Getting Ready for Head of Service (Grade 9)

For senior managers who are tired of being seen as "not quite ready"

You're good at your job. Really good.

You solve complex problems. You've been managing teams for years. When things go wrong, you're the one who fixes it. You might have been "acting up" at Head of Service (Grade 9/equivalent) level for longer than you'd care to admit.

But when Head of Service type roles come up, something stops you. Maybe you don't apply because you don't feel quite ready yet. Maybe you do apply, and the feedback is vague: "not quite there," "needs more strategic thinking," "perhaps next time."

Or maybe (and this one stings) you watch someone less experienced than you step into the role you know you could do.

Here's what nobody tells you: being brilliant at Senior Manager (Grade 8) is exactly what's keeping you stuck.

Your identity as "the person who gets shit done" is your superpower at Senior Manager (Grade 8) level. But at Head of Service (Grade 9), it becomes your cage.

Head of Service (Grade 9) isn't about being better at Senior Manager work. It's about letting go of being the doer and becoming the leader who sets direction, navigates institutional politics, and shapes culture.

The Hidden Curriculum

There's a Hidden Curriculum for institutional leadership: a set of unspoken rules and expectations that determine who gets promoted and who stays stuck. Most Senior Managers don't even know these rules exist. And even when they suspect they exist, they don't want to look at them because it feels like "playing the game."

But if you manage people right now, you know what it looks like for their transitions. Imagine for a second that one of your team come to you asking about promotion to Manager. I bet it would take you 30 seconds to assess if they're ready or now. You'd know what areas they are 'not quite there yet' and where they're excelling. It's the same for you. You just haven't been at G9/Head of Service level yet so you don't know what those implicit markers are.

But here's the thing: this isn't about being political or manipulative. It's about understanding what's actually being assessed so you can make informed decisions about how to show up. You don't have to compromise your values or become someone you're not. You just need to know what credibility looks like at this level and then demonstrate it in a way that feels authentic to you.

Hidden Curriculum Examples

For example, did you know that:

Heads of Service (Grade 9) are expected to "lead through ambiguity and create clarity where others see chaos" while Senior Managers (Grade 8) are expected to "show calm and clarity in uncertain environments." It sounds similar, but panels are looking for you to be the person who creates the calm, not just maintains it.
At Head of Service (Grade 9) level, you need to be "managing managers" and "holding accountability for leadership culture across your whole area," not just managing teams well. If you're still stepping into the detail or solving problems your managers should handle, panels see you as still operating at Senior Manager (Grade 8) level.
Heads of Service (Grade 9) "shape institutional direction through influence and expertise" while Senior Managers (Grade 8) "influence at senior levels by building trust." The difference? Heads of Service are seen as peers by senior leaders, not as advisers looking up.
You need to demonstrate that you're thinking about business risk and institutional reputation, not just operational delivery. This is unfamiliar territory for most Senior Managers who are used to being measured on what they deliver, not what they protect.

The panels aren't questioning your competence. They're questioning your credibility at institutional leadership level.

And here's the frustrating part: you can't see what you can't see. You might be working incredibly hard, but if you're demonstrating the wrong things, you'll stay stuck.

That's Where This Programme Comes In

Getting Ready for Head of Service (Grade 9) is a 12-month group coaching programme designed to help you build undeniable credibility at institutional leadership level.

We don't just work on your CV or help you answer interview questions better (though we do that too). We work on the fundamental identity shift from manager to leader, from doer to director (small 'd'), from reliable to strategic.

The outcome is simple: in 12 months, you'll be ready for Head of Service (Grade 9).

Whether you get promoted during the programme or you're ready when the right opportunity comes up, you'll have built the credibility, competence, and conviction that panels are looking for.

How It Works

Getting Ready for Head of Service (Grade 9) is for Senior Manager (Grade 8) professionals who are ready to step into institutional leadership.

You're in the right place if:

You're tired of being seen as "not quite ready"
You're exhausted from being brilliant at execution but invisible as a strategic leader
You want to stop drowning in detail and start setting direction
You're ready to be seen as a peer by Heads of Service and senior leaders, not just a trusted adviser

We work in small cohorts of around 8 people, all preparing for Head of Service (Grade 9) together. Over 12 months, we follow the Progression Pathway: Clarity, Competence, Credibility, and Conviction.

All group coaching calls are delivered via the Kajabi community hub where you'll also find recordings, resources, and accountability threads.

Phase 1: Clarity (The First 30 Days)

Most Senior Managers are working hard on the wrong things. In the first month, we get absolute clarity on what Head of Service (Grade 9) credibility actually looks like and where you currently stand.

You'll get:

A personalised Hidden Curriculum profile mapped to your institution and desired role(s), created with the help of some AI wizardry that analyses what your specific institution values at Head of Service (Grade 9) level
A readiness assessment comparing where you are now against the Hidden Curriculum for the Senior Manager → Head of Service step change
A gap analysis identifying specific beliefs, mindsets, skills, and experiences you need to work on

By the end of month one, you'll know:

Exactly what panels are looking for when they assess Head of Service (Grade 9) credibility ● Where you're already strong and where you're being held back ● Your specific development priorities for the next 11 months

No more guessing. No more "I think I need to be more strategic" without knowing what that actually means.

Phase 2: Competence (Months 2-9)

This is where we build the skills, experiences, and evidence that demonstrate you're already operating at Head of Service (Grade 9) level.

Using a combination of Courage-Based Planning sprints, hot-seat coaching, and monthly masterclasses, you'll work on the specific competencies that matter for your grade transition.

What we'll work on varies person to person, but typically includes:

Letting go of the detail and delegating effectively to your managers (even when it's scary) ● Communicating with authority at senior levels and representing your service with confidence ● Managing managers and holding accountability for leadership culture, not just team performance ● Thinking systemically about institutional risk, reputation, and long-term strategy ● Leading through ambiguity and creating clarity where others see chaos ● Influencing without authority and being seen as a peer by Heads of Service, not just a trusted adviser ● Making high-stakes, politically sensitive decisions with confidence

You'll get support through:

Week 1 each month: Courage-Based Planning sprints to set your priority
Weeks 2-3: Hot-seat coaching tailored to the Senior Manager → Head of Service boundary, your personal aspirations, and current challenges
Week 4: Monthly masterclass (shared across all cohorts, valued at £95/month)

All calls are 60 minutes each, delivered via the Kajabi community hub.

Phase 3: Credibility (Months 6-12)

As the programme progresses, something shifts. You start noticing you're increasingly positioning yourself as someone already operating at Head of Service (Grade 9) level.

This shows up in:

The visibility you have (and how you show up in senior spaces)
The boundaries you hold (saying no to operational detail, yes to strategic work)
Your leadership presence (how you carry yourself, communicate, and make decisions)

Others notice too.

Senior colleagues start treating you differently. You get invited into different conversations. You're asked for your strategic input, not just your operational expertise.

This phase is about developing the beliefs and mindset you need to show that you're a credible Head of Service (Grade 9) candidate and letting yourself be seen as such by others.

We work on:

Visibility strategies that position you at institutional level
Building relationships with Head of Service peers (not just upward to executives)
Owning your strategic thinking and letting go of imposter syndrome
Communicating your value without apologising for it
Building a leadership presence that signals "institutional leader"

Bonus: Phase 4 - Conviction (When You're Ready to Apply)

When the opportunity arises, you'll be ready to apply for Head of Service (Grade 9) roles with confidence.

To make sure you interview like the obvious right fit, you get:

✅ Automatic access to my Cover Letter Course

✅ Two application reviews - send me up to two applications and I'll give you detailed feedback

✅ Option to add 2 x 1:1 interview coaching sessions at a preferential rate

Recent win: A Senior Manager client (let's call her T) used the Hidden Curriculum and her job description to prepare for an internal restructure interview. She nailed it. Her academic Head of School told me afterwards that she was the standout candidate! Her interview answers were "so much more elevated than the others." She got the role.

That's what happens when you know the Hidden Curriculum.

What You Get

🎯 Your cohort: Up to 8 like-minded Senior Manager professionals preparing for institutional leadership together

🎯 Weekly group coaching calls (60 minutes) via the Kajabi community hub following the structure above. The Head of Service (Grade 9) cohort meets 2-3pm every Friday (except during school holidays).

🎯 The Kajabi Hub: All call recordings, resources, frameworks, and accountability threads in one place

🎯 Direct access to me for challenge, support, and coaching between sessions

🎯 Monthly masterclasses on key Senior Manager → Head of Service topics (these are charged at £95 for non-members, free for you)

🎯 Preferential rates on 1:1 coaching when you need dedicated support outside the group

🎯 The Hidden Curriculum framework and all the tools I use with senior HE leaders

The Investment

Head of Service (Grade 9): £175/month or £2,100/year

You can pay by monthly instalments, pay in full, or I can send you a quotation if your institution is paying by Purchase Order. The pricing is the same regardless—there's no penalty for paying monthly.

Let's be honest about ROI: Head of Service (Grade 9) roles typically pay £60-80k (varying by institution and location). If this programme helps you move from Senior Manager (Grade 8) (circa £45-55k) to Head of Service (Grade 9) within 12-18 months, you're looking at a salary increase of £10-25k per year. Over the course of your career, that's a six-figure difference.

Want to understand typical salaries at this level?

Download the HE Professional Services Salary Guide below:

Download here

More importantly: you'll stop feeling stuck, invisible, and underestimated. You'll start leading with confidence, clarity, and credibility. That's worth more than the money.

How to Join

The next Getting Ready for Head of Service (Grade 9) cohort starts in Spring 2026.

Join the waiting list here

My Promise to You

I want this to be the right fit for you. So here's my guarantee:

If after 60 days you don't have absolute clarity on what Head of Service (Grade 9) credibility looks like, where you currently stand, and what you need to work on, we'll rip up the agreement and part ways as friends. You won't be tied in for the rest of the year. You'll get a full refund. No questions, no hard feelings.

Having said that, I know you'll thrive here if you:

★ Want to demonstrate credibility at institutional leadership level without drowning in detail

★ Are willing to practise new ways of working, not just collect information

★ Value courage, clarity, and long for sturdy self-belief

★ Are ready to let go of being "the person who gets shit done" and step into being the leader who sets direction

The Real Question

How much longer are you willing to wait to feel "ready"?

Because here's the truth: you'll never feel fully ready. There will always be another skill to build, another experience to gain, another reason to wait.

Heads of Service don't wait for permission. They build credibility, demonstrate leadership, and step into the role before they feel 100% ready.

The difference between you and them isn't talent or experience. It's that they've learned the Hidden Curriculum, made the identity shift, and positioned themselves as institutional leaders.

You can do this too. You just need the right support.

About your coach

I’m Fiona Bicket, the founder of The Hidden Curriculum of Progression and a specialist self-belief coach for Higher Education professionals.

I spent 13 years as a Professional Services manager in UK Higher Education, working across multiple institutions and functions. I know what it feels like to step into senior HE roles: the isolation, the complexity, the pressure to get it right immediately.

For the past four years, I've coached over 200 HE professionals through career transitions, promotions, and leadership challenges. I understand the hidden curriculum of HE leadership because I've lived it, learned it, and now I help others navigate it.

I get the sector because I've been in the sector.

Ready?