Fractional CEO jobs
UK on your terms.
Browse live UK fractional CEO jobs and mandates graded on rate, fit and IR35. Set your availability once; get matched to companies actively hiring. Build your portfolio career.
What are fractional CEO jobs?
Fractional CEO jobs are part-time chief executive roles where you run the company within a defined scope — not a caretaker, not an advisor. Four ideas define the model.
A chief executive, 1–3 days a week.
Senior, proven CEO capability across a defined slice of the week. You get the seniority you need without a full-time salary or a five-day commitment.
Runs the company — not a caretaker.
Unlike an advisor or chair, a fractional CEO is the chief executive: owns strategy, runs the board, leads the team and makes the decisions.
Structured correctly from day one.
Engagements are built outside IR35 by default — right of substitution, no mutuality of obligation, contractor-controlled working. CEST-tested.
A mandate, not a tenure.
Scoped to an outcome — a transition, a turnaround, a value-creation plan — typically 12–24 months, often with a clean handover to a permanent CEO.
What a fractional CEO delivers.
Accountable for strategy and execution — and answerable to the board and investors, exactly like a permanent chief executive.
Direction & the operating plan
Owns the strategy, the operating model and the quarterly plan — and is accountable for delivering against it, not just advising on it.
Board and investor relationship
Runs the board meeting, owns the investor narrative, leads the raise or the sale process. The face of the company to its backers.
Leadership team and culture
Hires, shapes and holds the senior team accountable. Defines and models the culture. Owns succession planning and the talent bench.
Operational cadence & decisions
Sets the operating rhythm, makes the big calls, unblocks the critical paths. Present and accountable for the business performance.
Fractional CEO vs alternatives.
How the fractional model compares to interim, executive chair, advisor and full-time appointments.
What could you earn?
Model the cost vs a full-time CEO, or what you could earn across your portfolio.
Outside IR35 by default.
All fractional CEO engagements are structured outside IR35 from day one. Here's how.
You control the "how"
Fractional CEOs set their own working methods, hours and location. The company defines the outcome; the CEO decides how to achieve it.
Right of substitution
Contract includes an explicit right to provide a suitably qualified substitute. This is rarely exercised but legally present.
No obligation
No mutuality of obligation — the company isn't obliged to offer work beyond the agreed scope; the CEO can decline additional work.
When to hire a fractional CEO.
Four situations where a fractional chief executive is often the right answer.
Founder stepping back
The founder wants to move to Chair or Chief Product Officer but still owns significant equity. A fractional CEO provides professional leadership without threatening the founder's influence.
Scale-up gap
Post-Series A/B but not yet £50M revenue. Need CEO-level leadership for board and investors but can't justify £300K+ full-time package.
PE portfolio
Multiple portfolio companies need senior leadership. One fractional CEO can run 2–3 businesses, implementing the value-creation plan across the portfolio.
Crisis or turnaround
Business needs immediate senior intervention but the permanent CEO search will take months. A fractional CEO can stabilise now while you search.
How we vet fractional CEOs.
Every candidate through the same four-stage verification before they reach your shortlist.
Pedigree screen
Verify prior CEO/MD tenure, scale and sector. No perm-exec-pretending-to-be-fractional.
SOURCINGMandate fit
Match to your stage, situation and board dynamics — not just a CV keyword.
MATCHINGReference deep-dive
Speak to recent fractional clients and prior boards. Real outcomes, not titles.
VERIFYShortlist + analysis
3–5 candidates, each with rate percentile, fit and IR35 structure attached.
48 HOURSFractional CEO FAQ.
Common questions from companies hiring and CEOs looking for fractional work.
Bring the brief.
We architect the team.
Partner-read in 48 hours. Success-fee model. Replacement guarantee.
For hiring companies
Submit your fractional CEO brief and get a shortlist of vetted candidates in 48 hours.
Submit a brief →For fractional CEOs
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