A growing workload, an unexpected resignation, an employee leave, or a major internal project can quickly put pressure on an HR department.
But not every HR staffing problem requires a permanent hire.
In many cases, bringing in a temporary HR manager can give your organization the experienced support it needs without immediately committing to another full-time position.
A temporary HR manager can step into an existing HR function, take ownership of day-to-day responsibilities, support employees and leadership, manage projects, and help maintain continuity while your organization determines the right long-term solution.
HR Personnel Services provides temporary HR staffing nationwide for organizations that need experienced HR professionals for short-term, interim, project-based, or contract assignments.
So when does hiring a temporary HR manager make sense?
What Is a Temporary HR Manager?
A temporary HR manager is an experienced human resources professional brought into an organization for a defined period rather than hired immediately as a permanent employee.
Depending on the needs of the company, the assignment might last several weeks, several months, or longer.
Temporary HR managers may handle many of the same responsibilities as permanent HR managers, including:
- Employee relations
- Recruiting and hiring
- Onboarding
- HR policies and procedures
- Performance management
- Benefits administration
- Compliance support
- HR documentation
- Training and development
- HRIS administration
- Compensation-related projects
- Workforce planning
- Management support
The exact responsibilities depend on the organization and the reason temporary support is needed.
Some companies need someone to manage the entire HR function temporarily. Others need an experienced HR professional to support an existing team during a particularly demanding period.
1. Your HR Manager Suddenly Leaves
One of the most common reasons to hire a temporary HR manager is an unexpected vacancy.
When an HR manager resigns, the company cannot simply stop performing HR functions while searching for a replacement.
Employees still need support.
Recruiting still needs to continue.
Benefits, compliance matters, onboarding, employee relations, payroll coordination, documentation, and management questions still require attention.
A temporary HR manager can help bridge the gap between the departure of the previous manager and the hiring of a permanent replacement.
This also gives the organization more time to conduct a careful permanent search rather than rushing into a hiring decision because the HR department is overwhelmed.
2. Your HR Manager Is Taking Extended Leave
Maternity leave, medical leave, family leave, sabbaticals, and other extended absences can create a temporary leadership gap within an HR department.
Redistributing the HR manager’s responsibilities among other employees may work for a short period, but it can quickly become unsustainable.
Other team members may already have full workloads and may not have the experience or authority required to manage more complex HR matters.
Bringing in temporary HR management support allows the organization to maintain continuity until the existing employee returns.
3. Your Company Is Growing Faster Than Your HR Department
Rapid growth is exciting, but it can create significant pressure on human resources.
An HR department that comfortably supported 50 employees may suddenly struggle when the company reaches 100, 200, or more.
Growth often creates additional work involving:
- Recruiting
- Onboarding
- Employee documentation
- Benefits
- Performance management
- Training
- HR systems
- Policies
- Organizational structure
A temporary HR manager can provide additional leadership and capacity during the transition.
The organization can then determine whether the increased workload is temporary or whether another permanent HR position is ultimately necessary.
4. You Have a Major Hiring Initiative
Companies sometimes need to hire a large number of employees within a relatively short period.
Examples might include:
- Opening a new location
- Launching a new division
- Expanding into another market
- Increasing production
- Building a new department
- Replacing a large number of employees
- Supporting seasonal growth
These situations can overwhelm an existing HR team.
A temporary HR manager can help coordinate recruiting efforts, manage onboarding, support hiring managers, organize processes, and keep the hiring initiative moving.
Depending on the project, additional temporary recruiters or talent acquisition specialists may also be needed.
5. Your HR Department Is Overloaded
Sometimes there is no dramatic event.
The HR team simply has too much work.
A growing backlog can lead to delayed hiring, slower employee responses, incomplete projects, overworked HR employees, and reduced support for managers.
Those problems can eventually affect the entire organization.
Temporary HR support can provide additional capacity without requiring the company to immediately increase permanent headcount.
A temporary HR manager may take responsibility for specific areas of the department or help manage the overall workload until conditions stabilize.
6. You Are Going Through Organizational Change
Major organizational changes often create additional HR responsibilities.
Examples include:
- Mergers
- Acquisitions
- Restructuring
- Rapid expansion
- Downsizing
- Leadership transitions
- Department reorganizations
- New workplace policies
- Changes to benefits or compensation structures
These events may require experienced HR leadership even when the organization does not need another permanent HR manager.
A temporary HR manager can provide additional expertise and capacity during the transition.
7. You Have an Important HR Project
Temporary HR professionals are not limited to filling vacancies.
Many organizations use temporary HR managers for specific projects.
Examples can include:
HRIS Implementations
Implementing or changing a Human Resources Information System can require considerable coordination, employee data management, testing, training, and process development.
Policy Development
Organizations may need to review or update employee handbooks, HR policies, internal procedures, or documentation.
Benefits Projects
Open enrollment, benefits changes, employee communications, and implementation projects can temporarily increase the workload of an HR department.
Compensation Projects
A company may need help reviewing job descriptions, salary structures, compensation practices, or internal job classifications.
Recruiting Projects
A temporary HR manager can also oversee an increased recruiting workload or help build more effective hiring processes.
Once the project is completed, the temporary assignment can end without creating an unnecessary permanent position.
8. You Need HR Leadership While Searching for a Permanent Manager
Hiring the right HR manager can take time.
The person may interact with senior leadership, manage sensitive employee issues, influence company culture, oversee recruiting, and help shape important organizational policies.
That is not a position companies should fill simply because they are under pressure.
A temporary HR manager gives the organization breathing room.
Instead of asking:
“Who can we hire immediately?”
the company can focus on:
“Who is the right person for this organization?”
Temporary coverage allows the permanent recruitment process to be more deliberate.
Temporary HR Manager vs. Permanent HR Manager
The right option depends on the underlying business need.
A Temporary HR Manager May Make Sense When:
- The need has a defined timeline.
- An existing employee will eventually return.
- The company is going through a transition.
- Workload has increased temporarily.
- A permanent search is underway.
- A specific project requires additional expertise.
- The company is not yet certain whether another permanent position is necessary.
A Permanent HR Manager May Make Sense When:
- The workload increase is expected to continue.
- The organization has permanently outgrown its current HR structure.
- The position is part of the company’s long-term organizational plan.
- There is an ongoing need for additional HR leadership.
Temporary staffing can also help clarify that decision.
After several months, the company may have a much better understanding of what the HR department actually requires.
Temporary HR Manager vs. Fractional HR Support
Temporary HR staffing and fractional HR services can sometimes sound similar, but they generally solve different problems.
A temporary HR manager typically becomes part of the organization’s working HR structure for the duration of the assignment.
They may work regular hours, interact directly with employees and managers, manage HR responsibilities, and operate much like another member of the internal HR team.
Fractional HR services are often structured around part-time advisory or outsourced HR support.
Which option makes more sense depends on the company’s needs.
If your organization needs someone actively managing HR responsibilities on an ongoing daily basis during a temporary period, a temporary HR manager may be the more appropriate solution.
What Should You Look for in a Temporary HR Manager?
The right temporary HR manager should match more than a job title.
Consider the following factors.
Relevant HR Experience
Someone supporting a small company may require a different background from someone temporarily managing HR for a large corporate organization.
Industry Experience
Certain industries may have unique hiring environments, workforce structures, compliance considerations, or employee relations challenges.
Leadership Ability
If the temporary HR manager will supervise employees or advise senior management, leadership and communication skills become particularly important.
Technical Experience
The assignment may require familiarity with specific HRIS platforms, applicant tracking systems, benefits systems, or other HR technology.
Ability to Adapt Quickly
A temporary professional may have less time to learn the organization than a permanent employee.
The ability to understand new environments and become productive quickly is therefore particularly valuable.
Cultural Fit
Even temporary HR professionals may interact with employees throughout the organization.
Their communication style and approach should align with the company’s environment and expectations.
The Benefits of Using a Specialized HR Staffing Firm
HR positions can be difficult for general staffing agencies to evaluate because human resources includes many different specialties.
The experience required for an HRIS specialist is very different from the background needed for an employee relations manager, compensation professional, recruiter, or HR business partner.
HR Personnel Services focuses specifically on recruiting HR talent.
That specialization allows our recruiters to better understand the experience, responsibilities, and qualifications associated with different HR positions.
Organizations can use our temporary HR staffing services for needs ranging from temporary HR managers and HR generalists to recruiters, HRIS specialists, benefits professionals, compensation specialists, and other human resources roles.
How Long Can a Temporary HR Manager Work With a Company?
There is no single standard assignment length.
Some organizations may need temporary coverage for several weeks.
Others may require support for several months or longer.
The appropriate duration depends on why the employee is being brought in.
For example, temporary HR support might continue until:
- An employee returns from leave.
- A permanent HR manager is hired.
- A major project is completed.
- A hiring initiative ends.
- A company finishes restructuring.
- The workload returns to normal.
- The organization determines its long-term staffing requirements.
If the need becomes permanent, companies may also consider transitioning to a direct-hire or contract-to-hire solution.
Do You Need a Temporary HR Manager?
Consider what is happening inside your HR department right now.
Are important projects falling behind?
Is your team overwhelmed?
Has someone left unexpectedly?
Are you preparing for rapid hiring?
Is your HR manager going on extended leave?
Are managers waiting too long for HR support?
Do you have a major HR project that your existing staff does not have time to complete?
If several of these situations sound familiar, temporary HR staffing may be worth considering.
Waiting until an HR department is completely overwhelmed can make the situation harder to resolve.
Adding experienced support earlier can help maintain continuity and keep important HR responsibilities moving.
Find Temporary HR Help Nationwide
HR Personnel Services has specialized in human resources recruiting for more than 30 years.
We help organizations identify qualified HR professionals for temporary, contract, contract-to-hire, and permanent positions.
Whether you need a temporary HR manager to cover a leave of absence, manage an HR project, support rapid growth, help with recruiting, or bridge the gap while you search for a permanent employee, our team can help.
Learn more about our Temp HR Help and temporary HR staffing services or contact HR Personnel Services to discuss your staffing needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary HR Managers
What does a temporary HR manager do?
A temporary HR manager can perform many of the same responsibilities as a permanent HR manager, including employee relations, recruiting, onboarding, HR administration, policy development, performance management, HRIS support, benefits coordination, and management support.
Why would a company hire a temporary HR manager?
Companies commonly hire temporary HR managers to cover employee leave, fill unexpected vacancies, support rapid growth, manage HR projects, help during organizational changes, or maintain HR leadership while searching for a permanent employee.
How long can you hire a temporary HR manager?
The assignment can range from several weeks to several months or longer depending on the organization’s needs.
Can a temporary HR manager work remotely?
Some temporary HR assignments can be remote, while others require on-site or hybrid work. The appropriate arrangement depends on the responsibilities of the position and the employer’s requirements.
Can a temporary HR manager become a permanent employee?
Potentially. If the company expects the position may become permanent, a contract-to-hire arrangement may be another option.
Does HR Personnel Services provide temporary HR managers nationwide?
Yes. HR Personnel Services provides temporary HR staffing and recruiting support to organizations throughout the United States.
