Ongoing Fractional CPO Support

Ongoing Fractional CPO Support —
Your People Partnership

Experienced executive-level practitioner, when you need it.

Growing fast but can't yet justify — or don't need — a full-time Chief People Officer? That's exactly the gap I fill.

What is fractional CPO support?
Hiring a full-time CPO isn't always practical or affordable for SMEs, but expert people leadership is still essential. My Fractional CPO service delivers senior people and culture expertise when you need it — without the long-term commitment or full executive salary cost, and only for the number of hours per month your business actually needs. I operate as an extension of your SLT/ELT on a part-time, flexible basis.
You gain strategic guidance, an executive-level business partner invested in your goals, deep domain expertise, and senior-level support exactly when you need it.

Is this right for you?
This is likely a good fit if:

You're a founder, owner or CEO of an Australian SME (roughly 20–250+ employees)
You're making important people decisions without senior people expertise in the room
You've outgrown ad hoc HR support, but don't need — or can't yet justify — a full-time executive hire
You want a trusted, confidential sounding board for the people and leadership challenges you can't discuss with anyone else in the business

This probably isn't the right fit if:

You need someone full-time, on-site, every day
You're looking for operational/transactional HR support only (payroll, admin, compliance processing) rather than strategic leadership
Your business is pre-revenue or very early stage with no team to lead yet

I have an HR team already — how would I benefit?
Many HR resources in SMEs are typically junior or intermediate in their career, and are often highly effective at managing the operational side of people operations. This fractional CPO service supplements your internal team by filling the people strategy gap — providing coaching for your leaders, as well as development and mentoring for your internal HR team.

Industries I work across
I've partnered with leaders across a genuinely broad range of industries, including:
NDIS · Robotics Engineering · Rope Access Rigging & Rescue · Maintenance Services · Not-for-Profit · Allied Health · Fire Protection · Financial Services · Telecommunications

From highly regulated and safety-critical environments to mission-driven and community-focused organisations, I bring the same depth of executive people expertise — adapted to what actually matters in your industry.

What does the process look like?

Initial clarity call — a free conversation to understand your current business landscape, challenges and goals.
Tailored recommendation — I'll outline the functions I'd support you with, and the minimum number of hours per month this would entail.
You decide — if it's the right fit, we can get started quickly.

What are the benefits of working with me?

I've operated as an executive across businesses from 30–250 employees, so you gain not just people and culture expertise, but c-suite experience across multiple industries and geographies.
I'm not your typical "HR person" — there's no black-and-white thinking about a problem or its possible solutions.
My clients value the clarity of my thinking and my ability to simplify complex strategic issues.
Your business is yours. My role isn't to tell you what to do — it's to give you clear options for the way forward.
Being a CEO or executive leader can be isolating without someone trusted to talk to. I fill that role for my clients — reducing their mental load as a confidential sounding board, and coaching them through the challenges they're facing.

The details
This service starts from 8 hours per month ($2,000 + GST), with a minimum 3-month commitment and one month's notice to cancel.
Delivery can be remote, on-site, or hybrid depending on your location and preference — we'll agree the right approach on your initial clarity call.

Ready to talk?
Brooke Hayes
Principal Consultant
0449 170 721
brooke@brookehayes.com.au
Book a free 20-minute clarity call to find out if fractional CPO support is the right fit for your business.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from hiring an HR consultant for a project?

A project-based consultant typically comes in for a defined piece of work and then leaves. As your fractional CPO, I embed as an ongoing part of your leadership team — available for the strategic and day-to-day people challenges as they arise, not just a single project.

What if it's not the right fit once we start?

There's a minimum 3-month commitment to allow enough time to see real value, and after that, just one month's notice to cancel. If it's not working, it's easy to step away.

Can this convert to a permanent hire later?

Yes — some clients start fractional and bring on a full-time CPO or Head of People later as they scale. I'm happy to support that transition, including help defining the role and hiring process when the time comes.

Where are you based, and do you work with businesses outside your area?

Depending on your location, this service can be delivered remotely, at your site, or a hybrid of both. We'll discuss your preference on the initial clarity call.

Can I work with you without committing to an ongoing engagement first?

Yes. If you'd like to test the fit before committing to an ongoing fractional CPO retainer, there are a few project-based ways to get started:

People & Culture Diagnostic + Report — a focused review of your current people practices, systems and culture, delivered as a clear, actionable report showing what's working, what's not, and where the biggest opportunities are.
Single Strategic Advisory Session — a one-off, focused session on a specific people challenge you're facing (e.g. structuring your leadership team as you scale, or a tricky people decision), with a short written summary of recommendations afterward.
People Strategy Workshop — a facilitated session with you and your leadership team to map out a practical people strategy aligned to your business goals.
A specific project or initiative — whether that's a piece of leadership development, a culture initiative, or another defined people challenge you need solved.

These give you a genuine, low-commitment way to experience how I work, before deciding whether ongoing fractional support is the right next step.