Hire a
Fractional CPO
Complete guide to finding, vetting, and hiring the perfect fractional Chief Product Officer.
Industry Resources
Where to Find Fractional CPOs
Product Communities
Mind the Product, Product School, Lenny's Newsletter community, ProductTank.
LinkedIn Search
Search #FractionalCPO, #ProductLeadership, or "Head of Product" + "Advisor".
Fractional Platforms
Fractional.Quest, Toptal, or product-specific networks.
VC Networks
Ask investors for product leaders from their portfolio companies.
Conference Speakers
Mind the Product, ProductCon, or industry event speakers.
Product Coach Networks
Coaches like Marty Cagan's network or Reforge instructors.
What to Look For in a Fractional CPO
Not all experienced product leaders make good fractional CPOs. Here's what separates the best from the rest.
1. 0-1 vs Scale Experience
Have they built products from scratch or scaled existing ones? A CPO who only knows scale won't help you find product-market fit.
Clear examples of stage-appropriate work, measurable outcomes
Only worked at one stage, can't articulate methodology
2. GTM Model Match
Do they understand your go-to-market? PLG is very different from enterprise sales-led. Ensure their experience matches.
Deep experience in your model (PLG, sales-led, hybrid), specific metrics
Only knows one model, dismissive of your approach
3. Technical Depth
Can they earn engineering respect? They don't need to code, but must understand technical trade-offs.
Engineering background, technical discussions, architecture understanding
Can't have technical conversations, engineers don't respect them
4. Discovery & Research
Do they have a methodology for understanding users? Continuous discovery, customer interviews, data analysis.
Clear discovery process, user research examples, data-driven decisions
Opinion-based product decisions, no user research practice
5. Team Building
Have they hired and developed product managers? Built product orgs from scratch?
Hired 5-15 PMs, built career frameworks, mentorship examples
Never managed PMs, only individual contributor
6. Fractional Effectiveness
Can they be impactful in 2 days/week? Clear priorities, async communication, delegation.
2-4 current clients, systems for effectiveness, clear communication
First fractional role, needs full-time presence
Interview Questions to Ask
These questions separate strategic product leaders from feature factory managers.
🎯 Product Strategy Questions
- "Walk me through how you discovered and validated a new product opportunity. What was your process?"
Listen for: Discovery methodology, user research, data analysis, hypothesis testing - "How do you prioritize a roadmap when you have 50 potential features and capacity for 5?"
Listen for: Prioritization frameworks (RICE, ICE), stakeholder management, saying no - "Tell me about a time you killed a feature or product that wasn't working. How did you decide?"
Listen for: Data-driven decisions, sunk cost awareness, organizational navigation - "How do you balance customer requests vs your product vision?"
Listen for: Vision vs feedback balance, customer segmentation, strategic thinking
📊 Metrics & Delivery Questions
- "What product metrics do you obsess over? How do you define product success?"
Listen for: Leading vs lagging indicators, north star metrics, outcome focus - "How do you work with engineering to ensure on-time, quality delivery?"
Listen for: Agile practices, scope management, technical collaboration - "Tell me about a product launch that didn't go as planned. What happened and what did you learn?"
Listen for: Accountability, learning mindset, course correction - "How do you run product experiments? Give me a specific example."
Listen for: A/B testing, hypothesis formation, statistical rigor
👥 Team & Leadership Questions
- "How would you structure a product team at our stage? What roles would you hire first?"
Listen for: Stage-appropriate team design, PM vs designer vs researcher balance - "How do you coach a PM who's struggling with stakeholder management?"
Listen for: Mentorship approach, feedback frameworks, patience - "How do you create alignment between product, engineering, and design?"
Listen for: Cross-functional collaboration, triad model, shared goals - "How do you stay effective working 2 days/week vs embedded full-time?"
Listen for: Async communication, clear frameworks, delegation and trust
The Fractional CPO Hiring Process
From first conversation to start date in 2-4 weeks.
Brief
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
Match
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Meet
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Start
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Brief
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
Match
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Meet
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Start
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Timeline Breakdown
Week 1: Define & Source
- • Define product requirements (Day 1-2)
- • Post on job boards, ask for referrals (Day 2-3)
- • Review candidates, shortlist 5-8 (Day 4-7)
Week 2-3: Interview & Select
- • First-round interviews (45-min calls)
- • Second round: product case study
- • Reference checks (2-3 calls)
- • Make offer and negotiate terms
Week 4: Onboard & Start
- • Contract signing and admin setup
- • Share product context, analytics, roadmap
- • First week: stakeholder interviews
- • Begin product audit and discovery
First 90 Days: Deliver
- • Month 1: Product audit, quick wins
- • Month 2: Strategy, roadmap, process design
- • Month 3: Scale, hire PMs, measure results
- • Decide to extend or part ways
Contract Terms & Structure
Standard terms for fractional CPO engagements.
Standard Contract Template
Engagement Model
- Day rate: £800-£1,400 per day (based on experience)
- Commitment: 1-3 days per week (specify exact days)
- Monthly retainer option: £3,500-£6,000 for predictable billing
Term & Notice
- Initial term: 3-month trial period
- Renewal: Auto-renew to 12-month rolling contract after trial
- Notice period: 30 days either side (standard)
Scope of Work
- Responsibilities: Product strategy, roadmap ownership, team leadership, discovery process
- Deliverables: Product strategy doc, quarterly roadmap, OKRs, weekly updates
- Exclusions: Hands-on PM work (unless scoped), attending all standups
IP & Confidentiality
- IP ownership: Company owns all product documentation and strategies
- Confidentiality: Standard NDA terms, survives termination
- Non-compete: Usually not applicable (fractional works with multiple companies)
Optional: Equity
- Advisory shares: 0.15-0.35% for long-term engagements (12+ months)
- Vesting: Quarterly or annual vesting
- Cash reduction: If equity included, day rate may reduce 10-15%
Cost Comparison: Fractional vs Full-Time vs Consultancy
Understand the total cost of each CPO hiring option for your business.
| Cost Factor | Fractional CPO | Full-Time CPO | Product Consultancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | £80k - £145k | £180k - £320k | £150k - £450k |
| Days per Week | 2-3 days | 5 days | Project-based |
| Notice Period | 30 days | 3-6 months | Contract end |
| Employer NI/Benefits | None | £35k - £55k | None |
| Equity Required | Optional (0.15-0.35%) | 0.5-2% | None |
| Time to Hire | 2-4 weeks | 3-6 months | 2-4 weeks |
| Cross-Industry Experience | High (multiple clients) | Limited | High |
| Best For | Scale-ups building product orgs | Large orgs with complex products | One-off strategy projects |
Sources: Glassdoor UK, Mind the Product, Market research
Browse CPO Candidates
Connect with experienced fractional CPOs seeking new opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Hire?
Browse 75+ pre-vetted fractional CPO candidates on Fractional.Quest. Post your role and start interviews this week.
Related Resources
Explore more fractional executive hiring guides and resources