Someone has just left, or a project has grown past what your current team can carry. You need a project manager. The question isn't whether, it's whether you hire permanent or bring in interim.
Most organisations get this wrong by defaulting to whichever option feels less risky, rather than the one that actually fits the problem.
The Question That Actually Matters
Not "which is cheaper" or "which is faster." Ask this instead:
is the need permanent, or is it a specific piece of work with an end date?
- If you're building out a function that will exist for years, permanent.
- If you're delivering a defined programme, covering a gap, or stabilising something that's gone off track, interim.
Most organisations searching for "interim project manager" already know this. What they're really unsure about is speed and risk.
Speed: The Numbers Are Not Close
A senior permanent PM hire in the UK typically takes 12–20 weeks from job spec to start date, once you count sourcing, interviews, notice periods, and offer negotiation. Add recruitment fees of 15–25% of first-year salary.
An
interim project manager can be embedded in
2–4 weeks, sometimes faster if the need is urgent. There's no notice period to wait out, no recruitment process to run, and no risk of a six-month search ending in a candidate who doesn't work out.
If your project needs someone now, that gap matters more than almost anything else in the decision.
Risk: What You're Actually Buying
A permanent hire is a long-term bet on someone you've met a handful of times. An
interim project manager, done properly, is the opposite: you're hiring a track record, not a CV.
At AgileMinds, every interim practitioner has 15+ years of delivery experience, never a graduate running a template. You're not gambling on potential. You're getting someone who has already stabilised programmes like yours.
When Permanent Is the Right Call
We'll say this plainly, because a technology-agnostic practitioner doesn't just sell you the option in front of them:
if you're scaling a PMO that will run indefinitely, or building institutional knowledge that needs to stay in the business, permanent is usually right. Interim works best for defined, time-bound need, recovery, cover, or a specific delivery push.
The mistake is choosing permanent because it feels safer, then watching the role sit unfilled for three months while the project it was meant to support falls further behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an interim project manager cost compared to permanent? Day rates are higher than an equivalent salary, but there's no recruitment fee, no notice period, and no severance if the engagement ends. For a defined piece of work, interim is usually cheaper over the life of the project, not just faster to start.
Can an interim project manager become permanent later? Yes, and it happens often. Bringing someone in on an interim basis lets both sides see the fit before committing to a permanent role, with none of the guesswork a standard interview process involves.
The First Conversation Is Always Free
Not sure which route fits your situation? We provide one day of senior practitioner time, no fee, no obligation, we'll tell you honestly whether interim or permanent is the right call before you commit to either.
Book Your Free Project Assessment.
