As AI automates transactional HR work, seven new roles are emerging that fundamentally reshape what HR does and how it creates value.
According to Piers Hudson, senior research director in Gartner’s HR practice, these positions represent a shift toward deeper specialization and strategic influence. With Gartner predicting 60% of HR tasks will be completed through AI agents by 2030, Hudson says HR needs expertise it simply doesn’t have today.
New roles for a new HR operating model
Embedded chief of staff roles manage the people side of technology rollouts, focusing on performance improvements rather than just implementation. They nurture “citizen HR” capabilities within operational teams so those teams can effectively use HR services without constant hand-holding.
Community managers bring together pockets of expertise across the organization, facilitating collaboration and capturing insights from specialized groups. As work becomes more distributed and dynamic, these roles gather knowledge that no longer sits neatly within traditional structures.
Work or worker-type specialists develop deep expertise either in specific types of work—programming, customer service—or key worker populations. They understand the full lifecycle from hire to retire, essentially acting as talent agents to ensure the organization has the workers it needs.
Piers Hudson, senior
