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Engagements

Four levels. Buy the altitude, not the headcount.

The same person does the work at every level — what changes is how much of the thinking you are buying. Start low to test the fit, move up when the problem gets bigger, move down when it does not.

Level 01

Specialist

You know what needs doing. I do it.

Commitment

Project-based · 2–6 weeks

Enquire About Specialist

Hands-on execution on a defined piece of work with a defined end. You set the brief, I deliver the work. No strategy layer, no ongoing retainer, no meetings that could have been an email.

What you get

  • One named deliverable with a fixed scope
  • Direct implementation, not a recommendation document
  • A written handover so your team can maintain it
  • One review round included

Best when

  • You have a specific problem and a clear brief
  • Your team lacks one particular skill, not direction
  • You want to test the working relationship before committing further

Not for: Companies that need someone to decide what the priorities are.

Level 02

Manager

I own a channel and report on it.

Commitment

Monthly retainer · 3-month minimum

Enquire About Manager

Ongoing ownership of one area — organic search, paid search, or AI visibility. Planning, execution, and reporting sit with me. You get a single accountable owner for that channel instead of a queue of tasks.

What you get

  • Full ownership of one channel end to end
  • Monthly plan, execution, and a scorecard against agreed metrics
  • Direct access during your working hours
  • Quarterly review with a kill-or-scale call on every tactic

Best when

  • A channel matters commercially but has no real owner
  • Your in-house team is strong elsewhere and thin here
  • You want accountability for outcomes, not just for activity

Not for: Businesses needing coordination across four or more channels at once.

Level 03

Director

I set the strategy and direct whoever executes it.

Commitment

Monthly retainer · 6-month minimum

Enquire About Director

Cross-channel strategy plus direction of the people delivering it — your team, your agencies, or your freelancers. I write the briefs, set the standards, review the output, and stay accountable for whether the whole thing works.

What you get

  • Cross-channel strategy with a stated commercial thesis
  • Briefs and quality standards your suppliers work against
  • Direction and review of internal team or external agencies
  • Budget allocation recommendations with reasoning
  • Monthly leadership reporting

Best when

  • You have executors but nobody setting direction
  • Agency output is inconsistent and nobody is holding the standard
  • Marketing spend is significant and its logic is unclear

Not for: Companies wanting hands-on production work — that is Level 01.

Level 04

Fractional CMO

Marketing is my problem, not yours.

Commitment

Monthly retainer · 6-month minimum · 2 days per week

Enquire About Fractional CMO

Full marketing ownership at leadership level. Positioning, budget, hiring, supplier decisions, and board reporting. You get senior marketing leadership at a fraction of the cost of the equivalent full-time hire.

What you get

  • Complete ownership of the marketing function
  • Positioning and go-to-market strategy
  • Budget ownership with quarterly reforecast
  • Hiring, supplier selection, and contract decisions
  • Board and investor reporting
  • Succession plan for a permanent hire when the time comes

Best when

  • You need marketing leadership but cannot justify a full-time CMO
  • Founder-led marketing has hit its ceiling
  • You are preparing for a raise, an exit, or a new market

Not for: Businesses under roughly 1M USD revenue — the level is more than you need.

Engagement questions

Can I change level partway through?

Yes, and it happens often. Many clients start at Specialist to test the relationship, then move up once they trust the work. Changes take effect at the start of the next monthly cycle.

What is a fractional CMO?

A fractional CMO is a senior marketing leader working part-time across a fixed number of days per month. You get leadership-level judgement, budget ownership, and board reporting without the cost of a full-time executive hire.

Why is there a minimum term on the higher levels?

Strategy and leadership work cannot show results inside a month. The minimum protects you from paying for a ramp-up period that gets cut before it produces anything. Specialist work has no minimum for that reason.

Do you work with our existing agency?

Yes. At Director and CMO level, directing external agencies is part of the job. I set the standard and review the output, which usually improves what you already pay for.

How many clients do you take at once?

Capacity is deliberately limited because every engagement is delivered personally. When the calendar is full I say so rather than accepting work I cannot do properly.

Next step

Not Sure Which Level Fits?

Describe the problem and I will tell you which level it needs — including when the answer is a cheaper one than you expected.

Request an Audit Book a 20-Minute Call[email protected]