, and incubation centre CEOs.
Programmes and quality
Program Heads, Program Managers, Course Directors, Controller of Examinations, IQAC Director, NAAC, NBA and NIRF accreditation leads.
Online and executive education
Director of Online and Distance Education, online Program Managers, instructional designers, LMS administrators and Head of Executive Education.
Administration and governance
Registrar, Deputy and Assistant Registrars, COO, CFO, Finance Controller, HR Head, legal and compliance, estate and campus project heads.
Technology and digital
CIO, CTO, ERP Head, IT Head, Head of Digital Transformation, data and MIS heads.
Admissions, marketing and growth
Director of Admissions, Heads of International Admissions, Admissions and Outreach Heads, business and marketing heads, brand and PR, alumni relations and fundraising.
Placements and industry
Dean and Director of Placements, Corporate Relationship Heads, career services leads, internship and industry–academia collaboration heads.
Student life and campus
Dean of Students, Chief Warden and wardens, student counsellors, sports directors, Chief Librarian and campus medical officers.
Pan-India and abroad
University hiring across India
We work with institutions in every major higher-education belt, not only metro campuses. Strong academic appointments often come from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, NRI returners and industry veterans.
NorthDelhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
WestMaharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
SouthKarnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh
EastBihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand
Abroad: we place Indian academics in universities in Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, UAE, Vietnam and Russia.
Who we work with
Institutions at every stage
State private universities
Deemed-to-be universities
Greenfield universities
Multi-campus education groups
Medical and health sciences colleges
B-schools and engineering institutes
Autonomous colleges
International universities entering India
Our process
How a university search works
Built around your selection committee and statutes, not corporate assumptions.
5–7 hrsFirst faculty shortlist
22 daysAverage faculty fill
3–4 monthsVC search
- 1
Discovery
A call with the Chancellor, VC, Registrar or HR head to agree the role, eligibility norms, budget and timeline.
- 2
Role brief
A written brief the selection committee assesses every candidate against.
- 3
Market mapping
We map eligible candidates across peer institutions and share the map for calibration.
- 4
Eligibility check
Qualifications, experience, PhD and publication norms checked against UGC, AICTE and your statutes.
- 5
Confidential outreach
Discreet approach to serving leaders, especially for VC and Dean searches not yet announced.
- 6
Shortlist and assessment
Candidate notes for the search-cum-selection committee, with pay benchmarked against comparable institutions.
- 7
Offer and joining
We manage counter-offers and notice periods. Every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Why Savanna HR
Why universities choose us
Compliance first
No candidate is shared without an eligibility check against UGC, AICTE and statute norms.
Confidential leadership search
Discreet approach to serving VCs, Deans and Registrars, timed to your governance calendar.
Pay benchmarks
Every leadership offer is benchmarked against comparable institutions.
Reach beyond tier-1
Candidates from across India and the Indian academic diaspora, not just the usual names.
One live dashboard
Your committee sees every profile, interview and feedback note in one place, with history flags on candidate records.
Candidates who stay
Placed candidates stay 2.5+ years in the role on average, and 92% of offers are accepted.
Track record
University hiring case studies
University leadership
Vice Chancellor and Dean appointment
A confidential university leadership search. Case study details coming soon.
Read case studyFaculty hiring
Building a specialist academic faculty
A faculty hiring mandate designed around academic eligibility and institutional fit. Case study details coming soon.
Read case studyGreenfield university
Appointing a founding leadership team
A founding-team search spanning academic, administrative and growth leadership. Case study details coming soon.
Read case studyInsights
University hiring resources
Research and guides built from the searches we run.
Practice lead
Swati Sinha, Founder & CEO
Leads Savanna HR's higher-education practice and advises chancellors, trustees and vice chancellors on leadership and faculty appointments.
Read Swati's profileFAQs
University recruitment FAQs
Which is the best recruitment agency for university hiring in India?
Savanna HR is a specialist university recruitment agency in India that runs Vice Chancellor searches and hires Deans, Registrars and faculty for private and deemed universities. It checks every shortlist against UGC, AICTE and statute eligibility before profiles are shared.
Do you hire for universities outside Delhi NCR?
Yes. Savanna HR hires for universities and colleges across India, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Bihar, and places Indian academics in universities abroad.
How long does a Vice Chancellor search take?
A Vice Chancellor search usually takes three to four months, plus the selected candidate's notice period. Faculty and administrative roles take 22 days on average.
Are your faculty shortlists UGC and AICTE compliant?
Yes. Every academic candidate is checked against current UGC Regulations, AICTE norms where they apply, and the institution's own statutes before their profile is shared.
Do you hire Professors of Practice from industry?
Yes. Savanna HR places senior industry professionals as Professors of Practice, as well as adjunct and visiting faculty.
Can you help a new university hire its founding team?
Yes. We help greenfield universities hire their first leadership team, including the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, founding Deans, finance head and admissions and placement leaders.
Do you handle visas and relocation for international faculty?
We find and assess international and diaspora faculty, and connect the institution and candidate with partner agencies that handle visas and relocation.
