From Executive Recruiting to Long Term fractional HR Support
Warren Whitney was engaged to source an HR Director by a regional law firm. By day two of the engagement, we were providing HR leadership services across state lines.
Law Firm / Professional Services
SERVICES WE PROVIDED
Executive Search / Fractional HR Leadership / Ongoing Support / Project Work
SUPPORT TYPE
Sourcing New HR Director / Team Training / Employee Engagement / Outside Perspective / Policy Implementation
OUTCOME
An extra pair of hands for a busy HR team, an outside perspective that can provide expertise when needed, an estimated 40% savings when compared to a traditional headhunter, and a new HR director sourced within 30 days
THE STORY
A new leader. An extra set of hands. A team reenvisioned.
When an opening for a regional law firm’s HR Director (HRD) became available, Warren Whitney was engaged to source the new HRD and provide interim support. The plan was to spend two days a week in the Richmond office, preparing an updated job description, meeting with the team to learn their priorities, and finding the new HRD.
By day two, the firm asked Warren Whitney to expand its scope. We took on additional responsibilities across employee relations, policy and procedure development, and documentation, stepping in wherever the team needed support.
Even after the new HR Director came on board, our involvement didn’t stop. We stayed on to support their onboarding success, managing time-consuming tasks and projects that didn’t require their direct input, contributing to ongoing project work, and allowing them the opportunity to connect with team members across the organization.
The Situation
The firm recognized the importance of an HRD and knew the role needed to be filled as quickly as possible. The firm also wanted to conduct a full review of the firm’s current HR practices. In the meantime, ongoing recruitment had to continue, employee relations issues needed to be addressed, and best practices needed to be followed.
Key needs included:
• An HR assessment reviewing what’s in place, and what should change
• Sourcing a new HRD to oversee all of the firm’s offices
• Ongoing HR support
• Employee training, documentation, and relations
• An extra set of hands for a busy HR team
Warren Whitney’s Role
Keeping HR running, while helping prepare for the future
Warren Whitney stepped in to support the firm’s leadership and HR team. Rather than advising from the outside, we became part of the team, engaging directly with existing employees, attending team meetings, contributing to ongoing projects, and serving as a steady resource for staff throughout the transition.
We also led the search for a new HR Director. That process included a Warren Whitney-led HR assessment, a newly developed job description, and full candidate screening, resulting in a successful placement within 30 days of posting.
Warren Whitney has remained a trusted resource for the firm’s HR team, supporting the organization in several ways over the course of the engagement. Our work has included project-based support, such as developing training programs for their team, as well as on-call guidance for both HR and leadership. Because of the trust and relationships built over time, we were also able to provide additional capacity as needed by the team. Warren Whitney also supplemented the new HRD, allowing them to fully participate in the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo while knowing the organization had continued HR support in place.
Our Value
An ongoing relationship instead of a one-time transaction
Before and After
From a leadership transition to stability for the future
Before Warren Whitney
- Organization-wide leadership vacancy
- Busy HR team
- Limited outside sources for questions
- Complex extended leave and PTO
- Limited capacity for new initiatives
- HR processes or workflows in need of review
After Warren Whitney
- New HRD sourced for 40% less than expected
- Clear direction and support for the HR team
- An on-call resource for questions or second opinions
- An extra set of hands
- Project-based support for outsourcing initiatives
- A full HR Assessment to provide a full review of systems, policies, and suggested solutions
Need Similar Support?
Warren Whitney helps nonprofit and privately held organizations strengthen finance, HR, strategy, and operations through experienced fractional leadership and project-based consulting.
Data Directions Inc.