Can I Hire Someone for Fractional Work That Isn’t an Executive?

Companies commonly hire Fractional Marketing Directors, Fractional Engineering Managers, Fractional Heads of Sales, Fractional Product Managers, Fractional Operations Directors, Fractional HR Leads, Fractional Creative Directors, and many more.

All of these roles are fractional roles, performed by experts, and where a true c-suite executive is not the correct fit.

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Seniority Levels of Fractional Talent

• 30% of fractional talent are true c-suite executives
• 50% of fractional talent are Director-level, VP-level, Heads of (but not c-suite)

(This data is from Fractional Jobs - the largest network of fractional talent in the U.S.)

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The Differences Between a Fractional Executive and Other Fractional Talent

Every fractional leader, regardless of whether they’re a c-suite executive, has the following in common:

• Significant experience in their function area (usually 8+ years)
• Can set the strategy on their own
• Able to work independently with very little oversight or ramp time
• Comfortable owning outcomes, not just tasks or deliverables

Sometimes, companies misunderstand a fractional executive (or other fractional talent) to not be capable of doing hands-on execution work. This is not true. Some fractional leaders (whether they consider themselves an exec or not) prefer to stick to strategy and manage others to help execute. And many fractional executives are perfectly capable of, and even prefer, rolling up their sleeves and getting hands-on.

Even though fractional executives can be hands-on, there are still good reasons to hire a fractional leader that isn’t an executive. Examples include:

• When you don’t just need some hands-on execution, but you need a LOT of it
• When there’s no team to manage
• When your budget doesn’t allow you to hire a true c-suite exec

In all these cases, it’s likely better to target a fractional leader that’s a bit more junior than a true exec.

To wrap it all up, if you’re looking to hire a senior-level operator part-time, then you’re looking for fractional. The right job title, and skillset, and seniority, can vary greatly based on your need. The right fit might be a fractional executive, or it might be a plethora of other types of fractional talent.

And whether you need a fractional executive, a fractional director, or a fractional senior individual contributor, Fractional Jobs can introduce you to the best candidates for your need. It’s the largest network of fractional executives and other fractional talent in the U.S.

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