Fractional Product Leader in Sydney
ex-THE ICONIC · HealthShare · 10+ years in product
You have a dev team and a roadmap. But the product isn't moving the way it should. Priorities shift every sprint. The founder is still making every product call. Nothing feels quite right, but nobody can say exactly what's wrong.
That's the gap a fractional product leader fills. Senior product judgment, embedded in your team, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
No pitch. Just figuring out if there's a fit.
What is a fractional product leader?
A fractional product leader is a senior product person — typically at Head of Product or CPO level — who works with your company part-time. You get the strategic thinking, the hands-on leadership, and the ability to make product calls, without committing to a $300k+ full-time hire.
In Sydney and across Australia, the model is becoming the default for funded startups and scale-ups who need senior product leadership but aren't ready — or don't need — a full-time CPO on the payroll.
I work with one or two companies at a time. That means when you hire me, you actually get me — not a junior team member doing the work while someone senior takes the calls.
What problems does this solve?
The founders I work with are usually stuck in one of these situations:
These aren't talent problems. They're structure and clarity problems. A good fractional product leader fixes the operating model, not just the backlog.
What I actually do
I don't show up with a slide deck and a 90-day plan. I show up and get into the work.
- Weekly product leadership across discovery, strategy, prioritisation, and delivery.
- I join your sprint reviews, your planning sessions, and your toughest calls.
- I help your team make decisions without pulling you in every time.
- I set up the operating rhythm — the cadence, the decision framework, the metrics — so things keep moving when I'm not in the room.
- I give you a clear product strategy you can stand behind with investors, your team, and your customers.
Who this is for
Good fit
- Funded startup or scale-up, typically Series A or beyond.
- You have engineers but no dedicated product leadership.
- Founder is ready to hand off product decisions.
- You want execution, not just advice.
- Sydney-based or remote-friendly across Australia.
Not a fit
- You want a strategy deck but no follow-through.
- Your team isn't ready to run discovery or ship changes.
- You only need a delivery manager or scrum master.
- You want a full-time employee at a contractor rate.
What does it cost?
Fractional product leadership is typically structured as a monthly retainer based on days per week. It's significantly less than a full-time CPO hire (which runs $250k–$380k all-in for a senior person in Sydney), and you can start and stop without a lengthy notice period.
Every engagement starts with a 30-minute conversation to understand your context. From there I'll outline a proposed structure and rate — no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How is a fractional product leader different from a product consultant?
A consultant delivers a report or a recommendation. A fractional product leader stays in the work — attending your meetings, making decisions with your team, and owning outcomes. The engagement is ongoing, not project-based.
How many days per week do you work with a company?
Typically one to three days per week, depending on the scope of work. I deliberately work with only one or two companies at a time so I can stay genuinely close to each one.
Do you work remotely or in-person in Sydney?
Both. I'm based in Sydney and work in-person with Sydney clients when it makes sense. I also work fully remotely with companies elsewhere in Australia and internationally.
What's the minimum engagement length?
There's no minimum commitment. Most engagements run three to six months and extend from there. If it's not working, either of us can stop.
What industries have you worked in?
E-commerce (THE ICONIC), health technology (HealthShare), and a range of B2B and B2C software products across Australia and internationally. The principles transfer regardless of domain.
Related reading
Ready to talk?
Book a 30-minute call. We'll talk through your context and figure out if there's a fit. If there is, I'll outline a proposed engagement within a few days.
