Playbook

Fractional Delivery Leader

Part-time executive leadership for delivery operations and AI adoption

Download PDF

Overview

This playbook describes how fractional delivery leadership works - embedded, part-time executive guidance for companies that need senior delivery expertise without the full-time cost.

3+ Months to start
2-3 Days per week
Flexible Scale up or down
Best for
Startups scaling engineering teams Companies between delivery leaders Need VP-level expertise part-time Process and team building required

Typical Timeline

1
Onboarding Month 1
30-Day Assessment Priority Action Plan Communication Cadence
2
Execution Month 2+
Weekly Status Reports Monthly Executive Updates Process Documentation Team Development Plans
+
Transition When Ready
Succession Plan Complete Documentation Transition Checklist Final Impact Report

Engagement Model

Time Commitment

Typically 2-3 days per week, flexible based on needs. Can scale up during critical periods or scale down as team matures.

Integration

Full integration into your organization - Slack, email, meetings, 1:1s. I operate as a member of your leadership team.

Reporting

Direct report to CEO/CTO. Regular updates to leadership team. Full transparency on progress and challenges.

Phase 1

Onboarding & Assessment

Month 1

Deep immersion into your organization to understand people, processes, technology, and culture.

Activities

  • Meet with every team member 1:1
  • Understand current projects and priorities
  • Review existing processes and documentation
  • Identify quick wins and immediate pain points
  • Establish relationships with stakeholders
  • Define success metrics with leadership

Deliverables

  • 30-Day Assessment — State of delivery, risks, opportunities
  • Priority Action Plan — Quick wins and strategic initiatives
  • Communication Cadence — Meeting structure, reporting rhythm
Phase 2

Execution & Leadership

Month 2+

Active leadership of delivery operations, implementing improvements while managing day-to-day.

Activities

  • Lead delivery team meetings and standups
  • Manage and mentor delivery managers/leads
  • Drive process improvements
  • Handle escalations and blockers
  • Stakeholder communication and alignment
  • Hiring support (interviews, job descriptions)
  • Vendor evaluation and management
  • AI tool implementation and adoption
  • Crisis management when needed

Ongoing Deliverables

  • Weekly Status Reports — Progress, blockers, decisions needed
  • Monthly Executive Updates — Strategic view for leadership
  • Process Documentation — Codified workflows and standards
  • Team Development Plans — Growth paths for each team member

What I Can Own

  • Delivery Team
  • Release Management
  • DevOps/Platform
  • QA
  • Technical PMO
  • AI Adoption
When Ready

Transition & Sustainability

Optional

When your organization is ready, I help ensure you can maintain improvements independently — through internal promotion, full-time hire, or continued fractional support.

Activities

  • Identify and develop internal successor
  • Support full-time hire process if needed
  • Document all processes and decisions
  • Knowledge transfer sessions
  • Gradual handoff of responsibilities
  • Advisory transition (optional)

Deliverables

  • Succession Plan — Internal promotion or hire roadmap
  • Complete Documentation — All processes, decisions, context
  • Transition Checklist — Handoff verification steps
  • Final Impact Report — Before/after metrics, achievements

Need delivery leadership?

Let's discuss if fractional leadership is right for your organization.

Let's Talk