Maybe you’ve heard the term “fractional” but aren’t sure what it means.

A fractional role is typically an ongoing, part-time leadership position where a company hires an experienced executive without bringing them on full time. These opportunities are generally geared toward senior leaders and C-level executives.

Some of the platforms below also provide pathways into advisory, interim leadership, and even board opportunities.

The fractional executive marketplace is interesting. It’s highly competitive and extremely selective, but it’s another avenue that many of my clients have shown interest in.

These are platforms that connect experienced executives with companies that need senior leadership without making a full-time hire. Think fractional CFO, CMO, COO, CHRO, and CTO roles, along with interim leadership and advisory opportunities. Some also include board opportunities, although those tend to be less common.

For someone between positions, they can be a way to stay sharp, earn some income, build fresh references, expand your network, and sometimes even turn into a permanent role.

They’re generally geared toward experienced leaders with a strong track record, so they’re not necessarily an easy fallback, but they’re worth exploring if you’re at the director, VP, or executive level.

Bolster

Matches executives with fractional, interim, advisory, project-based, and some board opportunities. Strong in the startup and VC-backed world.

GoFractional

Specializes in fractional executive and senior leadership placements across finance, operations, HR, engineering, product, sales, marketing, legal, and more.

Toptal

Known for its rigorous vetting process and connects companies with highly experienced independent professionals, consultants, and executive-level talent, including some fractional leadership opportunities.

Chief Outsiders

Focuses on fractional growth leaders, especially CMOs, CSOs, and other commercial executives.

The CFO Centre

One of the largest global networks for fractional CFOs.

Catalant

Connects organizations with experienced independent consultants and executives for strategic project work.

BoardProspects

Focused on corporate board opportunities and board career development for experienced executives pursuing compensated for-profit board seats.

If you’re an experienced executive, these aren’t a replacement for a traditional job search, and they aren’t abundant. They’re competitive opportunities for experienced leaders.

But if you’re between roles, looking for part-time work, easing toward retirement, or just interested in a different way of working, they’re another avenue worth exploring.

To avoid LinkedIn reducing the visibility of posts with multiple external links, I’ve put the direct links to each of these resources in the first comment rather than in the post itself.