The value of an Interim Project Manager – and how to source one

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During my consulting journey, I’ve been deeply involved in guiding organisations through significant transformations. My focus lies in facilitating the journey from their current state to a desired future, often tackling critical HR concerns, whether that’s refining the overall HR strategy, harnessing the power of people and business data for informed decision-making, or developing leadership capabilities to meet evolving demands. 

In this work, I’ve frequently encountered a recurring challenge: the urgent need for experienced professionals to fill essential roles and maintain momentum during transitions, especially when companies struggle to quickly secure permanent hires. These situations highlight the need for prompt, effective solutions. This highlights a demand for interim leadership, particularly an Interim Project Manager, who provides specific expertise and ensures continuity. 

This wasn’t just isolated incidents but a broader market trend. Recognising this and understanding Outvise’s capabilities, I used their “Bring a Project” programme to connect organisations with an Interim Project Manager. Here, I’ll discuss the significant value of hiring an Interim Project Manager to address these challenges and the vital role of my network in connecting clients with these crucial profiles.

Why interim project management matters

The challenges I often hear from clients – the need to swiftly fill critical roles or bridge the gap until a permanent hire is secured – underscore the significant value that Interim Project Managers bring to organisations. These aren’t just placeholders; they are experienced professionals who step in to provide leadership and direction to crucial projects or departments during times of transition or specific need. 

To understand their value, it’s essential to define what project management is and the parameters of the associated roles. So, why is project management important? And what do Project Managers do? Put simply, project management provides the structure and roadmap necessary to tackle novel challenges and navigate uncharted waters with cross-functional teams. It ensures that resources are allocated appropriately, timelines are met, risks are managed proactively, and ultimately, successful outcomes are delivered. As such, a Project Manager will bring their expertise to ensure these critical functions continue without disruption.

Companies might hire an Interim Project Manager for several strategic reasons, directly addressing the pain points I’ve observed.

Why hire an Interim Project Manager  

• Urgency: When a key project faces a sudden leadership gap or requires specialised skills, an interim manager offers a much faster solution than a full-time recruitment process. This speed is crucial for mitigating risks and maintaining project momentum.  
• Specialised expertise: Businesses often need specific skills or experience for a limited time. Hiring an Interim Project Manager provides access to this talent without the long-term commitment.  
• Fresh perspective: Interim managers bring a wealth of knowledge and best practices from diverse industries and projects, offering new insights and proven methodologies

This combination of strategic flexibility and targeted expertise makes an Interim Project Manager invaluable for organisations navigating change and pursuing strategic goals. They deliver the right support at the right moment, ensuring continued success – a principle that echoes with a large number of projects from my own consulting practice.

The power of networking

Given the value of an Interim Project Manager during organisational transitions, it becomes essential to identify how these roles are discovered and filled. My consulting experience, which is focused on addressing HR concerns, has highlighted the importance of networking in this process.

It’s no secret that networking forms a crucial pillar of management consulting. However, after years in this field, I’ve come to believe that the most effective approach to building and leveraging a strong network, and indeed to consulting itself, hinges on two key principles: benevolence and generosity. 

Benevolence, for me, is the unwavering commitment to having my clients’ success at heart and deeply understanding their unique challenges. It’s about genuinely wanting them to thrive and overcome their obstacles. Generosity, its natural partner, is the willingness to freely share my time and knowledge, even when there’s no immediate expectation of reciprocation. These two attitudes are intrinsically linked; a genuine desire to help naturally leads to a generous sharing of resources. 

The true shift in the power of networking occurs when you release the expectation of immediate returns. Live by the mantra “I give now to receive later,” and you’ll see that network begin to work in unexpected and meaningful ways. In my experience, the core of successful networking isn’t about control, but rather about cultivating a deep capacity to listen to those around you. This proactive listening, often highlighted in leadership training, is the first tangible sign that you care. It’s about offering your attention and support to the wider professional world, which, in my view, is a powerful and rewarding approach.

In the context of bringing these Interim Project Manager roles to clients, my approach was precisely this. Through consistent engagement with my network, driven by a genuine interest in understanding their evolving needs, I identified a recurring pain point: the urgent requirement for experienced project management support during transitional periods. Because I had cultivated relationships based on trust and a willingness to help, my contacts felt comfortable sharing these challenges openly. 

It wasn’t a direct ask for opportunities, but rather a natural outcome of ongoing conversations built on mutual respect. This highlights a key tip for finding opportunities through networking: focus on building genuine relationships based on providing value and actively listening to the needs of others. If you prioritise help and connection over immediate gain, you create an environment where opportunities naturally arise.

How Outvise helps

Lately, I’ve secured an Interim Project Manager for two organisations with Outvise’s Bring a Project programme. The scheme aligns with my consulting approach by providing a platform that operationalises the principles of effective networking. By embodying the core tenets of benevolence and generosity that underpin my professional philosophy, Bring a Project incentivises consultants to leverage their networks to facilitate connections, enabling them to extend their service to clients by providing access to crucial talent. 

Outvise is a powerful platform that streamlines how businesses connect with highly skilled profiles like an Interim Project Manager. Understanding the urgent and specific needs that companies face, Outvise has built a robust network of pre-vetted professionals with diverse industry experience and proven track records in leading critical projects. This curated network allows businesses to quickly identify and engage the right talent to address their immediate challenges, whether it’s filling a temporary leadership gap, providing specialised expertise for a key initiative, or ensuring project continuity during organisational shifts.

Ultimately, Bring a Project fosters a collaborative environment where expertise and opportunity converge. It acknowledges that valuable projects often surface within professional networks and provides a structured way to bring these needs to a platform equipped to fulfil them with top-tier talent. This not only benefits the seekers and providers of project management support but also strengthens Outvise as a central hub for high-impact interim placements. Indeed, these recent placements I’ve made demonstrate the clear power of leveraging collective networks to address critical business requirements efficiently and effectively.

Start leveraging your network

The value of an Interim Project Manager in driving successful transformations cannot be overstated. These professionals bring crucial leadership and expertise during critical transitions, ensuring that projects remain on track and organisations achieve their strategic objectives. This is where Outvise’s Bring a Project programme becomes an invaluable asset, offering a streamlined solution to a persistent challenge.

Bring a Project leverages the existing networks of experienced consultants like myself by incentivising us to introduce relevant project opportunities to the Outvise platform. The programme creates a mutually beneficial ecosystem: For businesses, it expands their access to a wider pool of qualified contractors, often sourced through trusted professional referrals. For consultants, it provides a mechanism to add value to their network and contribute to solving client challenges beyond their direct engagements.

I encourage you to participate in Outvise’s Bring a Project referral programme, both to contribute to your network’s success and to secure top-tier project management talent. Whether you are a consultant seeking to expand your service offerings or a business in need of experienced Project Managers, this platform offers a powerful solution, fostering collaboration and ensuring that the right expertise is matched with the right opportunity.