Fractional Head of Data
Senior data leadership without a full-time executive salary. A few days a month of strategy, hiring and oversight, so your data platform and team keep improving after the build.
Is this for you?
- You have one to five data people and no senior data leader
- You need a data roadmap the board and leadership team agree on
- You're about to hire data engineers or analysts and need help assessing candidates
- You want someone accountable for data costs and reliability
What you get
- A named senior lead who attends your leadership meetings as needed
- A monthly data health report covering cost, reliability and quality
- Hiring support for every data role
- Flexible commitment, usually reviewed quarterly
What we cover
Strategy and roadmap
A quarterly data roadmap tied to business goals, with clear priorities and trade-offs.
Team
Hiring plans, interviews, onboarding and coaching for your data engineers and analysts.
Platform oversight
Monthly reviews of cost, reliability and data quality, catching problems before they become expensive.
Vendors
Independent advice on tools and contracts, and negotiation support at renewal.
Questions
What is a fractional head of data?
A senior data leader who works with you part-time, typically two to six days a month, doing the job of a Head of Data at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
When should we hire a full-time Head of Data instead?
Usually when your data team passes five to eight people, or data is central to your product. We'll help you write the role and hire your replacement when you get there.
Can this follow a Rescue or Foundations engagement?
Yes, and it often does. It's the simplest way to keep a newly fixed or built platform healthy.
Other services
Based in Melbourne, working across Australia.
Fractional Head of Data: what it is, when you need one, and what it costs
What they do, the signs you need one, and how it compares with hiring full-time, with Australian costs.
Guide · 6 min readWhat does a data engineering consultant cost in Australia?
Day rates, fixed-price projects and full-time hires compared, with 2026 Australian figures and how to judge a quote.
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