◆ FRACTIONAL CIO

Hire a fractional CIO

Bring in a senior IT and systems leader part-time — to own technology operations, security and vendors — without a full-time CIO.

Get matched → How it works
◆ WHY FRACTIONAL

Why teams bring in a fractional CIO

Senior IT leadership, on demand

An operator who has run IT and systems at scale — strategy, security posture and vendor control from week one.

Right-sized to your stage

The engagement flexes with your needs — you pay for IT leadership and judgment, not a full-time seat.

Vetted for fit, not just title

Screened on real IT leadership plus a structured work-style assessment, matched to how your organization runs.

◆ THE DIFFERENTIATOR

We match for fit, not just a résumé

A fractional Chief Information Officer only works if they slot into how your team already operates. Every leader we put forward is screened on track record and run through a structured work-style assessment — powered by JobCannon, our own live assessment platform (1,500+ skills, 2,500+ career profiles). You see how a person actually leads and decides before you hand them a function. Fewer expensive mis-engagements, faster yes/no.

See JobCannon →
◆ WHAT THEY OWN

What a fractional Chief Information Officer takes off your plate

IT strategy & roadmap Systems & infrastructure Security & compliance posture Vendor & contract management Data & integration strategy Budgeting & IT spend Team & helpdesk structure Digital transformation
◆ HOW IT WORKS

From brief to engaged in weeks, not a quarter-long exec search

  1. BriefA 30-minute call to map the gap: stage, the decisions stalling without this leader, the days-per-week you actually need, and budget. No intake forms, no account manager relay.
  2. MatchWithin days you meet 2–3 fractional leaders who have done exactly this — at your stage, in your sector — not a generic bench. Each is screened for track record and assessed for working style.
  3. MeetYou interview the shortlist. We coordinate scheduling and feedback so the right operator doesn't go cold while you decide.
  4. EngageStart lean — typically one to three days a week on a monthly retainer scaled to that scope. Scale up for a sprint, down once the function runs itself, or convert to interim full-time if the need grows.
  5. DeliverYour fractional leader owns the function from week one: real decisions, real systems, a team that levels up. You get senior judgement without a full-time exec comp package.
◆ FAQ

Questions founders ask

What does a fractional CIO cost?

A fractional CIO is billed as a monthly retainer scaled to the days you need — a fraction of a full-time CIO's comp. We confirm the exact rate on the first call.

Fractional CIO vs a CTO?

A CIO owns internal IT, systems and security; a CTO owns the product and engineering. Some teams need one, some need both — we place either.

Will we need a full-time CIO later?

Often. Teams start fractional to set strategy and stabilize systems, then scale the role as the organization grows.

How fast can one start?

We reply within one business day with a plan and typically shortlist 2–3 vetted fractional CIOs within days.

◆ RELATED

Other fractional leaders

Fractional CFO Fractional CMO Fractional CTO Fractional COO Fractional CHRO Fractional Controller
◆ THE MAKE IT REAL NETWORK

Hire it, or have us do it

Need the work done rather than staffed? We don't just place people — Make It Real also runs the work end to end. Same team, two ways in.

Development Have your product built Rather than hire engineers, hand the build to a senior team that ships. mktrl.dev → Marketing Have your growth run Rather than hire a marketer, hand growth, SEO and AEO to a team that does it daily. mktrl.agency → Assessment Vet anyone you hire The assessment layer behind every placement — 1,500+ skills, 2,500+ career profiles. jobcannon.io →
◆ GET CANDIDATES

Tell us who you need

We reply within one business day with a match plan. Monthly retainer scaled to the days you actually need — no full-time exec comp, no long search.