Hire a fractional Chief Data Officer — data, analytics, and AI
A fractional CDO owns data strategy, analytics, and the AI/ML foundation of the business on a part-time basis — data platform, governance, and the team to run it.
- • Shortlist in 48 hours
- • No 25–30% placement fee
- • Vetted C-suite and VP operators
- • Fractional, interim, or advisory
When to hire a fractional CDO
Most companies hire a fractional CDO when the founder or existing team can no longer own the data function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- The company has data everywhere and trust nowhere
- Analytics is a bottleneck — every question requires an engineer
- You are building AI/ML features and need real data foundations
- Regulators or enterprise buyers are asking for data governance
- You need to hire your first Head of Data or Analytics
What a fractional CDO owns
A fractional CDO operates as your accountable Chief Data Officer on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — Data strategy, platform, and warehouse architecture
- — Analytics operating model, semantic layer, and self-serve
- — AI/ML roadmap and evaluation framework
- — Data governance, quality, and privacy
- — Data team hiring plan and leveling
- — Executive dashboards and KPI infrastructure
Engagement models
Fractional (ongoing)
1–3 days per week on a recurring basis. Best when you need executive judgment in the business every week, but not a full-time hire yet.
Interim (full-time, fixed term)
Full-time coverage for 3–9 months. Best for a vacancy, a fundraise, an M&A event, or a turnaround.
Project / advisory
Scoped engagement (10–40 hours) tied to a specific deliverable — a plan, a system, a hire, a diligence.
How much does a fractional CDO cost?
Frequently asked questions
- What does a fractional CDO do?
- A fractional Chief Data Officer owns data strategy, analytics, and the AI/ML roadmap on a part-time basis — data platform, governance, team, and executive reporting infrastructure.
- How much does a fractional CDO cost?
- Fractional CDO retainers typically run $9,000–$20,000 per month, or $225–$500 per hour.
Ready to hire your CDO?
Post your role or request a curated shortlist — most companies get one inside 48 hours.