What Jobs Are Available at Universities Besides Teaching?

Higher education is often associated with lecturers and researchers, but the reality is that universities are large, complex organisations that rely on a wide range of professional services staff to function. For every academic, there's a team of specialists keeping things running behind the scenes.

Here's an overview of the key areas:

Marketing & Communications - Universities invest heavily in reputation, recruitment, and engagement. Roles span brand management, digital marketing, content, PR, and student recruitment campaigns, often working closely with faculties and senior leadership.

Human Resources - From recruitment and talent management to employee relations, organisational development, and EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion), HR teams in higher ed are substantial and increasingly strategic.

Finance - Universities manage significant budgets across research, teaching, and commercial activity. Finance professionals work across management accounting, financial planning, procurement, and compliance.

IT & Digital Transformation - One of the fastest-growing areas in higher ed. Roles include IT operations, cybersecurity, data analytics, business intelligence, and the implementation of student-facing systems and platforms.

Student Services & Academic Support - This covers everything from student wellbeing and disability support to careers advice, international student services, and academic registry, roles that sit at the heart of the student experience.

Estates & Facilities - Universities are often among the largest property owners in their region. Estates teams manage everything from capital projects and sustainability programmes to day-to-day facilities management.

Research & Innovation Services - Supporting academics in securing funding, managing grants, and commercialising intellectual property, a specialist area that's grown significantly as universities compete for research income.

Governance & Legal - Compliance, risk, legal counsel, and governance secretariat roles that keep institutions accountable and well-run.

The breadth of opportunity in higher education is one of its most underappreciated qualities. Whether your background is in technology, finance, communications, or operations, there's likely a route in and a genuine career to be built.

Ready to explore what's out there? Browse professional services roles across UK universities at www.burmanrecruitment.com/jobs