Interim recruitment is more than filling a vacancy

Article by Melanie Rehbock, Associate Director, Recruitment

One thing I’ve come to appreciate in my conversations with councils is that recruitment conversations rarely start with recruitment.

More often, they begin with a project that has lost momentum, a team that’s carrying more than its share, or a leader who’s balancing competing priorities while trying to find the right person for the long term.

It has reminded me that recruitment has never really been about filling vacancies. At its heart, it’s about understanding what people and organisations need to continue delivering for their communities.

Across local government, there is no shortage of commitment. Every day I speak with leaders who are deeply invested in their communities and equally committed to supporting their people. Yet many are navigating the same challenges: attracting specialist talent, managing workforce shortages, responding to changing priorities and ensuring important projects continue to move forward.

None of these challenges are new, but they do highlight something that I think is worth reflecting on.

Perhaps we’ve been viewing interim talent through too narrow a lens.

Traditionally, interim appointments have often been associated with ‘filling a gap’, providing a practical solution while permanent recruitment takes place. There will always be times when that is exactly what’s needed. However, through my conversations with councils, I’ve started to see experienced interim professionals in a different way.

Rather than simply stepping into an empty role, the right person can bring capability at exactly the moment it’s needed most. Think of a finance team working towards budget adoption. Losing a key team member during one of the busiest periods of the year doesn’t just leave an empty desk. It places additional pressure on colleagues and can affect critical timelines. An experienced local government finance professional can provide continuity, allowing the team to stay focused while creating the space to recruit the right permanent person.

The same can be said for infrastructure and engineering teams. A capital works program doesn’t stop because a senior engineer resigns or a project manager moves on. Road upgrades, bridge renewals and community infrastructure projects continue to progress, often against fixed funding and delivery milestones. Bringing in someone who understands the local government sector can help maintain momentum while longer term recruitment is underway.

Supporting people. Protecting projects. Maintaining momentum.

These aren’t simply examples of filling vacancies. They’re examples of supporting people, protecting projects and giving organisations the flexibility to respond when circumstances change. One observation that continues to stand out for me is the value of local government experience.

Every organisation has its own culture and way of working, but local government operates within a particularly complex environment. It operates within a complex environment where governance, legislation, community expectations and political awareness all intersect. Professionals who have worked in the sector understand those dynamics. They appreciate the importance of balancing operational priorities with public accountability and can often contribute more quickly because they already understand the environment in which councils operate.

That familiarity can make a real difference, not only for the individual stepping into the role, but for the people around them.

When teams are already under pressure, having someone who can contribute with confidence and minimal onboarding can provide immediate reassurance. It allows leaders to focus on leading, rather than constantly supporting someone through the basics of the role.

Another benefit I’ve noticed isn’t always part of the conversation.

Experienced interim professionals often bring a breadth of knowledge gained from working across different councils, projects and communities. They have seen different approaches to similar challenges and can offer fresh perspectives without losing sight of the practical realities councils face every day.

Sometimes that means introducing a new idea. Sometimes it means sharing lessons learned from another council. Just as often, it’s about asking thoughtful questions that encourage teams to look at familiar challenges from a different angle.

Those contributions can have a lasting impact long after the engagement has finished.

Knowledge sharing, mentoring emerging leaders, documenting processes and supporting capability within existing teams are all valuable outcomes that extend beyond simply completing a piece of work. In many cases, the greatest legacy an interim professional leaves isn’t a finished project. It’s a team that feels more confident, more supported and better equipped for what’s next.

Of course, none of this diminishes the importance of permanent recruitment.

Building stable, capable teams remains the foundation of every successful council, and finding the right long-term fit will always matter. Interim engagement isn’t about replacing that objective. It can complement permanent recruitment by providing continuity while the right person is found, maintaining momentum on important initiatives and supporting existing employees during periods of increased demand.

The more time I spend working alongside councils, the more I’m convinced that successful recruitment isn’t always about finding someone to fill a vacancy.

Sometimes it’s about recognising what a team genuinely needs at that moment in time.

Sometimes it’s fresh expertise.

Sometimes it’s experienced leadership.

Sometimes it’s the confidence that comes from having someone who understands the complexities of local government from day one.

Ultimately, that’s what makes interim talent so valuable. Not because it’s temporary, but because the right person, with the right experience, at the right time, can make a meaningful difference to the people around them.

Perhaps that’s what matters most in recruitment: getting the right support, at the right time, in the right way.