Capabilities

Fractional &
Interim HR Resources

What it is

Fractional & Interim HR Resources provide organizations with flexible, high-impact HR leadership and support—exactly when you need it. Whether you’re navigating a leadership transition, scaling quickly, filling an unexpected gap, or driving a specific HR project, this resource gives you access to seasoned HR expertise without committing to a full-time hire.

How It Works

✓  Fractional HR is part-time HR leadership, often ongoing, where you bring in an experienced HR or People leader for designated hours per week or month. They provide strategic guidance, oversight, and execution of key HR priorities.

✓  Interim HR is short-term leadership to cover full-time roles during transitions—such as someone leaving, maternity/medical leave, M&A activity, or when a permanent hire is still in process. It stabilizes the HR function and ensures that essential work continues uninterrupted.

Our Approach

What you get

Here are some of the outcomes and functions our clients typically see when working with Fractional & Interim HR:

✓ Rapid alignment of HR strategy with business goals
✓ Continuity and stability during leadership gaps or change
✓ Establishing or improving core HR systems and processes (onboarding, compliance, employee handbooks, HRIS)
✓ Targeted expertise for high-priority projects (e.g., designing performance review frameworks, updating compensation and benefits, enhancing learning & development)
✓ Talent planning: recruitment support, succession planning, defining roles and skills needed for growth
✓ Improved employee experience and engagement through better communication, feedback loops, and support systems

Why It Matters

Agility: You get expert HR support as needed—not more, not less.

Cost Effectiveness: No full-time salary, benefits, or long ramp-up time, but you still get senior-level experience.

Reduced Risk: During change or uncertainty, HR gaps can lead to disruption. Interim & Fractional HR help avoid those breaks.

Expertise on Demand: Access to specialists who have “been there, done that” across industries and functions.

Scale Without Long-term Fixed Cost: Ideal for growing companies or organizations doing more with less.

How We Do It at Highland)

Discovery & Assessment – We work with your leadership to define what’s needed, where the gaps are, and what success looks like.

Match the Right Leader – We handpick HR leaders with the relevant experience (industry, size, stage) and who can step in quickly.

Flexible Engagement – We adapt to your timeline and bandwidth. Whether you need someone for a few weeks or many months, on-site or remote, fractional or interim.

Focus on Impact – We drive measurable outcomes: better processes, stronger compliance, improved talent retention, smoother employee experiences.

Smooth Transition – When the interim or fractional resource concludes their engagement, we ensure knowledge transfer, documentation, and continuity so things keep rolling.

Ready to Talk?

Let us know if you’d like to explore how Fractional & Interim HR could support your organization. We offer a complimentary exploratory conversation to see if it’s the right fit for your needs and map out how we can best deploy HR resources to help you move forward with confidence.