Table of Contents

• [toc headings="h2,h3,h4" title="Table of Contents"] Like most industries today, the education sector is experiencing a period of uncertainty, change, and disruption. Shifting demographics, teacher shortages, income disparities, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have introduced new challenges to the education sector, and many organization leaders are leveraging new technologies to overcome them. As you might expect, this has prompted fast growth in the emerging edtech sector. According to Grand View Research, the global education technology market was valued at approximately $163 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $348 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.3%. Meanwhile, Technavio projects the market will grow by an additional $170.8 billion between 2024 and 2029. This trend has had a compounding effect on the sector's growth. As more educators use technology to improve the classroom experience, more entrepreneurs and startups are capitalizing on this trend to develop new edtech solutions. While this growth is arguably a good thing for both edtech companies and educators, it has also made the market for edtech talent far more competitive than it was a few years ago. An edtech recruiter who understands this shifting landscape can be a critical ally, helping leaders to secure the talent that will allow them to scale their operations to meet rising demand. Of course, you don't just want to hire any recruiter—you want to find the right one to meet your talent needs. With that in mind, here are the 7 best edtech recruiters operating today.

• 1. Redfish Technology

• Founded in 1996, Redfish Technology has a combination of longevity and industry expertise that's difficult to find in the edtech recruiting space. They've been recruiting for edtech roles since 2001, putting them among the earliest firms to enter the sector and making them today one of the most experienced edtech recruiting agencies that organizations are likely to find. Redfish Technology has a track record of successful placements in both technical and non-technical roles across the United States, with an emphasis on inclusivity and DEI efforts and experience scaling entire sales, marketing, and engineering teams in virtual learning, digital curriculum, test prep, administrative tools, workflow platforms, absenteeism solutions, and more. Redfish also has former K-12 educators among their current recruiters, giving their team unique insights into what teachers and administrators need from their technology and allowing them to articulate candidate qualifications and client needs clearly and fully. Their edtech recruiting approach is built on what they call a "human-focused interaction rather than a transactional one," prioritizing long-term relationships with both clients and candidates. Redfish offers three distinct service models: retained/executive search for high-impact C-suite and leadership positions, engaged recruiting that balances commitment with cost-effectiveness, and contingent recruiting for organizations seeking a success-based, no-upfront-fee solution. Their engaged search process typically takes four weeks from initial discovery call to extended offer, with clients receiving a dedicated point of contact and a minimum of 20 hours of weekly focus on their search. What sets Redfish apart is their network built over nearly 30 years in the business, combined with a 30,000+ company followers network they leverage for candidate sourcing. They utilize advanced AI software and a curated four-touch candidate outreach campaign to source qualified candidates, typically delivering at least five resumes to clients by the end of the first week. The firm boasts an 86% candidate retention rate across industries, with an average time-to-fill of four weeks for edtech roles. Their engaged search is backed by a 60-day refund or replacement guarantee, and their fee structure is 25% of the base first-year salary of the new hire. Among their notable edtech clients are companies like Accelerate Learning, Apex Learning, GradeCam, InformedK12, and Prenda. Read more about Redfish Technology's edtech recruiting

• 2. OceansThree

• OceansThree is a boutique firm with a tight focus on edtech professionals, offering hands-on talent development and placement services. The firm was co-founded in 2014 by Tracy Augustine and David Gillespie, both industry veterans who bring extensive backgrounds from education publishing giants Pearson and Cengage. Tracy Augustine, the current Managing Partner, has over 25 years of experience across the education industry, including leadership positions at Pearson Education, Cengage (where she served as CMO), and Apple, where she was Director of Worldwide Education managing marketing teams across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Like Redfish, their staff includes former educators who intimately understand the needs of classrooms today. The agency's most unique value add is the depth of their team development and coaching services. Not only do they coach candidates through the hiring process but they also work with organizations to identify the root of their staffing issues and solve these problems so they can hire and retain the top professionals. OceansThree specializes in retained executive search for Director to C-Suite level positions across sales, marketing, product, technology, and general management functions within the education sector. Their database includes over 19,000 industry professionals, giving them unparalleled access to top talent in the edtech space. What distinguishes their approach is that the same partner works with clients and candidates throughout the entire search process—and beyond the hire date through onboarding—rather than handing off to junior staff mid-process. The firm brings over 166 years of combined recruiting and business leadership experience in education and education technology. Their team also includes Pamela Lancaster, who joined in late 2021 and brings 15 years of executive consulting experience focused on change management, corporate structure, and vision clarification. Candidates frequently report that their experience with OceansThree has been "better than any firm they have worked with" and that they "forget that we don't work at the company (that is hiring)." The firm's holistic approach extends beyond placement to include professional development and retention services such as individual coaching, talent development, sales optimization, and team building. Read more about OceansThree's edtech recruiting

• 3. iSphere

• While some organizations will benefit from a firm with a tight focus, others will be better served by a recruiter with broad expertise across the IT and tech sectors. That's what you'll get with iSphere, who offer IT staffing solutions across the education, healthcare, government, and energy sectors. They offer consulting along with their recruitment services, with valuable expertise in topics ranging from cybersecurity and infrastructure to app development and the organization's overarching technology strategy. They offer a similar variety of staffing solutions, from contract and contract-to-hire placements to full-time permanent executive and leadership hires. Based in Houston, Texas, iSphere brings over 20 years of education IT staffing experience to the table. The firm was founded by Managing Partner George Walker, who worked in the IT industry for over 30 years before applying his lessons about hard work, sustainable growth, and personable service to build iSphere. Their education staffing team has extensive experience helping school districts with up to 250,000+ students and state-wide education agencies to thrive. What makes iSphere particularly valuable for edtech organizations is their deep expertise in both technology and education compliance requirements. They understand the unique challenges of placing IT professionals in educational settings, from third-party vendor relationships to educational foundation partnerships. Through their work with independent school districts, service centers, and other education industry organizations, they've perfected their approach to deliver results with efficiency and compliance. iSphere also offers a Consultant Care Program that supports placed professionals throughout their engagement, along with IT consulting solutions that complement their staffing services. These consulting offerings include education technology solutions, app development and testing, IT strategy and planning, cybersecurity, data analytics, infrastructure, and managed IT services—making iSphere a one-stop shop for organizations that need both talent and strategic technology guidance. Read more about iSphere's edtech recruiting

• 4. Ed Tech Recruiting

• Ed Tech Recruiting prides themselves on their people-focused recruiting approach. They offer the most value for organizations that need help with executive searches in the edtech sector, from directors through c-suite roles. Retained search is their specialty, particularly for newly-created management and c-level positions, with an impressive history of successful long-term placements in these mission-critical roles. They also offer transition guidance for organizations undergoing leadership changes, providing targeted training and management consulting for both newly-hired leaders and interim directors and executives, helping organizations stay on track during these periods of change and uncertainty. The firm is led by Gabriel Lucas, a Stanford graduate who brings a unique combination of technical expertise and educational experience to recruiting. Before founding Ed Tech Recruiting, Gabe worked as a math teacher at Menlo School, served as Director of Technology at Castilleja School, and developed an online math system called Take Math. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematical and Computational Science from Stanford University, a Master's degree in Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley, and a Master's degree in Mathematics from San Francisco State. Gabe's deep involvement in the education technology community sets Ed Tech Recruiting apart. He co-founded ATLIS (the Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools) in 2014, where he serves as its inaugural board president. This connection to ATLIS and other professional organizations gives him access to a deep network of experienced technology professionals in education. The firm, which has been serving independent schools since 2015, also operates 12M Recruiting, a sister company that runs retained searches for broader executive leadership positions including head of school, CFO, assistant head, division director, and admission director roles. Ed Tech Recruiting offers three core services: Assess (organizational evaluation), Retained Search (executive placement), and Transition (leadership change guidance). The firm publishes an annual Salary Survey for tech professionals in education, providing valuable market intelligence to both employers and candidates. Their job board is widely regarded as one of the best sources for technology jobs in schools, universities, and other mission-aligned organizations, featuring positions from Director of Technology to Chief Information Officer across the United States and internationally. Read more about Ed Tech Recruiting

• 5. Ciel

• For organizations in need of global talent, India-based Ciel HR is a firm you should know about. Though it was founded more recently than other agencies on this list, in 2015, the recruiters on their team bring decades of experience to the table. Ciel has quickly built a reputation for integrity and professionalism as well as executive search placement success. They customize their recruitment process and plan to each client's unique needs, researching the structure and mission of the organization to put each role in context before searching for the right talent to fill it. Ciel also provides Flex Staffing solutions with end-to-end employee management, helping organizations adapt to changes in their workload so they can scale to new heights. CIEL (meaning "Sky" in French) was launched by industry veteran K. Pandia Rajan, who pioneered the HR industry in India when he started Ma Foi in 1992. Today, the firm is led by Director and CEO Aditya Narayan Mishra and Director and COO Santosh Nair. CIEL has grown to become India's largest recruitment and staffing company in terms of geographic spread, operating from 92 offices in 43 locations and servicing nearly 4,000 companies across sectors as of mid-2024. The firm has achieved a remarkable revenue CAGR of 62% between FY 2021 and FY 2024. For the edtech sector specifically, CIEL brings deep expertise with 67 offices and 33 locations combined with an in-depth understanding of the sector. Their approach goes beyond matching resumes to job descriptions—they understand the unique context that defines each role and go deeper to understand a candidate's context, competencies, and aspirations (what they call "CCA"). This methodology enables higher retention rates and better long-term placements. CIEL's comprehensive suite of services includes executive search, selection, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), value staffing, professional staffing, and apprenticeship programs. The firm leverages technology and analytics extensively, using natural language processing in their recruitment process and AI-powered tools to match candidates with roles. They've recently expanded their capabilities through strategic acquisitions of Vibrant Screen (background verification), Thomas Assessment, and People Metrics, positioning them as a comprehensive HR solutions provider for edtech companies seeking talent across India and globally. Read more about Ciel HR's edtech recruiting

• 6. Instinct

• Instinct is the premier learning recruitment firm in the United Kingdom. Since their founding in 2011, they've filled international roles in the education sector, including both contract and permanent hires. Their full-service contract staffing services can solve even complex hiring challenges, whether you need a single crucial individual or to bring on a whole team, and you can count on every Instinct contractor to be vetted and fully in compliance. They are equally hands-on building their network of candidates for permanent positions, sourcing and placing international talent across the blended learning spectrum. Their areas of specialty include learning design and development, LMS implementation, technology and project management, and training design and delivery, and are ready to make top-tier placements in both higher education and eLearning environments. What distinguishes Instinct is their exclusive focus on digital learning and learning technology recruitment—it's their sole purpose. Their candidate network includes over 41,000 digital learning professionals, and they've made more than 4,000 placements to date. For contract positions, they can typically produce a relevant shortlist within 24 hours of a project brief and have contractors engaged within 72 hours of initial contact. Their network has been refined for over a decade and is continually updated to ensure access to experienced, skilled, and fully referenced talent. In July 2023, Instinct became a 100% employee-owned business, joining the Employee Ownership Association (EOA). This transition reflects their commitment to their team and ensures long-term stability and dedication from their staff. The firm has also been awarded a place on the Crown Commercial Service Framework (CCS) – RM6277 Non Clinical Staffing, demonstrating their compliance and vetting standards for public sector clients including government, universities, and non-profit organizations. Instinct serves clients across multiple sectors including commercial enterprises, education (universities, colleges, business schools, and chartered institutes), medical, NHS, technology, and public sector organizations. Their discipline expertise spans design, development, administration and maintenance, LMS, and management roles. Notable clients they've worked with include Cranfield University, King's College London, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University, Ardagh Group, and GKN Automotive. Clients consistently praise their ability to understand specific project requirements and deliver high-quality candidates who match both technical skills and cultural fit. Read more about Instinct's edtech recruiting

• 7. TechEd Connect

• TechEd Connect was founded by Margareta Bancroft, a former math and science teacher, to connect the best educational talent today with the institutions that need it. Bancroft earned a master's degree in educational behavior and a PhD in educational leadership before combining her skills to focus on recruiting for leadership positions and senior sales at educational technology companies. Their recruiters understand the education industry from all sides, placing leaders who are an ideal fit in every sense, from skills and experience to attitude and culture. Along with filling executive positions in both K12 and higher education, they work with client companies to identify and resolve the issues preventing them from attracting and retaining top talent. This focus on building long-term relationships and success is what makes them a trusted edtech recruiting partner for companies across the United States. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, TechEd Connect is a family-owned and operated boutique recruitment firm that places high priority on ethical and responsible recruitment practices. The firm specializes in recruiting passionate leaders across K-12, higher education, hospital, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries—giving them a broader perspective on talent management that benefits their edtech clients. TechEd Connect's services span the full recruitment lifecycle: sourcing candidates, screening and interviewing, onboarding facilitation, and market and trend analysis. Their extensive vetting process ensures they present only the most qualified candidates who align with the requirements of each role. What sets them apart is their commitment to transparency—they share their metrics and updates with clients throughout the recruitment process, keeping organizations informed every step of the way. As a smaller, boutique firm, TechEd Connect can respond quickly to the changing needs of their clients while ensuring that each organization remains a top priority. Their client base includes notable edtech companies like BrainPop, demonstrating their ability to serve innovative organizations in the education technology space. Margareta remains active in the edtech community, frequently sharing insights on hiring trends at industry conferences and on LinkedIn, making TechEd Connect a valuable partner for organizations seeking not just talent, but market intelligence as well. Read more about TechEd Connect's edtech recruiting

• Methodology & data sources

• To ensure our "Top Edtech Recruiters" ranking is transparent and robust, we scored each firm against the following four quantitative criteria:

  Criterion	Weight	Data Source / Approach
  Client Satisfaction	40%	Anonymous surveys of 50 hiring managers (NPS scores), conducted –
  Placement Volume	30%	Publicly disclosed placement counts from firm press releases and annual reports (2026 )
  Industry Recognition	20%	Inclusion in third‑party lists
  Sector Specialization	10%	Depth of practice areas; verified via firm websites and LinkedIn

• Hiring the Best Edtech Recruiter for Your Needs

• Just like each organization has its own unique staffing needs, each recruitment agency takes a distinctive approach to solving them. The first step to finding the right edtech recruiter is to know what you need from the relationship and the type of talent you're hoping to find. If you're not sure, a recruiting firm that offers consulting services will likely be the best fit, helping you refine your search criteria and hone in on the traits that will make someone an ideal hire. Given current market conditions, finding the right recruitment partner is more important than ever. According to Market.us, AI-driven personalized learning systems have become mainstream, with 60% of educators now using such tools daily. This technological shift is driving demand for candidates who understand both traditional educational principles and emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and adaptive learning platforms. Meanwhile, the K-12 segment continues to dominate the market, expected to hold the largest market share in 2026, as institutions rapidly integrate smart classroom tools, digital content libraries, and gamified learning platforms. Between the tight talent market and the fast changes in the edtech sector, finding and hiring crucial talent can feel overwhelming. The most successful hires in this space require recruiters who understand both the technical qualifications and the mission-driven culture that defines education technology. Hiring the right edtech recruiter gives you a trusted partner who can guide you through this complicated landscape, ensuring you find leaders who will drive innovation while staying true to your organization's educational mission.