HRTech Interview with Sam Smith, President- Global Client Delivery at Magnit

Sam, we’re thrilled to have you with us. Can you share your professional journey from your beginnings in the Royal Air Force to your current role as President of Global Client Delivery at Magnit?
​​My journey to becoming President of Global Client Delivery at Magnit is quite unique. I began my career as a mechanical engineer in the British Royal Air Force (RAF). After my time in the military, I transitioned into the staffing industry, a move that initially felt like a leap into the unknown. I first went into blue-collar work and learned the hard way about the light industrial sector, retail, FMCG, high volume and low margin. Eventually, I got into the outsource engineering side, and really specialized in that sector.

In my last 25+ years in the staffing industry, I’ve worked for several well-known companies in the space, such as Resourcing Solutions and Kelly Services. Today, I am proud to be a part of Magnit, a global leader and pioneer in the industry that is helping the world’s leading brands reimagine their contingent workforce programs. In my role as President of Global Client Delivery, I am able to draw on all facets of my prior experience, applying insights from every stage of the journey, to be a strategic partner for Magnit and its global clients. I leverage my understanding of the challenges contingent workers face, keen awareness of how shifting market dynamics have influenced labor supply chains, and deep domain in high-volume staffing to support Magnit’s global ambitions and expansion in the EMEA region, while helping clients achieve sustainable success with contingent and integrated workforce management in an increasingly dynamic labor environment.

My career journey has been one of continuous learning and adaptation and I am excited to see what the future holds.

With your extensive experience in the contingent workforce industry, what are the key factors that have driven your success in this field?
My long tenure in the contingent workforce industry has provided me with insights on every side of the sector. Throughout my career, I’ve been a temp desk manager, a top billing perm recruiter for railways, a team manager, Global Sales Leader, Managing Director and now President of Global Client Delivery at Magnit. This broad and diverse experience has allowed me to gain expertise in a range of business functions, including program delivery, global sourcing, change management, high-volume staffing and talent supply chain management.

Reflecting on key factors that have driven my success, I strongly believe that my experience in the Royal Air Force accelerated my path. My technical background in mechanical engineering allows me to approach complex workforce challenges with a structured, analytical mindset. Additionally, being in the military taught me how to make quick, informed decisions under pressure and successfully lead teams towards a common goal, which has directly translated into my role supporting Magnit’s global client base in managing their large, diverse workforces with precision and clarity.

My experience on the blue-collar side of the industry coupled with resourcing for major infrastructure projects like the London 2012 Olympics has also proved invaluable to my success, as it has equipped me with a first-hand understanding of the everyday challenges facing workers in contingent roles.

Magnit is focused on the evolution of work. How do you envision the future of contingent workforce management, and what role do you see Magnit playing in that evolution?
We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of contingent workforce management. Over the past few years, triggered by the pandemic, the rapid rise of AI and talent supply shortages, organizations have been forced to rethink their talent strategies and adapt to shifting labor dynamics. Because of this, we are witnessing a shift towards more agile, skills-based workforce models.

Contingent work was once seen as a temporary solution. Now, it is becoming integral to organizations’ talent strategies. Leaders are increasingly recognizing that a contingent workforce is crucial for operational flexibility, accessing a diverse and highly skilled talent pool, and gaining a competitive edge. Looking ahead, this trend will continue to accelerate.

Magnit is on the frontlines of this workforce paradigm shift. Our combination of modern AI-powered technology, proven expertise and world-class intelligence coupled with a forward-looking approach will be a catalyst in driving the evolution of contingent workforce management. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this transformation.

What challenges do companies face when integrating contingent workforce strategies into their broader talent management toolbox, and how can they overcome these hurdles?
Traditional contingent workforce management is full of friction, inefficiencies and complexity. Many companies grapple with manual and repetitive tasks, fragmented data and slow hiring processes – all of which impede productivity and growth and contribute to contingent workers feeling undervalued. To overcome these hurdles, organizations must prioritize integrating more streamlined, tech-enabled solutions that solve challenges, simplify processes and deliver a more equitable and cohesive experience.

How can organizations leverage Magnit’s Integrated Workforce Management platform to modernize and streamline their contingent workforce operations?
Magnit is a true pioneer in the industry, empowering organizations with the technology, proven expertise, data and intelligence needed to supercharge their contingent workforce operations. This is made clear by Magnit’s recent unveiling of the next evolution of Magnit Platform, now powered by a GenAI companion, Maggi. As the industry’s first outcome-driven, AI-powered platform, Magnit is combining data, sourcing and intelligence into a unified experience, allowing organizations to find and source talent quickly and optimize their workforce strategies at speed.

Magnit also recently launched Redeployment Marketplace, deepening its talent sourcing capabilities and providing clients with broader, faster, and more cost-effective access to top talent to drive greater contingent workforce program success, while also enhancing the overall job search and onboarding experience for workers. Using AI-based resume and job description algorithms, Magnit Redeployment Marketplace proactively matches high-quality workers nearing the end of their assignments with open opportunities from participating employers across Magnit’s global client network based on location, job title and bill rate. By matching talent supply to client demand, the marketplace acts as a true secret weapon for organizations in today’s war for talent – with employers experiencing a 50% reduction in time-to-fill, a 13% increase in talent quality scores, and a 5% to 10% lower markup for talent.

In your view, what are the most critical elements for successfully managing a high-volume contingent workforce, especially in a rapidly changing global market?
The most critical foundational elements for managing a high-volume contingent workforce in today’s ever-evolving job market are enhanced workforce visibility and talent intelligence, technology and compliance. Workforce visibility and talent intelligence is crucial because without a clear understanding of what’s happening within your extended workforce – who is working, where they are and what skills they possess – it becomes incredibly difficult to manage resources effectively. Meanwhile, technology, especially AI-driven platforms, helps streamline talent matching and manage assignments effectively across multiple geographical regions. Lastly, compliance is non-negotiable. By utilizing an Employer of Record (EOR) with integrated compliance services, organizations can ensure proper employee classification during everything from recruiting, to sourcing and managing existing workers, significantly reducing legal risks and the administrative burden placed on HR teams. By focusing on these three areas, organizations can effectively manage a diverse contingent workforce, while staying aligned with overarching business goals.

What strategies do you personally use to stay ahead of industry trends and lead successful transformations in the contingent workforce sector?
I am constantly seeking new ways to deliver meaningful outcomes for my clients. I rely on a combination of my industry experience, forward-thinking leadership style and Magnit’s advanced technology and data-driven insights to drive progress and help shape the future of the staffing industry. I tap into Magnit’s rich internal data resources to identify emerging trends and predict shifts in workforce needs. This allows me to stay proactive, not reactive, as industries evolve and stay one step ahead to lead meaningful transformations in the sector. I also collaborate closely with both clients and our internal teams to test and iterate on new approaches to contingent workforce management.

What advice would you give to leaders looking to enhance their contingent workforce management and better align it with overall business goals?
Stop viewing contingent workers as separate from your core workforce. The key is integration. The contingent workforce should be embedded into your broader talent strategy, rather than managed as an afterthought or in isolation. By taking a more holistic and integrated approach, you can better align your contingent workforce with overall business needs, ensuring it becomes a true strategic asset.

It’s also important to invest in the right technology to support a more agile and scalable workforce. With integrated, AI-powered platforms like Magnit that combine data, sourcing and intelligence into a unified experience, companies can find the right contingent talent easier and faster and build the most effective workforces to achieve their organizational goals.

Can you share more on the company’s rebranding from PRO Unlimited to Magnit in 2022 and how you see Magnit’s current identity and vision contributing to the broader conversation on the future of work?
In an industry where following the status quo is the norm, Magnit consistently chooses a different path, embracing change and evolution. The company’s rebranding from PRO Unlimited to Magnit in 2022 reflected its commitment to stewarding the next era of work. Over the past 30 years, the organization has evolved from a professional services company into an industry-leading integrated workforce management platform, connecting businesses with the best talent and helping them get ready for the evolution of work.

Contingent workforce management today involves an extremely manual and complicated set of workflows, systems and supply chains. To push the workforce management industry forward, Magnit is delivering on the promise to manage this complexity and completely transform the way work is done – not only addressing the current needs of workers and organizations but also anticipating where they are headed.

Finally, what are your thoughts on the future of work, and how can organizations best prepare for the changes ahead in the contingent workforce landscape?
As I look toward the future of work, one thing is clear: contingent workforce management is here to stay. With advancements in AI reshaping industries at lightning speed, organizations will need to move away from rigid, traditional talent models and embrace more agile workforce strategies. This is where contingent workers come in. They offer flexibility to scale up or down as business needs change, while bringing in specialized expertise that full-time employees may not always possess.

Organizations that want to implement and scale a contingent workforce strategy and prepare for the future of work need to invest in technologies that support dynamic workforce management, break silos between full-time and contingent talent and prioritize a skills-first approach in every facet of their operations. Those who can seamlessly integrate contingent workers into their core business strategies will not only adapt to the future of work – they will lead it.