What is the role of the project manager in body leasing?

Project manager on the client side

More often than not, it is the project manager hired by the client who plays a key role in managing the project involving contractors hired under body leasing. His main tasks in this context include:

• Planning and assigning tasks: Defining tasks for contractors according to the project plan, product backlog and work methodology (e.g., Scrum sprints).
• Progress monitoring: Tracking contractors’ performance, verifying progress against schedule and budget.
• Communication Management: Ensure effective communication between the contractors and the rest of the project team and other stakeholders. Organizing meetings, ensuring the flow of information.
• Risk management and problem solving: Identify potential risks associated with contractors’ work (e.g., delays, quality issues) and take remedial action. Resolve ongoing problems and conflicts.
• Evaluation of contractors’ work: Regular evaluation of the quality and efficiency of the work of hired specialists, providing feedback.
• Cooperation with the supplier: Maintain contact with the body leasing service provider on administrative, formal or possible cooperation problems.
• Budget management: Control costs associated with engaging contractors, especially in the time & material model.

Potential role of the project manager on the supplier side

While the substantive management lies with the customer, the body leasing provider may also play a supporting role, sometimes carried out by a dedicated account manager or delivery manager, and in some models even by a project manager:

• Onboarding support: Assist in the smooth onboarding of the contractor to the client.
• Communication Facilitation: Assist in resolving potential communication problems between client and contractor.
• Contract management: Taking care of the formal and administrative aspects of the contract, billing.
• Satisfaction monitoring: Gathering feedback from the customer and contractor on how the cooperation is going.
• Escalation of problems: State the point of escalation for more serious problems or conflicts.

In the team leasing model, where the entire team including management is hired, the role of the project manager on the supplier’s side is much more extensive and includes full project management.

Hiring a project manager in a body leasing model

Increasingly, companies are also opting to hire the project manager himself in a body leasing model. This allows them to quickly acquire an experienced project manager without the need for long-term recruitment, for example, for the duration of a specific, complex project.

Summary

The role of the project manager is crucial to the effective use of the potential of body leasing. He or she, most often on the client’s side, is responsible for integrating the contractors into the team, scheduling their work, monitoring progress and ensuring smooth project execution. Good cooperation between the client’s project manager and the service provider further increases the chances of success.