Senior AI product leadership without the full-time cost. As a Fractional AI Product Manager, I embed with your team part-time — owning the roadmap, leading sprints, and shipping outcomes — so you get the expertise you need at the stage you are actually at.
Fractional means part-time, embedded, and senior. Instead of hiring a full-time PM at $150k–$200k plus super, you engage a seasoned AI product leader for the hours you actually need — typically 10–20 hours per week on a monthly retainer. You get a CSPO-certified PM with A$20M+ in revenue influenced across the portfolio, without the overhead of a permanent hire.
It makes sense when you are pre-product-market-fit and need strategic product thinking but cannot justify a full-time salary. It also works well for funded teams that have engineers but no dedicated PM, or for established companies running a specific AI initiative that needs focused leadership for 3–6 months.
The fractional model gives you flexibility — ramp up during a sprint, scale back between milestones, and transition to a full-time hire when the time is right.
A$20M+
Revenue influenced across product launches
1B+
Wedded Week cumulative impressions
A senior AI Product Manager in Sydney commands $160,000–$220,000 base salary plus 11% superannuation, paid leave, and onboarding costs. Total cost of employment is typically $185,000–$260,000 per year — before recruitment agency fees (15–20% of salary) and the 3–6 month ramp-up time before they are fully productive.
| Fractional AI PM | Full-time hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to start | 1–2 weeks | 3–6 months |
| Annual cost | Scales with hours | $185K–$260K all-in |
| Flexibility | Ramp up/down as needed | Fixed headcount |
| Recruitment risk | None | High (mis-hire = 6+ months lost) |
| AI domain expertise | Day one | Depends on candidate |
A fractional engagement works best when the situation matches the model. It is the right choice if:
Every engagement starts with a scoping call to align on your stage, goals, and how much PM bandwidth you need. From there we agree on hours, retainer structure, and a 30-day start plan.
Fractional AI PM engagements work across industries — the model fits any team that needs embedded senior product leadership without a full-time hire. My deepest domain experience spans:
A fractional PM works with your company on a part-time or project basis — typically 10–20 hours per week — rather than as a full-time employee. You get the same senior-level product thinking, roadmap ownership, and delivery leadership, but without the salary, benefits, and overhead of a permanent hire. It is the right model when you need strategic product expertise but are not yet at the stage where a full-time PM is justified.
Engagements are typically structured as a monthly retainer, scoped around a fixed number of hours per week. This gives you predictable costs and consistent availability. For specific projects or sprint-based work, a fixed-fee project model is also available. Rates reflect senior AI PM expertise — significantly below the cost of a full-time hire when you factor in salary, super, and recruitment fees.
Most fractional engagements run at 10–20 hours per week depending on the stage of your product and what is on the roadmap. Early-stage teams in active 0→1 builds often start at 15–20 hours. More established teams managing a live product with a stable team can often get strong value from 10–12 hours. We agree on the right level during scoping and can flex up or down as your needs change.
A fractional engagement is often a natural bridge to a full-time hire. During the engagement, I help define the role, build out the product processes, and establish delivery cadences so that when you are ready to hire full-time, you know exactly what you need. I can also support the hiring process — writing the JD, assessing candidates, and handing over to the incoming PM with full context.
Let us define the right scope, hours, and start plan for your team — and get moving on your roadmap within weeks.