I think if you want to create a TRUE tablet specific version, and if your staff is already stretched thin, then yes, you're gonna need 1 extra designer with tablet as their focus.
you'd also want this to be the responsibility of a true designer if you were really gonna do it (i.e., not a web designer...nothing against web designers buuuut...lol)

if you're just gonna try to put this task on your already busy staff, the results you're going to get aren't going to be THAT much better than just uploading a PDF - it won't be worth the strain that you're putting on your guys.

but that said, if you DO hire an extra guy who's main focus is tablet, that shouldn't take ALL his time. maybe at first when he's setting up templates and getting all the technical stuff in order - but once the system gets rolling, they should be able to pitch in a little on print, maybe take some of the easy/templated pages off of your print guys, give them a little room to breath and make better work when it comes to the creative stuff