Hire a fractional Chief of Staff — leverage for the CEO
A fractional Chief of Staff runs the operating cadence, cross-functional programs, and top CEO priorities part-time — turning executive intent into execution.
A fractional Chief of Staff costs $6k–$14k/mo ($150–$350/hr), typically works 1–3 days per week, and can be hired in about 48 hours through RecruitFractional — with no placement fee or percentage of compensation. Engagements run fractional, interim, or advisory.
Hiring a fractional Chief of Staff? See who matches
No account and no payment. Describe the role and matching fractional executives from our network appear straight away.
Shortlist in 48 hours · No placement fee · No account needed
- • Shortlist in 48 hours
- • No placement fee or percentage of compensation
- • Vetted C-suite and VP operators
- • Fractional, interim, or advisory
When to hire a fractional Chief of Staff
Most companies hire a fractional Chief of Staff when the founder or existing team can no longer own the strategy function at executive depth. Common triggers:
- CEO is drowning in cross-functional coordination
- Weekly business review, OKRs, and exec cadence need an owner
- A big program (rebrand, replatform, expansion) needs a driver
- You want a full-time Chief of Staff but not yet
- Board reporting, investor updates, and all-hands need a real cadence
What a fractional Chief of Staff owns
A fractional Chief of Staff operates as your accountable Chief of Staff on a part-time basis. Typical scope:
- — Operating cadence: WBR, MBR, QBR, all-hands
- — OKRs, planning, and cross-functional program management
- — Board deck, investor updates, and internal comms
- — CEO calendar, priorities, and decision hygiene
- — Special projects and exec team execution
- — Handoff plan to full-time Chief of Staff
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 Chief of Staff cost?
Hire a fractional Chief of Staff in your city
Every metro page covers local market dynamics, city-adjusted retainer ranges, and the hiring triggers we see most often in that market. 120 metros across the lower 48 states.
West
Texas & South Central
Midwest
Southeast
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
Nationwide
Frequently asked questions
- What does a fractional Chief of Staff do?
- A fractional Chief of Staff runs the CEO's operating cadence, cross-functional programs, and top priorities on a part-time basis. They multiply the CEO's leverage without adding an exec team seat.
- How much does a fractional Chief of Staff cost?
- Fractional Chief of Staff retainers typically run $6,000–$14,000 per month, or $150–$350 per hour, depending on scope and hours.
Ready to hire your Chief of Staff?
Describe the role and see matching operators — most companies get a shortlist inside 48 hours.
Shortlist in 48 hours · No placement fee · No account needed
The Operator Memo
Bi-weekly notes on fractional hiring and executive playbooks.
Confirm by email · Unsubscribe anytime